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How is a Muslim buried out at sea?

Answered as per Hanafi Fiqh by TheMufti.com

Q. Kindly advise how a muslim is buried out at sea?


A. A Muslim who passes away at sea should be given Ghusal, shrouded in a Kafan and Salaatul Janaazah should be performed for him/her.

If the ship is far out at sea and there is a fear that the body will decompose thereby causing harm to others on the ship, the body should be weighted and buried at sea.

However, if the ship is close to land or there are facilities on board whereby the body can be preserved, the deceased’s body should be buried on land. (Tahtaawi 1/613)

Allah Ta’ala Knows Best

Mufti Ismaeel Bassa

This answer was collected from TheMufti.com, which is a fatwa portal managed by Mufti Ismaeel Bassa from South Africa.