Q: I would like to know whether the deceased (dead body) still feels any sort of pain if mishandled – intentionally or accidentally. Externally it is seen that it has no soul, no ability to talk, see or express any feelings. Does it mean we can keep the dead body into a freezer (for 1, 2 or even 3 days) so that the relatives (specially sons/daughters, spouse) can arrive from a foreign/distant land to have the last view of the deceased? What is the Shariah Rulings regarding this? Whoever are in charge of all those activities like keeping the dead body into a freezer, delaying the Janaza and burial – will they be regarded as the Sinners and accountable in the eyes of Allah?
A: It is wrong to delay the burial for these types of reasons. The correct thing is to hasten the burial process. If the mayyit had made such a bequest for his burial to be postponed then he may have to go under difficulty in the hereafter.
عن علي بن أبي طالب : أن النبي صلى الله عليه و سلم قال له يا علي ثلاث لا تؤخرها الصلاة إذا آنت والجنازة إذا حضرت والأيم إذا وجدت لها كفؤا (جامع الترمذي رقم 171)
Answered by:
Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)