Question:
Assalamualaikum Datuk Mufti. I want to ask for an explanation regarding the ruling of reciting al-Fatihah when carrying a deceased to the vehicle or towards the graveyard? Thank you.
Answer:
Waalaikumussalam wrt wbt,
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
It has been the custom of the Malays when carrying the deceased, the Fatihah is recited several times before the deceased is brought to the graveyard. Some people are questioning whether it is permissible or otherwise.
Basically, for worship, it must be supported by revelation evidences from the Quran or hadith. In this matter, there are numerous hadiths which encouraged us to recite al-Fatihah for a deceased, among them are:
- Narrated by Imam al-Bukhari from Talhah Ibn ‘Abdullah, he said:
صَلَّيْتُ مَعَ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ عَلَى جَنَازَةٍ فَقَرَأَ بِفَاتِحَةِ الْكِتَابِ، وَقَالَ: إِنَّهَا مِنَ السُّنَّةِ
“I prayed over a dead person along with Ibn 'Abbas. He recited Surat al-Fatihah and he said: This is the Sunnah.”
Sahih al-Bukhari (1335)
- In another narration by al-Zahabi, narrated from Abdullah Ibn Abbas, he said:
أنَّ النبيَّ ﷺ قرأَ على الجنازَةِ بالفاتحةِ
“Indeed, the Prophet PBUH recited al-Fatihah for a deceased,”
Narrated by al-Zahabi in Tanqih al-Tahqiq (1:315)
- It is also narrated from al-Tirmidzi in a related chapter of Umm Syarik RA, where he said:
أَمَرَنَا رَسُول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أن نقرأ على الجنازة بفاتحة الكتاب
“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) commanded us to recite the Opening of the Book (Al-Fatihah) in the funeral prayer.”
Sunan al-Tirmidzi (1032)
According to the above evidences, in our opinion it is permissible to recite al-Fatihah when carrying a deceased to the vehicle for the deceased or the graveyard. However, it is sufficient to recite it once and not prolong the process. The reason is it is according to the encouragement of hastening the funeral of a deceased. In a hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah RA, the Prophet PBUH said:
أَسْرِعُوا بالجِنازَةِ، فإنْ تَكُ صالِحَةً فَخَيْرٌ تُقَدِّمُونَها، وإنْ يَكُ سِوى ذلكَ، فَشَرٌّ تَضَعُونَهُ عن رِقابِكُمْ
"Hurry up when you carry the dead body (the janazah), for if the deceased is righteous, you would be taking it to something better, and if he or she is an evil person, then you will be getting him or her off your necks.”
Sahih al-Bukhari (1315) and Sahih Muslim (944)
Imam al-Nawawi in his commentary of the hadith said: “In the hadith, there is a commandment to hasten (the management of the deceased) because of the wisdoms stated by the Prophet PBUH.”
He further adds: “Our ashab (colleagues) have stated: It is sunnah to hasten with the carrying of the deceased for as long as it is not feared that the deceased will start to degrade.” (Refer al-Minhaj Syarah Sahih Muslim, al-Nawawi, 7:13)
As for when the deceased is already inside the van, it is permissible for the people accompanying the deceased to recite any surah from the Quran such as al-Fatihah, al-Ikhlas and others. This is not an offense for there are is athar for this action and it does not affect the duration of the travel towards the graveyard.
Conclusion
In resolving the above issue, celebrating all parties involved as long as there is khilaf on the matter is the wise thing to be interpreted in the lives of our society in Malaysia. Indeed, maintaining the harmony and ukhuwwah islamiah that has been cultivated since before should be prioritized in our daily lives. We would like to emphasize that what is important in this issue is to hasten in the management of the deceased to be buried and everything performed must not contradict clear and apparent syarak evidences.
Lastly, let us all think good among us, maintaining the silaturrahim relationship we have the best we could. We end with the advice of the Prophet PBUH for his Companions when the Prophet PBUH first reached the city of Medina al-Munawwarah:
أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ أَفْشوا السَّلامَ، وَأَطْعِمُوا الطَّعَامَ، وَصَلُّوا باللَّيْل وَالنَّاسُ نِيامٌ، تَدخُلُوا الجَنَّةَ بِسَلامٍ
“O people, extend greetings (saying Salam to each other), keep relations with your kin, provide food (to people) and pray at night when people are asleep and you will enter Paradise in peace.”
Sunan Ibn Majah (2648)
Wallahua’lam.