#89. WOMEN ATTENDING THE JANAAZAH
” Salaam Alaikum. Good morning.
Hope you had a good night rest.
Praise be to Allah.
May Allah reward you and your loved ones for your good work
Please, I have a question regarding females joining in Jana’iza Prayer and also going for the burial.
Is it allowed in Islam?
Jazakallah Khairan”
ANSWER
Wa alaykum salaam warahmatullaah wabarakaatuh
Alhamdulillaah and Aameen to your du’a
There is no evidence in the Shari’ah that forbids women from attending the Janaazah prayer on the dead. This is because the Rulings of the Shari’ah apply for both men and women whenever there is no indication to restrict it to one of both sexes. This is by consensus of the Ulamaa.
As for escorting the dead to the grave and following the proceeding of the funeral, the Ulamaa have differed on that. This is based on their commentaries on the Hadith of Umm Atiyya – radiyallaahu anha – that was recorded by Imaam Al-Bukhaari where she said:
نهينا عن أن نتبع الجنائز ولم يعزم علينا
“We were forbidden from following the funeral proceeding. Though it was not firmly ruled out on us.”
Imaam Ibn Hajar Al-Asqalaani – rahimahullaah – said:
“Meaning: it was not firmly stressed upon us as other than it of the forbidden things were stressed upon us.”
It is as if she aims at saying it is Makruh (disliked).
For this reason, Imaam Al-Qurtubi – rahimahullaah – said:
“What is apparent in the wordings of Umm Atiyyah is that it is makruh. This is the position held by the majority of the Ulamaa. Maalik’s position is that it were permissible, and that is the verdict of the People of Madinah…”
Ref: ‘Fat’hu Al-Baari’
As for visiting the grave by women, the Ulamaa differed on that regard as well and we have answered a similar question on this before the summary of which is as follows:
1. Though the Ulamaa differed in its permissibility, what is authentic in this regard is that it is permissible with conditions
2. That the conditions that will warrant its permissibility are as follows:
A. That she observes the rules of Hijaab
B. That she has the permission of her Husband or father to attend the grave
C. That she does that solely as a way of remembering Allah and attaining taqwah
D. That she avoids wailing and is able to control herself accordingly.
Allaahu A’alam
Baarakallaahu feekum
Jazaakumullaahu khayran.
