Is the Funeral Prayer Obligatory?
Question: 14040
Does the obligation of praying the funeral prayer (Salat Al-Janazah) apply only to men, or does it include all Muslims, men and women alike?
Summary of answer
The Funeral Prayer is Fard Kifayah (communal obligation). Funeral prayer is not something that is only for men; rather it is prescribed for both men and women alike, even though in principle it is men who are expected to do it.
Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah and his family.
The Funeral Prayer is Fard Kifayah (communal obligation); if some people do it then the rest are absolved of responsibility, but if all of them fail to do it then all are guilty of sin. It is not something that is only for men; rather it is prescribed for both men and women alike to offer the funeral prayer , even though in principle it is men who are expected to do it.
However, women should not follow the funeral procession , because it was narrated that Umm `Atiyah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: “We were forbidden to follow the funeral processions, but not emphatically.” (Narrated by Al-Bukhari and Muslim). According to another report, “The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) forbade us…”
For more details, please see the following answers: 10373 , 12193 , 7867 , and 2900 .
And Allah knows best.
Source:
Al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah Li’l-Buhooth al-‘Ilmiyyah wa’l-Iftaa’
Was this answer helpful?
Our newsletter
To join our newsletter please add your email below
IslamQA App
For a quick access to our content and offline browsing
