Fatwa ID: 03808

Answered by: Maulana Mustafa Umar

Question

Sometimes when a Shia passes away their families go to masjids to make funeral arrangements. I’ve noticed there are 3 types of situation:

1. The mayyit is a Shia and the masjid provides a separate community hall where the Shia community carries out the funeral themselves i.e. with their own religious leader etc.

2. The mayyit is a Shia and the family request the masjid to perform the janazah.

3. The mayyit’s identity is unclear (sometimes a mixed Sunni/Shia background) and the family request the masjid to perform the janazah.

Of course, as Muslims we respect everyone’s right to have their own beliefs, however, there are concerns about these types of situations because it’s important to protect our deen/identity. Could you please advise on the above?

 بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيْم

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer:

As long as a person is a Muslim, according to the minimum definition, they will be prayed over by the Muslims when they die. The only exception is a Muslim who was a rebel or a brigand and robbed and killed others, as a deterrent for people who might follow in their footsteps.[1]

With that said, it may be that Shia performs certain rituals which are not acceptable according to mainstream Islamic practice. That should not be allowed inside the masjids. If someone is unsure what the person's beliefs truly are, they should judge by their outward state and give them the benefit of the doubt [i.e. consider that they are Muslim].

Only Allah knows best

Written by Maulana Mustafa Umar

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham