Can women go to funerals?

[Ghazi]

:sl:

Can muslims women go to funerals?

[Pk_#2]

AsalamuAlaykum,

In case of death of a person, it is practiced by some group of Muslims who follow Hanafi madhab in India that the society forbids-do not allow the wife of the person to see her own husbands dead body. They claim that when a person dies, his wife becomes a widow and she should not be allowed to go infront of any(mahram) man who is dead or alive. It is assumed by them that her husband's dead body becomes haram to see. Is there any authentic hadith that confirms this? Please explain.

Answer :

Praise be to Allaah.

This question involves two issues:

1 – A woman seeing her husband’s body after his death

2 – A woman seeing her mahrams.

1 – It is permissible for a woman to see her husband’s body, and there is no reason why she should not. Indeed, a wife has the right to wash her dead husband. Imaam Maalik narrated in al-Muwatta’ from ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Abi Bakr that Asmaa’ bint ‘Umays washed Abu Bakr al-Siddeeq when he died, then she went out and asked the Muhaajireen who were present, “I am fasting and the day is very cold; do I have to do ghusl?” and they said, “No.” (al-Janaa’iz, 466). The author of al-Muntaqa ‘ala Sharh al-Muwatta’ said concerning this hadeeth: this indicates that it is permissible for a woman to wash her husband after he has died, because this happened in the presence of a number of the Sahaabah, especially since Abu Bakr had left instructions in his will to that effect. No difference of opinion is known of among the Sahaabah concerning this matter, which indicates that there was consensus.

It was narrated that ‘Aa’ishah said, “If I could go back and change anything, nobody would have washed the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) except his wives. ” (narrated by Ibn Maajah, al-Janaa’iz, 1453; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Ibn Maajah, no. 1196). If a woman is permitted to wash her husband;s body, then it is definitely permitted for her to see her husband’s body.

This ruling applies only if the woman is still within the ‘iddah period. If her ‘iddah period has ended, for example if she was pregnant but gave birth straight after her husband died, then it is not permissible for her to wash him or to see him.

I (Shaykh al-Munajjid) asked Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) before he died about a man who dies and his wife gives birth a few hours later – can she wash her husband?

He replied: No, because when she gives birth the connection between her and her husband is severed, so it is not permissible for her to wash him, because he is now no longer her husband.

Mi’ah Faa’idah min al-‘Allaamah al-Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (tape).

What is forbidden is for women to wail over the deceased. It was narrated in a hadeeth that Umm ‘Atiyah (may Allaah be pleased with her) said: “The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) took our pledge of allegiance to him on the grounds that we would not wail (over the dead). None of us fulfilled their promise except five women: Umm Sulaym, Umm al-‘Alaa’, the daughter of Abu Sabrah the wife of Mu’aadh and two other women, or the daughter of Abu Sabrah, the wife of Mu’aadh and one other woman.” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari (al-Janaa’iz, 1223).

It was narrated from Abu Maalik al-Ash’ari that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “There are four things in my ummah from the jaahiliyyah which they will not give up: pride in one’s ancestry, slandering the lineage of others, seeking rain from the stars and wailing over the dead. If the woman who wails does not repent before she dies, she will be raised on the Day of Resurrection wearing a garment of tar and a shirt of scabs.’ (Narrated by Muslim, al-Janaa’iz, 1550).

2 – It is permissible for a woman to see her mahrams, and she does not have to observe hijaab in front of them.

There is no connection between the death of a woman’s husband and her seeing her mahrams. Hence it is recommended for her mahrams to offer condolences to her, by them seeing her, shaking hands with her, sitting with her and talking to her. No dispute is known among the scholars concerning this.

Al-Nawawi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: al-Shaafa’i and his companions said: it is recommended for all the relatives of the deceased to offer condolences to his wife, old and young, men and women, unless the wife is young, in which case only her mahrams should offer condolences.

(al-Majmoo’, 5/277).

