go to a funeral of a christian ?

[ahmad786]

Assalamu 'Alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu,

Can you tell me if we are allowed to go to the funeral of a work colleague, who is non-muslim. The whole of my section is going, and if i dont go i will be the only one who wont be able to go, and it will look bad because i knew him. I said to them i wont go to the church service, but will wait outside ? I dont know if the deceased is to be cremated or buried yet ?

[Imam]

Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem,

Assalamu 'Alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu


Praise be to Allah who is the Lord of the Worlds, and may Endless Blessings be upon Our Master, the Last Beloved Messenger of Islam (Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam).


Jazak'Allah for your question. Strictly speaking, we shouldnt really go to the funerals of non Muslims, or go there and get invoved. Sometimes it may look a little bad, if eveyone else goes, from work, and you dont go. However, to simplify the situation, by going and not attending the funeral prayers, or just to show your face will be enough, to say that you were present.


These days, there is the threat that if you do not go to a funeral from work, they will have a bad image about Muslims or Islam, in my view, constitutes a valid reason, just to go, and not be involved. First of all your work colleagues family and friends will be up front to do all they can, in making a good funeral.


However, there is nothing in Islam, which states that you cannot watch what happens at the graveyard, when someone is being buried. Despite the fact that you dont even know whether he is being cremated, or whether he is being buried.


I think that from the question that you posed, that you know what you are doing, and that you know when to go and when not to. To go to the church would be impermissable, as we have our own Mosques in terms of worship, but to be outside , and present while observing the burial, then I dont see that there is any problem.


Jazakallahu Khayrann


M. Waseem Ashrafi