Funeral prayer in absentia, offering food to mourners and reading Qur’aan for the deceased

Firstly: if a relative or close friend dies
in another country, a person may travel to attend the funeral prayers
if that is easy to do. There is nothing wrong with this travelling because
it is travelling for a legitimate purpose, even though this action was
not known among Muslims in the past. It was not done in the past because
they were not able to do that, unlike today when travelling has become
easier with faster methods of transportation.

 With regard to offering the funeral
prayer for the deceased in absentia, there is a great deal of difference
of opinion among the scholars on this matter, because it is not reported
that the Prophet (peace and blessings
of Allaah be upon him) did that, except in the case of the Negus (ruler
of Abyssinia), and it was not narrated that the Muslims outside of Madeenah
prayed for the Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) in absentia when he died, even though
their love for him was so great.

 Also, it is not reported that the Muslims
prayed in absentia for any of the khulafaa’ al-raashideen (the rightly-guided
khaleefahs, the first four leaders of Islam after the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)) when they died. Prayer
for the dead in absentia was not known among the Muslims even though
circumstances might have dictated it, such as the eagerness of the Muslims
to do something of benefit for their brothers, especially those who
were held in high esteem by all the Muslims, or one to whom one is related
or who one is fond of, which would make one seek to do something good
for him by praying for him. For this reason, scholars such as Shaykh
al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah were of the view that the fact that the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah
be upon him) prayed for the Negus was an exceptional case which applied
only to him, because there was no one in the land where he died who
could offer the janaazah prayer for him. In my view, this is a sound
view in the light of the above. Some scholars say that the funeral prayer
in absentia may be offered only for certain people among the ummah,
such as famous scholars and just rulers; this view is close to the previous
view.

 On this basis, there is no reason why
the funeral prayer should not be offered for the deceased both when
one is present and in absentia.

 Secondly:

Gathering to read Qur’aan and give the reward for that
to the deceased is a bid’ah (reprehensible innovation), even if it is
not done in return for any payment. If it is done in return for payment
then it is haraam, because it is being done for a reason other than
for the sake of Allaah, and any such action will not earn any reward.
But if a person reads Qur’aan by himself and gives the reward for that
to a relative or friend, without gathering with others for that purpose
and without seeking payment, then there are two scholarly views in this
case, one of which says that it is permissible and that the reward for
the reading will reach the deceased.

 The second view is that it is not prescribed
to give the reward for the reading to anyone, because there is no evidence
(daleel) to indicate that this is prescribed.

 Thirdly:

If the family of the deceased have a special reading,
and invite people to a meal three days and forty days after the death,
this is bid’ah (reprehensible innovation).

 And every bid’ah is a going astray.
The Messenger of Allaah (peace
and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever invents something
in this matter of ours (i.e., Islam) that is not a part of it will have
it rejected.” The action mentioned is a matter that has been invented
in the religion, so it is to be rejected, and the one who does it is
a sinner and will not be rewarded.

 What people say about the soul of the
deceased visiting the house after forty days to get the reward is a
lie which has no basis. The person who told you that the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and his Companions did not
do any of these things was right. You did well to ask about the things
of which you were unsure, and your eagerness to know the Sunnah of the
Prophet (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) and act accordingly is highly commendable. This
is how the Muslim should be; his concern should be to know the truth
so that he can follow it, and know what is false so that he can avoid
it.

 We ask Allaah to make us and you steadfast
in following the Straight Path. May Allaah bless our Prophet Muhammad
and his family and companions, and grant them peace.