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:

Dear brother Burhan,

1)Are we allowed to visit or pay our last respect for the dead of non Moslem - be they having led a respectful life in the eyes of society or otherwise (including those known for operating illegal/immoral business activities such as gambling or manufacturing/trading of alcoholic drinks)?

(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:

Make dua for deceased non-muslim

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 none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

As long as one who has chosen not to believe is alive, it is absolutely permissible for the believers to make supplications for them and beseech their Lord Most Gracious to have Mercy on them and guide them to the Truth of Al-Islam.

But if one dies in the state of ‘kufr’ (disbelief) or ‘shirk (polytheism), then it is not permissible for a believer to supplicate their Lord Creator to forgive them the sins (of ‘kufr’ and/or ‘shirk) which the Lord Most High has already declared as absolutely unforgivable in the Hereafter.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 9 Surah Taubah verse 113:

113 It is not fitting for the Prophet (saws) and those who believe that they should pray for forgiveness for (deceased) pagans, even though they be of kin, after it is clear to them that they are companions of the Fire.

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

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan