Answered by: Maulana Muhammad Afzal Hussain
Question:
Can non-Muslims attend Muslim funerals?
Answer
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Allah has said: “And indeed We have honoured the Children of Adam, and We have carried them on land and sea and We have provided them with lawful good things, and have preferred them to many of those whom We have created with a marked preferment.” [Surah Al-Isra: 70]
As a human being every one of us is son of Adam. Prophet of Islam showed sympathy and honour to all.
It was narrated that Jabir bin ‘Abdullah said: “A funeral passed by and the Messenger of Allah stood up for it, and we stood up with him. We said: ‘0 Messenger of Allah, it is a Jewish woman.’ He said: ‘Death is something that inspires awe. If you see a funeral, then stand up.” [Muslim: 2194-960]
It was narrated from Ibn AbI Laila that Qays bin Sa’d and Sahi bin Hunaif were in Al-Qadisiyyah and a funeral passed by them, so they stood up. It was said to them: “It is one of the local people.” They said: “A funeral passed by the Messenger of Allah so he stood up, and it was said to him: ‘It is a Jew.’ He said: ‘Is it not a soul?” [Muslim: 2197-961] Prophet and his companions showed no hatred or so to the Jewish funeral.
Mujahid said, “I was with ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr while his slave was skinning a sheep. He said, ‘Boy! When you finish, start with the Jewish neighbour.’ A man there exclaimed, ‘Jewish? May Allah correct you!’ He replied, ‘I heard the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, recommend that we treat our neighbours well until we feared (or we thought) that he would order us to make them our heirs.'” [Adabul Mufrad: 127]
Therefore, in a Muslims funeral, a non-Muslim (colleague/ relative/ neighbour) can attend to show condolences but cannot participate in any funeral rituals.
Only Allah Knows Best
Written by Maulana Muhammad Afzal Hussain
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham