Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Asalam Alakum,

I habitually, read your emails and I believe that your answers are always mitigating the questions laid down. I have two questions but interrelated with each other.
I am living in Saudi Arabia but I am Pakistan national. In recent times one of my friend had died and you may be aware that in Saudi Arabia, it takes three to fifteen days to get the body liberate ….a lot of procedural steps.
You cannot bury a body unless all paper work is not completed and definite that where the dead body will be buried? In his country or in Saudi Arabia? What Islam says about it? Is not it a humilation of deadbody?

2nd can we read Quran for "sawab" although the body is not buried? Some one advised me that it is "bidaat" is it factual? I will be appreciative, if you will come back with my question, in the light of quraan and Ahadees.

Thanking you,

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Humilation to dead body

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad(saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Q-1: What Islam says about it? Is not it a humilation of deadbody?
In some countries, the government lays down procedural steps regarding the burial of a foreign national to ascertain the reason for the death of the person. In most cases it is to protect the rights and interests of the deceased and/or its heirs, and determine whether the deceased died a natural death, or was poisoned, or killed, etc. There is absolutely no harm if the government lays down these procedural steps in determining the reason of the death, or for statistical purposes, or for some valid legal reasons. These procedural steps would not constitute a humiliation of the body of the deceased.

But if there is no valid reason for a delay, the Messenger of Allah (saws) advised the believers to always bury their dead as soon as possible.

Narrated Al-Husayn ibn Wujuh that when Talhah ibn al-Bara fell ill, the Prophet (saws) said: "I see that Talhah is on the verge of death. Inform me about him (when he passes away) and make immediate preparations for his burial, for a Muslim's remains should not be left long with his family after his death."

Related by Abu Dawood.

Ali ibn Abu Talib (r.a.) narrated that the Prophet (saws) said: "O Ali, never delay three things: prayer when its time approaches, the funeral when death is confirmed, and marrying a widow or a divorcee when a suitable match is found for her."

Related by Ahmad and Tirmidhi.

Q-2: 2nd can we read Quran for "sawab" although the body is not buried? Some one advised me that it is "bidaat" is it factual? I will be appreciative, if you will come back with my question, in the light of quraan and Ahadees.
Abu Hurairah reported that The Prophet (saws), said, 'When a person dies all his good deeds cease except for three: a continuous act of charity, beneficial knowledge, and a righteous son(children) who prays for him'.'' (Muslim, and the Sunan)

Also Abu Hurairah reported The Prophet (saws) said, 'The righteous works that continue to benefit a believer after his death include the knowledge that he taught and spread among others, a righteous son whom he leaves behind, or a copy of the Qur'an that he bequeaths to his inheritors, or a mosque that he builds, or a rest house that he builds for the wayfarers, or a canal of water that he digs for the benefit of others, or a charity that he gives out of his property during his life while he is sound of health. He will continue to receive reward for all these even after his death.' (Ibn Majah)

In light of the above narrations of the Messenger of Allah (saws), it is evident that the Book of Records is ceased, except for three categories:

A continuous act of charity which the person did which is beneficial to people after his death.

Beneficial knowledge the person spread during his lifetime.

Righteous children whom the person brought up.

For all acts of righteous deeds, we must always follow what is said by Allah and His Messenger (saws). Besides, there is absolutely no evidence that the Messenger of Allah (saws), his noble ‘ahly-bayt’, or any of his noble companions ever read Quran for the ‘ajr’ or peace of any deceased person!

The Glorious Quran is a Book of Guidance revealed by Allah for the guidance of the living amongst mankind and one who is alive will definitely benefit from its recitation and from its commands of Wisdom and Knowledge. In light of the above narrations of the Messenger of Allah (saws), all the good deeds of a person who dies cease except for three things specifically mentioned; and the recitation of the Quran over the deceased is not one of them!

Just as one cannot do a sin and transfer it to the account of the deceased; one cannot do any good deed and transfer it to the deceased unless specified by Allah and His Messenger (saws)!

But what can and must do is make constant supplication for his deceased brother/sister in faith to the Merciful Lord, and beseech Him to be Merciful on the departed soul, forgive his/her sins and grant them an honorable place in Paradise. This was the practice of the Messenger of Allah (saws).

Narrated Abu Hurairah, : “The Prophet (saws), prayed in one of the funeral prayers: ‘Allahumma anta Rubbuha wa ant khalaqtaha wa anta razaqtaha wa ant hadaytaha lil lslam wa anta qabadata ruha-ha wa anta alamu bisirriha wa 'alaniyatiha. Ji'nashuf'ala-hafaghfir laha zanbaha’ (Oh Allah ! You are her Sustainer, You are her Creator, You provided her with sustenance, guided her to Islam, caused her to die, and You best know her secret and public life. We plead to You on her behalf to forgive her sins).

Naraated Wa'ilah ibn al-Asqa: "The Prophet (saws), led us in a funeral prayer for a man from among the Muslims. I heard him saying: ‘Allahumma inna fulana ibna fulan fi dhimatika wa habla jawaraka, fa-qihu min fitnatal qabri wa adhabin nar wa anta ahlal wafa' wal haq, allahumma faghfirlahu war-rahmhufa innaka antal ghafurur Raheem’. ( O Allah! So-and-so, son of so-and-so, is under Your protection and mercy, so protect him from the trial of the grave and the torture of Hell Fire. You are the guardian of the truthful and the faithful. OAllah! Forgive him and be merciful to him, as You are the Most Merciful, Most Forgiving).

Narrated by Ahmad and Abu Daw'ud.

Thus gathering and the ceremonial reading of the Quran over the deceased and/or to transfer the reward of the recitation of the Quran to the deceased, is a clear and manifest innovation, and this act must be avoided by the believers who sincerely believe in Allah and the Last Day.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan