Question (Q-99)
What do the Scholars of the Religion and the Muftīs of the Sharīʿah (Islamic Law) state in relation to the following matter;
Is it permissible to perform two ghusl (bathing) and two Janāzahs (funeral prayers)? In England, when a Muslim passes away, he is bathed and Janāzah (funeral prayer) is performed. Then the same body is taken to Pakistan where ghusl (bathing) takes place again and Janāzah (Funeral Prayer) is performed again. Is it permissible to do this?
Answer:
Answer with the Help of the Almighty King, the Bestower
O Allah guide to the truth and the correct position
A deceased should only be bathed once. There is no need to repeat ghusl (bathing) in any situation. According to the Ḥanafī school, repeating Ṣalāh al-Janāzah upon a deceased person is impermissible (it is impermissible to read two or more funeral prayers). However if a stranger who is not worthy of authorising the performance of Ṣalāh al-Janāzah, performed Janāzah without the permission of the walī (guardian) then the walī is permitted to repeat Ṣalāh al-Janāzah. This situation rarely occurs. It has been seen in England that the guardians of the deceased partake themselves in Ṣalāh al-Janāzah or Ṣalāh al-Janāzah is performed with their permission. These people openly arrange for the performance of the second Ṣalāh al-Janāzah in Pakistan. Out of ignorance they go against their own school of jurisprudence and perceive an unlegislated matter to be an act of reward. We seek refuge with Allah ﷻ from that.
My master, the Imām of Ahl al-Sunnah, Aʿlāḥaḍrat Al-Imām Aḥmad Riḍā Khān عليه رحمة الرحمن, was asked a question in relation to repeating ghusl (bathing) upon the deceased and he responded, “One ghusl (bathing) will be carried out.” In response to another question, he stated that there is never a need to perform a second ghusl (bathing) unrestrictedly in any situation. If impurity comes out then it should be washed away. (Al-Fatāwā Al-Riḍawiyyah, Volume 9, page 97)
In relation to repeating Ṣalāh al-Janāzah upon a deceased, The great Imām, Burhān al-Millah al-Dīn, the author of Al-Hidāyah, Abu Bakr Al-Marghīnānī رحمه الله stated in his book, Al-Hidāyah, Volume 1, Page 160,
فإن صلى غير الولي والسلطان أعاد الولي ” يعني إن شاء لما ذكرنا أن الحق للأولياء ” وإن صلى الولي لم يجز لأحد أن يصلي بعده ” لأن الفرض يتأدى بالأولى والتنفل بها غير مشروع ولهذا رأينا الناس تركوا عن آخرهم الصلاة على قبر النبي عليه الصلاة والسلام وهو اليوم كما وضع
“If somebody other than the guardian and Sulṭān performed Ṣalāh al-Janāzah, the guardian will repeat the Janāzah if he wishes because of what we mentioned that the right belongs to the guardians. If the guardian performed Ṣalāh al-Janāzah then it is not permissible for anyone to perform Ṣalāh al-Janāzah after him because the farḍ is fulfilled through the first performance of Ṣalāh al-Janāzah. Nafl (voluntary prayer) is not legislated for Ṣalāh al-Janāzah. This is why we see people from all generations not performing Ṣalāh al-Janāzah upon the Blessed Grave of the Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالىٰ عَلَيْهِ وَ اٰلِه وَ سَلَّمَ even though the Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالىٰ عَلَيْهِ وَ اٰلِه وَ سَلَّمَ is still the same in his صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالىٰ عَلَيْهِ وَ اٰلِه وَ سَلَّمَ Blessed Grave as he صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالىٰ عَلَيْهِ وَ اٰلِه وَ سَلَّمَ was on the day that he صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالىٰ عَلَيْهِ وَ اٰلِه وَ سَلَّمَ was placed in it.”
In commentary upon these words, the great research Scholar (Ibn al-Humām رحمه الله) stated in Fatḥ Al-Qadīr, Volume 2, Page 84,
لو كان مشروعا لما أعرض الخلق كلهم من العلماء والصالحين والراغبين في التقريب إليه عليه الصلوة والسلام بأنواع الطرق عنه فهذا دليل ظاهر فوجب اعتباره
“If it was legislated then the entire creation including the Scholars, the Pious and those who seek proximity to the Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالىٰ عَلَيْهِ وَ اٰلِه وَ سَلَّمَ through different ways would not forsake (performing Ṣalāh al-Janāzah at the Blessed Grave) This is the clear proof (for repetition of Ṣalāh al-Janāzah not being legislated). It is necessary to act according to this.”
It is stated in Durr al-Mukhtār, Volume 1, Page 123,
تكرارها غير مشروع
“Repetition of Ṣalāh al-Janāzah is not legislated.”
It is stated in Ghunyah Sharḥ Al-Munyah, Page 59,
تكرار الصلوة على ميت واحد غير مشروع
“Repetition of Ṣalāh al-Janāzah upon one deceased is not legislated.”
My master, the Imām of Ahl al-Sunnah, Aʿlāḥaḍrat Al-Imām Aḥmad Riḍā Khān عليه رحمة الرحمن wrote in his thesis, Nahy Al-Ḥājiz, that the repetition of Ṣalāh al-Janāzah is unrestrictedly not permissible and nor is it legislated according to our Noble Imāms رضي الله تعالى عنهم. However, when the stranger who is not worthy, performs Ṣalāh al-Janāzah without the permission of the walī (guardian) and nor with the walī (guardian) following him, then the walī (guardian) is permitted to repeat Ṣalāh al-Janāzah. (Al-Fatāwā Al-Riḍawiyyah, Volume 9, Page 269)
والله تعالى أعلم ورسوله أعلم صلى الله تعالى عليه وآله وسلم
And Allah, the Exalted, knows best and His Messenger knows best, peace and blessings of Allah, the Exalted, upon him and his family.
Written by: Abul Ḥasan Muḥammad Qāsim Diyā Al-Qādirī (May Allah preserve him)
Verified by: Muftī Shamsulhuda Khan Misbahi (May Allah preserve him)
Note: This answer was extracted from Fatawa Kanz ul Iman (Volume 2) of Muftī Shamsulhuda Khan Misbahi (May Allah preserve him)
