#535: Ruling on saying RIP for the Dead Kaafir

QUESTION

” Sallam alaykum Ya admin,pls what is the ruling on the Muslims who say R.i.p with regards to the deceased kuffar,jazakumullahu khyran”

ANSWER

Wa alaykum Salām Warahmatullāh Wabarakātuh.

Firstly, it should be known that it is not permissible to pray for the dead of the Non-Muslims that Allāh forgives them, or grant them peace, or mercy, as long as they died while in a state of Kufr and Shirk.

Allāh – ta’ala – said:

(ما كان للنبي والذين آمنوا أن يستغفروا للمشركين ولو كانوا أولي قربى من بعد ما تبين لهم أنهم أصحاب الجحيم)
“It is not acceptable that the Prophet and those who believe should seek forgiveness for the Mushrikīn, even if they were those close of kin to them after it has become clear to them that they are of the People of the Fire.”

It is known that a person will not see peace after death if he fails to believe in Allāh and the Messenger of Allah – salallāhu alayhi wasallam – while he was alive. This is an agreement among the Ulamā except for those who didn’t receive the Message of the Rasūl – salallāhu alayhi wasallam – , or received it in a corrupted form, in accordance to the minority position of some of our Theologians.

While then will a Muslim say RIP (Rest in Peace).

If it is said: ‘even if I pray for him for peace, I know that Allāh will not accept the prayer. But I say it so that the Kāfir friend/colleague of mine does nor feel bad’

We will say: Allāh forbade you in the quoted verse to pray for them for forgiveness. And the only thing that can make a person receive a peaceful dwelling after death is forgiveness and mercy. How then can you pray for his peaceful rest?

To please a Kāfir? Or to not be seen as a Fundamentalist? This is wrong.

And the earlier Muslims stop seeking to please the Kuffār, the better.

Second, this abbreviation *RIP* is an abbreviation used by the Kuffār, and it is encouraged that Muslims dissuade from that and return to the sort that is found in our books. This is by way of avoiding following in the footsteps of the Kuffār and emulating their ways.

Islam does not emulate other diverse Religions, it should be emulated by them.

Bārakallāhu fīkum
Jazākumullāhu Khayran

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