Ruling on Women Offering Funeral Prayer: Evidence from Hadith and Islamic Sources
Source: Fatawa ‘Ilmiyyah, Volume 1, Kitab al-Jana’iz, Page 533
What is the ruling regarding women offering the funeral prayer while observing proper hijab?
It should be noted that nowadays women also perform the funeral prayer in Masjid al-Nabawi and Masjid al-Haram. I recall reading in a book long ago that Sayyidah ‘Ā’ishah (رضي الله تعالى عنها) requested the Companions (رضي الله عنهم) to have the funeral prayer of Sayyidunā Saʿd ibn Abī Waqqāṣ (رضي الله عنه) performed in Masjid al-Nabawi so that the Mothers of the Believers could participate in the funeral prayer. Please clarify this matter in detail.
(A Questioner)
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd!
It is established that, like men, women have at times participated in the funeral prayer for men.
In the case of Ibn Abī Ṭalḥah, the funeral prayer was led by the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. On that occasion:
❖ Sayyidunā Abū Ṭalḥah (رضي الله عنه) stood in line behind the Prophet ﷺ.
❖ Sayyidah Umm Sulaym (رضي الله عنها) stood in the next row behind Abū Ṭalḥah.
Al-Mustadrak lil-Hākim, Vol. 1, p. 365, Ḥadīth 1350 – Chain: Ḥasan
As-Sunan al-Kubrā, Vol. 4, pp. 30–31
Imām al-Ḥākim stated:
“This narration is authentic based on the criteria of al-Bukhārī and Muslim, and it is a rare Sunnah indicating the permissibility of women offering the funeral prayer.”
Imām al-Haythamī commented in Majmaʿ az-Zawā’id:
“It was narrated by al-Ṭabarānī in al-Kabīr, and its narrators are those of authentic collections.”
(Majmaʿ az-Zawā’id 3/34)
The incident of Sayyidunā Saʿd ibn Abī Waqqāṣ (رضي الله عنه) is recorded in Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim:
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Jana’iz, Bāb aṣ-Ṣalāh ʿala al-Janā’iz fī al-Masjid
Ḥadīth 973, Dār as-Salām numbering: 2252
It is important to note that although women have been discouraged from following the funeral procession, this prohibition is not strictly haram (prohibited).
Hence:
❖ It is preferable for women not to accompany the funeral procession in general.
❖ However, in the Haramain (Masjid al-Ḥarām and Masjid al-Nabawī) or on specific occasions, it is permissible for women to perform the funeral prayer.
ھذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
Source: Fatawa ‘Ilmiyyah, Volume 1, Kitab al-Jana’iz, Page 533
❖ Question
What is the ruling regarding women offering the funeral prayer while observing proper hijab?
It should be noted that nowadays women also perform the funeral prayer in Masjid al-Nabawi and Masjid al-Haram. I recall reading in a book long ago that Sayyidah ‘Ā’ishah (رضي الله تعالى عنها) requested the Companions (رضي الله عنهم) to have the funeral prayer of Sayyidunā Saʿd ibn Abī Waqqāṣ (رضي الله عنه) performed in Masjid al-Nabawi so that the Mothers of the Believers could participate in the funeral prayer. Please clarify this matter in detail.
(A Questioner)
❖ Answer
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd!
Evidence of Women Offering Funeral Prayer for Men
It is established that, like men, women have at times participated in the funeral prayer for men.
In the case of Ibn Abī Ṭalḥah, the funeral prayer was led by the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. On that occasion:
❖ Sayyidunā Abū Ṭalḥah (رضي الله عنه) stood in line behind the Prophet ﷺ.
❖ Sayyidah Umm Sulaym (رضي الله عنها) stood in the next row behind Abū Ṭalḥah.
Al-Mustadrak lil-Hākim, Vol. 1, p. 365, Ḥadīth 1350 – Chain: Ḥasan As-Sunan al-Kubrā, Vol. 4, pp. 30–31Authenticity and Significance of the Hadith
Imām al-Ḥākim stated:
“This narration is authentic based on the criteria of al-Bukhārī and Muslim, and it is a rare Sunnah indicating the permissibility of women offering the funeral prayer.”
Imām al-Haythamī commented in Majmaʿ az-Zawā’id:
“It was narrated by al-Ṭabarānī in al-Kabīr, and its narrators are those of authentic collections.”
(Majmaʿ az-Zawā’id 3/34)Sayyidah ʿĀ’ishah (رضي الله عنها) and the Funeral Prayer
The incident of Sayyidunā Saʿd ibn Abī Waqqāṣ (رضي الله عنه) is recorded in Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim:
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Jana’iz, Bāb aṣ-Ṣalāh ʿala al-Janā’iz fī al-MasjidḤadīth 973, Dār as-Salām numbering: 2252
Women Accompanying the Funeral Procession
It is important to note that although women have been discouraged from following the funeral procession, this prohibition is not strictly haram (prohibited).
Hence:
❖ It is preferable for women not to accompany the funeral procession in general.
❖ However, in the Haramain (Masjid al-Ḥarām and Masjid al-Nabawī) or on specific occasions, it is permissible for women to perform the funeral prayer.
ھذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
