Answered by Shaykh Yusuf Badat
Question:
Does watching a non-muslim’s funeral carry the same ruling as participating in it?
Answer:
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيْم
In the name of Allāh, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
Jazāk Allāh Khayr/ Thank you for contacting Mathabah Institute.
In principle, there is no objection in attending or watching non-Muslim functions or funerals whether online or in person. However, the caution a Muslim must take, is that one should not participate or watch anything, at or during the function, which is Islamically prohibited such as worship to other than the Almighty, promiscuity and or consuming non-ḥalāl items.
If it is a funeral of a close friend or relative, one should attend and pay respects. However, while doing so, one is not to actively engage in any action that is prohibited in Islam. One is not to glorify anything unislamic at the event. A believer must always adhere to Islamic values and principles.
If at any function, one feels they will be negatively influenced by unislamic activities, evil or harm, one should refrain and abstain.
“The Prophet Muḥammad (peace and blessings upon him) instructed ‘Alī (may Allāh be pleased with him) to fulfil the final rites of burial for his non Muslim father. ‘Alī (may Allāh be pleased with him) says, “I said to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), “Your old and astray uncle has died. He replied, “Go and bury your father, and then do not do anything until you come to me. So I went, buried him and came to him. He ordered me [to take a bath], so I took a bath, and he prayed for me.” – (See: Abū Dāwūd 3214)
“A Christian woman named Omm Al-Ḥārith died. The Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) attended her funeral.” – (See: Muṣannaf Ibn Abī Shaybah 11843)
Only Allāh knows best
عَنْ عَلِيٍّ قَالَ قُلْتُ لِلنَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِنَّ عَمَّكَ الشَّيْخَ الضَّالَّ قَدْ مَاتَ قَالَ اذْهَبْ فَوَارِ أَبَاكَ ثُمَّ لاَ تُحْدِثَنَّ شَيْئًا حَتَّى تَأْتِيَنِي فَذَهَبْتُ فَوَارَيْتُهُ وَجِئْتُهُ فَأَمَرَنِي فَاغْتَسَلْتُ وَدَعَا لِي – رواه أبو داود ٣٢١٤
حَدَّثَنَا شَرِيكٌ عَنْ جَابِرٍ عَنْ عَامِرٍ قَالَ مَاتَتْ أُمُّ الْحَارِثِ وَكَانَتْ نَصْرَانِيَّةً فَشَهِدَهَا أَصْحَابُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ – مصنف ابن أبي شيبة ١١٨٤٣