What the questioner describes is nothing more than the myths and ignorance of the common people.

Shaykh Muhammad ibn Ibraaheem (may Allaah have mercy on him) was asked about a woman covering her face in front of her mahrams. He said:

That is not permissible, because it is not part of Islam, rather that is the myths and ignorance of the common people.

Source: http://63.175.194.25/index.php?ln=en...QR=13471&dgn=4

WlaykumSalaam.

[Pk_#2]

AsalamuAlaykum, ohhh it's funeral...not grave...my bad!

In his book Fiqh-us-Sunnah, the late Azharite scholar Sheikh Sayyed Sabiq (may Allah bless his soul), adds:

“A woman, like a man, may offer a funeral prayer, singly or in a congregation. In fact, once when Umm `Abdullah offered funeral prayer for `Utbah, `Umar waited until she finished. `Aa’ishah ordered the body of Sa`d Ibn Abi Waqqas to be brought to her so that she could offer a funeral prayer over him.

An-Nawawi concludes: "Women may offer Salat-ul-Janazah in congregation just as they are permitted to perform other Sunnah prayers. Al-Hasan Ibn Saleh, Sufiyan Al-Thawri, Ahmad, and the Hanafi School also hold the same view. Malik, however, is of the opinion that women should offer Salat-ul-Janazah individually.”

Having clarified the above, we can add that if you mean by the phrase “going for funeral” joining or accompanying the funeral procession and carrying the dead to the grave, we would like to cite for you the fatwa given by Sheikh `Attiyyah Saqr, former head of Al-Azhar Fatwa Committee, in which he states the following:

“The Hadith reported as regards women following funeral procession is recorded by Al-Bukhari and Muslim on the authority of Umm `Atiyyah, who narrates: “We have been forbidden to accompany funeral processions but not strictly.” This implies, as Ibn Hajar states in Fath Al-Bari, that she meant they were not recommended to accompany funeral processions, but not forbidden to do so.

So, the warning in the Hadith is meant for Karaha Tanzihiyyah (proper disapproval) This is the view of the majority of scholars; however Imam Malik holds that it is permissible, and this is the opinion of the People of Madina, as Al-Qurtbi states. What supports the permissibility is the Hadith of Ibn Abi Shayba, who reports that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was attending a funeral and `Umar saw a woman (following the funeral procession). He yelled at her, but the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to him: “Leave her, `Umar! Verily her eyes shed tears, the soul feels the pangs, and the promised hour is near."

All Hadiths which forbid women to accompany funeral procession are weak. What is prohibited is doing something haram while accompanying the funeral procession, according to the Hadiths: "He who (on befalling a calamity) slaps his cheeks, tears his clothes and follows the ways and traditions of the Jahiliyyah (pre-Islamic period) is none of us."

Source: www.islamonline.net

http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/S...=1119503545042

WalaykumSalaam.

[strider]

Assalamu alaikum

jazakumullah Khair sister tasmiyah_B.

In short, a woman is permitted to go to a funeral. What isn't permitted, as highlighted in the above fatwas, is the wailing that we so often witness at funerals.

ma'assalama

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[Pk_#2]

AsalamuAlaykum,

bear in mind...women tend to be more sensitive ...therefore breakdown into tears easily..

Let's just say ...can't handle the tears in times like death etc etc

[SirZubair]

assalma alykom wa rahmet allah wa barakatoh :)

Visiting the graveyards for women according to the Four madhabs is makrooh which means dislikable or not prefered to do, but if their visit may lead them to do the weeping or slapping the cheeks or tearing up their clothes or doing any act that is forbidden or if their going out to visit may cause Fitna in anyway then such visit becomes Haram as like any other halal act u do, if it's going to lead to a haram or cause a fitna then it becomes haram :)
The reason behind forbidding women from visiting graveyards (and forbiding as in Makrooh and not as in Haram) because women are more emotional and more sensetive to any emotional effect than men so theyare more likeable to lose their control than men, and start doing all the weeping or slapping their cheeks or tear their clothes esp. if who they lost is close to them like their parents or husbands or children, its more like a precaution procedure to protect women feelings and never put her in such situations!!

