Answered by: Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Question
Is it permissible to offer condolences to a family member who has lost a relative who was not a Muslim?
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer
It is permissible for Muslims to pray to Allah (SWA) for the guidance of a non-believer to Islam as long as he is alive, but after his death, it is impermissible to seek forgiveness for him.
Allah (SWA) says:
“It is not for the Prophet and those who believe to pray for the forgiveness of unbelievers even though they may be near to kin after it has become clear that they are people of hell-fire.” (Surah Tawbah v.113)
Allamah Aini (RA) states that the Prophet’s supplications for the non-believers were either for their guidance if he had hope for them or against them if they were harming him and he lost hope in them accepting Islam. (Umdatul Qari p.207 v.14)
If a non-Muslim relative has no other relatives to bury him/her, then it will be permissible for a Muslim to only bury him. (Maariful Quran p.433-437 v.6)
It will be permissible to visit a non-Muslim to offer Taziyat (condolences) (Ahsanul Fatawa p.243 v.4)
Only Allah Knows Best
Written by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham