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MAKING DUA FOR A DECEASED KAAFIR
Muhtaram brother,
We have received your query which pertains to making Dua for a deceased Kaafir.
Our response is as follows:
The 9th Surah of the Quraan Sharif is named Surah Baraa’at which commences in the 10th Juz of the Quraan Sharif and terminates in the 11th Juz of the Quraan Sharif. One of the reasons for the Surah being referred to as Surah Baraa’at is that there are many
laws recorded in this Surah pertaining to the Kuffar which clearly indicate that we Muslims should absolve and disassociate ourselves from them in worldly matters as well as matters of the hereafter.
Hence, we are prohibited from performing the Janaazah Salaah of the Kuffar and seeking forgiveness for them after their demise. Allah Ta’ala mentions,
وَرَسُولِهِ وَمَاتُواْ وَهُمْ فَاسِقُونَ ِّ وَلاَ تُصَلِّ عَلَى أَحَدٍ مِّنْهُم مَّاتَ أَبَدًا وَلاَ تَقُمْ عَلَىَ قَبْرِهِ إِنَّهُمْ كَفَرُواْ ِ
(When Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam was about to perform the funeral prayer of the leader of the Munaafiqeen, Allah Ta’ala addressed him saying,) Do not ever perform (the funeral) Salaah for any of them who die and do not stand over their graves (to bury them or to visit their graves). Undoubtedly they disbelieved in Allah and His Rasool and died as disobedient people (as Kuffaar).
[Re:- Surah Taubah, Verse 84]
In the very same Surah we are prohibited from making Dua of forgiveness for the Kuffar. It is recorded in Saheeh Bukhari and Muslim that although Abu Talib, the uncle of Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam, didn’t accept Islam yet he shielded and protected Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam until his very end. In spite of
being a Kaafir, he never adhered to the advice of any Kaafir in this particular matter (of abandoning Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam). Therefore, Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam was desirous that his uncle recites the Kalimah (of Tawheed) and accepts Islam, so that he may be able to intercede on behalf of his uncle on the day of Qiyaamah, due to which he may be protected from the punishment of Jahannam.
It was with this concern that Rasulullah went to his uncle during his final moments but found Abu Jahl and Abdullah Bin Umayyah seated there. He told his uncle, “O my uncle! Recite the Kalimah so that I am able to make an effort to attain your forgiveness.” Abu Jahl immediately admonished him saying, “Will you discard the religion of Abdul Muttalib?” Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam repeated his request (of reciting the Kalimah) several times but Abu Jahl would repeat his statement as well on every occasion. Finally Abu Taalib said, “I am upon the Deen of Abdul Muttalib” and passed away.
Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam took an oath (in the name of Allah) that he will continue seeking forgiveness for his uncle as long as he is not prohibited from doing so. On this occasion Allah Ta’ala revealed verses of the Quraan prohibiting Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam and the Muslimeen from seeking forgiveness
for the disbelievers even though the deceased disbeliever may be a close relative.
Allah Ta’ala states,
مَا كَانَ لِلنَّبِيِّ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ أَن يَسْتَغْفِرُواْ لِلْمُشْرِكِينَ وَلَوْ كَانُواْ أُوْلِي قرُْبَى مِن بعَْدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لهَمُْ أَنهَُّمْ أَصْحَابُ الجَْحِيمِ
It is not (permissible) for the Nabi nor (is it permissible for) the Mu'mineen to (ever) seek forgiveness for the Mushrikeen, even if they be their relatives, after it has become clear to them (when these Mushrikeen died without Imaan) that they (the Mushrikeen) are to be residents of the Blaze (Jahannam). [Re:- Surah Taubah,
Verse 113]
This created a doubt in the heart of some Muslims in regards to Ibrahim Alaihis Salaam, that he too made Dua for his Kaafir father after his demise. To clarify the matter and remove all elements of doubt, Allah Ta’ala revealed the subsequent verse which states,
ِ تَبَرَّأَ مِنْهُ إِنَّ إِبْرَاهِيمَ لأوَّاهٌ حَلِيمٌ هُ فَلَمَّا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُ أَنَّهُ عَدُ وٌّ ِّ وَمَا كَانَ اسْتِغْفَارُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ لِأَبِيهِ إِلاَّ عَن مَّوْعِدَةٍ وَعَدَهَا إَِّ
Ibraheem sought forgiveness for his father only because of a promise that he (Ibraheem) had made to him when he said to his father that he would seek forgiveness for him, hoping that this would encourage his father to accept Imaan).
(However,) When it became clear to him (Ibraheem) that his father was Allaah’s enemy (when his father died without Imaan), he absolved himself from him (from his obligation to seek forgiveness for his father). Indeed Ibraheem was extremely soft-hearted and tolerant. [Re:- Surah Taubah, Verse 114]
In various parts of the Quraan Sharif the Dua of Ibrahim Alaihis Salaam for his father has been recorded. These Duas (of Ibrahim Alaihis Salaam for his father) actually mean that Allah Ta’ala should bless his father with Imaan so that he may be forgiven in the court of the Allah Ta’ala.
Imaam Qurtubi Rahimahullah mentions that it is proven from the above that one may make Dua of forgiveness for a living Kaafir with the intention that he is blessed with Imaan and as a result he is pardoned by Allah Ta’ala. However, when a person dies upon Kufr then supplicating for his forgiveness has been totally prohibited.
Many use the term ‘Rest in peace’ on the demise of prominent Kuffar. This is in actual fact a Dua for the Kaafir to have a peaceful and comfortable stay in the Qabr, whereas the Hadith states that the Qabr is either a garden from amongst the gardens of Jannah (for a true believer) or a pit from amongst the pits of the fire of Jahannam (for a disbeliever). We have received emails stating that such statements are being made by Muslim presenters on Muslim Radio stations. We as Muslims should comply fully to the teachings of Quraan Sharif and not engage in any form of Dua for a Kaafir as explained above. There is really no need for us to curry favour with the Kuffar and please them. The happiness and pleasure of Allah Ta’ala is sufficient for us.
Yes, we do acknowledge that there have been those Kuffar that served the creation of Allah Ta’ala by taking care of the underprivileged, setting up orphanages, engaging in social welfare work, etc. However, the Kuffar are rewarded by Allah Ta’ala in the world for their good actions and there is absolutely no reward reserved for them in the hereafter.
They are either blessed with wealth, a long life, good health, beauty, honour, etc. in the world for their good deeds. Now that they have already received their rewards in this very world, with no rewards whatsoever in store for them in the hereafter, we should not hymn their praises, as it is of no benefit to them or us, rather this is a futile action. Unfortunately, on the demise of Kuffar leaders and celebrities the discussions of even the righteous and pious are centred on their achievements and services unto mankind, whereas such discussions will not benefit them in the least bit in the Qabr or on the planes of resurrection.
May Allah Ta’ala grant us the true understanding of Deen. Ameen!
ALLAH TAÁLA KNOWS BEST!
ANSWERED BY:
Mufti Mohammed Desai
Date:- 22 Jumad-al-Ula 1443
English Date: 27 December 2021
