Fatwa ID: 04694
Answered by: Alimah Nasima Umm Hamza
Question
I wanted to ask in regards to performing janaza for one who is not present (janaza ala ghaib). I have recently come across some Hadith which says that the Prophet (SAW) prayed janaza on Najashi when his body was not even in Madinah. I wanted to find out what the Hanafi stance is please, also if you could kindly provide evidence as well that would be much appreciated.
In The Name Of Allah, The Most Gracious, The Most Merciful
Answer:
There are some conditions with regards to the deceased body which must be met in order to pray janaza over it.
They are:
- Being a Muslim
- Purification of the body
- Coverage of its ‘awrah
- The presence of the body
- Placing the body in front of the congregation
Based on the condition for the body to be present, it will not be allowed to pray janaza upon the absent deceased person according to the Hanafi madhhab.
With regards to praying Janazah for Najashi, there are two possible explanations given in Raddul Mukhtar:
- One possible meaning of the word ‘salah’ here is that it is used linguistically to mean ‘dua’. Thus, the Prophet (PBUH) did dua for Najashi rather than actual prayer.
- Another possibility is that it has an exclusive meaning, here it refers to Najashi being raised on his bed so that the Prophet (PBUH) could see him, thereby the condition of him being present in front of the Imam was met.
Another supporting argument is that there is no narration that the Prophet (PBUH) prayed in absence of the body of any of the companions, even though many of the Qaris’ from amongst them were killed in His absence.[1]
Only Allah knows best
Answered by Alimah Nasima Umm Hamza
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
[1] Source: Ibn Abideen, Raddul Muhtaar, volume 2, pages 207-9