besides maybe if they go out it will cause mixing that will create Fitna cause as i mentioned the idea is to go and remeber the Hereafter and death and not to go and being tempted without having any intetion to do so!!

and remeber how the Prophet (PBUH) described women with this beautiful said when he described them as glass vessels to show how sensetive nad tender they are :)

Narrated By Anas bin Malik: Once the Prophet was on one of his journeys, and the driver of the camels started chanting (to let the camels go fast). The Prophet said to him. "(Take care) Drive slowly with the glass vessels, O Anjasha! Waihaka (May Allah be Merciful to you).""..........Sahih Bukhari

The idea of follwoing funeral and going to the graves is not crying over someone but to remeber death and the hereafter and i am not saying not to feel sad cause we all are human beings after all but we always try to control our feelings and observe the actions that come out as results of our feelings to come out in the best manner!
Anas Bin malik narrated The Prophet passed by a woman who was sitting and weeping beside a grave and said to her, "Fear Allah and be patient.".........sahih Bukhari
Abduallah bin omar narrated The Prophet said, "He who slaps his cheeks, tears his clothes and follows the ways and traditions of the Days of Ignorance is not one of us."..........Sahih Bukhari
and allah knows!

I hope i could help inshallah :)

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Assalaam Alaikum,

In dealing with such matters, it best to start with the majority position on a universal, then work down to any particular difference of opinion that may exist.

The 'Asl of the matter is that it is not unlawful for women to visit the graveyard. The difference of opinion is under which Five Rulings it falls on, particularly in relation permissible or makrooh (only a minority hold that it is recommended...)

The Hanafi School holds that it is not unlawful, and is permissible. Some Scholars within the School have differed, where they have mentioned that it is Makrooh tanzihi IF the reason or the act of visiting ends up renewing the grief and sorrow, where the woman spends her time there crying and mourning. This position of the Makrooh is generally the reason that it is held to be Makrroh, in other Schools.

The Hadeeth quoted above:

is one of amongst other proofs that women visited the graves at the time of Prophet :saws:, and he did not forbid them. The Hadeeth is proof, because the Propehts are not permitted to allow any prohibition be acted in their presence. He did not command her to leave the grave, but simply consoled her.

The most correct position in the Shafi'i School is that articulated by Imam Nawawi, after much debate in this school (the School's scholars held differing views and there was no one position in the Shafi'i School). He held that it would be Makrooh if the woman fell in sorrow and grief that she could not let go of, hence cry an wail. This is similar to the Hanafi position. This has become the position of the School. The likes of Ibn Hajar articulated the position by saying that it really comes down to intention and the action. If the intentions are within the Shari'ah then it would be recommended, or permissible at the very least.

The opinion of some teachers later, that it is forbidden for women to visit the grave is unfounded, as it does not reconcile ealrier position of the Prophet (when it was forbidden for both men and women) to the later (that it was permissible). The assertion that the Hadeeth "I forbade you from visitng the grave, but now you can do so" only applied to men, [because it was mentioned to men directly] fails to take many other matters into consideration, like the Hadeeth quote above, that Aisha regularly visited the grave, including her own brother's during her trip for Hajj (which was in the later Madinan time), and the like.

The fact that the caution by scholars was on the conduct of women, that they do not lose their emotion uncontrollably, was the key tp the ruling of Makrooh. There was no doubt that there was no prohibition... it was more a matter of where it fitted in the continuum of the five ruling between (but excluding) prohibition and obligation. There is ample evidence that the Prophet :saws: did not like the uncontrolled mourning and wailing, and which he forbade, but not the visiting of the grave.

Insha Allah that helps.

Was Salaam
Afroz

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Those are 2 replies that i recieved when i started a similar thread on another forum.

wa'salaam.

-zubair