Member
Posts: 128
Joined: Sep 2002
|
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
الحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله وعلى آله وصحبه ومن والاه وبعد
السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته
Q: What is the ruling on offering Salat-ul-Gha'ib?
A: The most famous view is that this Salah is a ruling that was only applied to Negus. Some scholars gave license to offering such Salah if the deceased has a high rank in Islam or if he is a scholar who played an active role in calling to Islam and spreading knowledge. Yet, we have no knowledge that the Prophet (peace be upon him) offered such Salah for other than Negus. There is no authentic Hadith that the Prophet (peace be upon him) offered such Salah for other than Negus. Though many of the Companions died in Makkah and other places, it was not proven that the Prophet (peace be upon him) offered such Salah for them.
In conclusion, the viewpoint of those who stated that it is peculiar to Negus is a powerful opinion. Yet, if this is done for those who have a high rank in Islam like Negus i.e. the scholars and rulers who have a high rank in Islam, we opine that there is no harm in doing so, In shaża-Allah (if Allah wills).
Q: What is the ruling on offering Salah for an absentee? Is it permissible to offer it for someone who has not been buried yet?
A: Offering Salah for an absentee has some details: Some scholars hold the view that such Salah should not be offered for an absentee for whom Funeral Prayer has been offered in his country, whereas others opine that an absentee should be offered such Salah on condition that he has a high rank in Islam, such as Negus (may Allah be merciful with him) because the Prophet (peace be upon him) performed the Funeral Prayer for Negus when he died in his country and the Prophet (peace be upon him) was told about that by the Companions. Thus, the Prophet (peace be upon him) offered Funeral Prayer in absentia for him. Yet, it was not proven that the Prophet (peace be upon him) offered such Salah for other than him.
If the absentee is a just and good ruler, the ruler should give an order and offer Funeral Prayer in absentia for him.
The same applies to the true scholars and callers to guidance. It is recommended to offer the Funeral Prayer in absentia for them as the Prophet (peace be upon him) prayed for Negus.
As for ordinary people, it is not prescribed to offer such Salah for them because the Messenger (peace be upon him) did not offer it for every absentee. Rather, he offered it for just one person who is Negus. This is because Negus did a favor to Islam and offered shelter to the Immigrants of the Companions who immigrated to Abyssinia (Ethiopia). He sheltered, supported, protected, and treated them well. He did a great favour for Islam. This is why the Prophet (peace be upon him) led the Companions in offering Funeral Prayer in absentia for him.
Whoever is in this rank and has a great position in Islam has the right to be offered Funeral Prayer in absentia. For example, Muslims in our country offered such Salah for Diya' Al-Haq, the President of Pakistan (may Allah be merciful with him) due to his good Islamic attitudes. The ruler gave an order to offer Funeral Prayer in absentia for him in Al-Haramayn. He was offered such Salah because he is worthy of it due to his noble positions, care to rule by the Shariżah and command his governors to rule by it.
We pray Allah to grant us and him pardon and forgiveness.
The point is that the absentee who has such a rank among the Muslim rulers and scholars should be offered Funeral Prayer in absentia either when dying in foreign countries or in his own country where it is permissible for the Muslims who are not present in the country to offer Funeral Prayer in absentia for him based on the story of Negus mentioned above. May Allah grant us success! [Fataawa Ibn Baaz, Vol. 13, pp. 158-160]
أحسن الله إليكم
والله أعلم وصلى الله وسلم على نبينا محمد
سبحانك اللهم وبحمدك أشهد أن لا إله إلا أنتأستغفرك وأتوب إليك
وسلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته
Aboo Bilal Nahim
|
|
aboo.bilal
29-01-2010 @ 10:46 AM
