Is it permissible to pray over the deceased and delay the burial until the following day due to legal procedures?
It is (recommended) to hasten the preparation of the deceased, praying over them, and burying them, due to the Prophet (peace be upon him) saying: “Hasten with the (funeral),” and his saying: “When one of you dies, do not detain him, but hasten him to his grave.” However, excessive haste that burdens the weak is disliked. Delay is permissible within the bounds of need for preparation or awaiting relatives.
If burial is not possible without obtaining legal documents, then delay is permissible. The prayer may also be delayed to allow people to follow the funeral procession and earn reward, based on the Prophet (peace be upon him) saying: “Whoever attends the Janazah until the prayer is performed over it, will have one qirat, and whoever attends it until it is buried, will have two qirats.” When necessity dictates delaying the burial, the prayer should be delayed so that the burial can follow it.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 29803
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy