Salat: Janazah Prayer — In Absentia (Q & A) We follow the practice of offering ‘Salat for a deceased person’ who has died at our home country because we are not able to participate in the prayer for an immediate relative back home. Some say that this is a deviation from the norms. Does Islam sanction this practice? When news of the death of Negus, the ruler of Abyssinia was conveyed to the Prophet, peace be upon him, he and his companions offered this prayer, which is a special prayer for a deceased person before his burial. The Prophet, peace be upon him, was in Madinah while the Negus died and was buried in Abyssinia. Hence, to suggest that this prayer is a deviation betrays total ignorance. Some scholars, however, suggest that if we know for certain that this prayer has been offered for the deceased person at his hometown or village, then to offer this prayer when away is not necessary. But there is nothing in the Sunnah to support this restriction. The fact that the Prophet, peace be upon him, and his companions offered this prayer for a deceased person who died more than 1000 kilometers away shows that it is perfectly appropriate. No one may argue otherwise. An individual or a congregation may offer prayer for an away deceased person. When we offer it, we should turn towards the Qiblah in Makkah, even though the person might have died in a place that lies in a different direction. The prayer is offered in the same way as if the deceased’s body was present, without any difference. (Source: Our Dialogue—Arab News, Jeddah)
Posted on: Tue, 15 Apr 2014 06:01:24 +0000
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