Zaid’s Brother Who Abandoned Prayer and the Validity of ‘Amr’s Refusal to Attend the Funeral
Source: Qur’an o Hadees Ki Roshni Mein Ahkam o Masail – Volume 01
Zaid and ‘Amr are both pious individuals who perform prayer and have completed Hajj. Zaid’s real brother was a habitual non-prayer performer (permanently abandoned ṣalāh) and passed away. ‘Amr did not attend his funeral prayer.
Zaid became upset with ‘Amr and expressed his displeasure by refraining from shaking hands or embracing him.
The questions are:
◈ Does Shariah prescribe any disciplinary action against someone who refuses to attend the funeral of a non-prayer performer?
◈ Is Zaid’s anger justified (truth-based) or unjustified (false-based)?
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, Ammā Baʿd!
In this case, ‘Amr is in the right, while Zaid is in the wrong.
It is not appropriate to perform the funeral prayer for someone who deliberately and habitually abandoned ṣalāh. The Hadith clearly states:
«مَنْ تَرَكَ الصَّلَاةَ مُتَعَمِّدًا فَقَدْ كَفَرَ»
(Whoever deliberately abandons the prayer has disbelieved.)
This indicates that a person who permanently abandons ṣalāh may fall outside the fold of Islam, and refraining from attending his funeral is in accordance with Shariah principles.
◈ ‘Amr’s refusal to attend the funeral of a non-prayer performer is in full alignment with the Shar‘i stance.
◈ Zaid’s anger towards ‘Amr for not performing the funeral prayer of his brother is unjustified (bāṭil) from an Islamic perspective.
Wallāhu A‘lam
Source: Qur’an o Hadees Ki Roshni Mein Ahkam o Masail – Volume 01
Question:
Zaid and ‘Amr are both pious individuals who perform prayer and have completed Hajj. Zaid’s real brother was a habitual non-prayer performer (permanently abandoned ṣalāh) and passed away. ‘Amr did not attend his funeral prayer.
Zaid became upset with ‘Amr and expressed his displeasure by refraining from shaking hands or embracing him.
The questions are:
◈ Does Shariah prescribe any disciplinary action against someone who refuses to attend the funeral of a non-prayer performer?
◈ Is Zaid’s anger justified (truth-based) or unjustified (false-based)?
Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, Ammā Baʿd!
In this case, ‘Amr is in the right, while Zaid is in the wrong.
Shar‘i Ruling:
It is not appropriate to perform the funeral prayer for someone who deliberately and habitually abandoned ṣalāh. The Hadith clearly states:
«مَنْ تَرَكَ الصَّلَاةَ مُتَعَمِّدًا فَقَدْ كَفَرَ»
(Whoever deliberately abandons the prayer has disbelieved.)
This indicates that a person who permanently abandons ṣalāh may fall outside the fold of Islam, and refraining from attending his funeral is in accordance with Shariah principles.
Conclusion:
◈ ‘Amr’s refusal to attend the funeral of a non-prayer performer is in full alignment with the Shar‘i stance.
◈ Zaid’s anger towards ‘Amr for not performing the funeral prayer of his brother is unjustified (bāṭil) from an Islamic perspective.
Wallāhu A‘lam
