Is it permissible to display the face of the deceased for public viewing?
Answer:
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu `alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
It is permissible to expose the face of a male after salaatul – Janaazah and before the burial process. However, such a practice is discouraged especially when the effects of the Barzagh (eschatological world) become apparent. Such effects should be concealed.[1]
It is not permissible to expose the face of a female after Salaatul – Janaazah.
And Allah knows best.
Ismail Desai
Student Darul Iftaa
Checked and Approved
Mufti Ebrahim Desai
1 و لا باس بان يرفع ستر الميت ليري وجهه و انها يكره ذلك بعد الدفن.عالمكيرية. 251/5
فتاوي محمودية 271/13