To: The Respected Chief Mufti (May Allah preserve him)
Subject: Regarding performing the funeral prayer (Salat al-Janazah) twice.
Issue: A wealthy man from our village lived in the city with his children. A few days ago, he passed away. Subsequently, his funeral prayer (Janazah) was performed in the city, and because his paternal home and relatives are in the village, a second funeral prayer was also performed for him after bringing his body to the village.
Query: What I wish to know from the respected Mufti is: What is the Islamic legal ruling (Shari'ah حکم) regarding performing the funeral prayer twice for that deceased individual? Kindly oblige us by providing the ruling along with Islamic legal evidence (Dalil).
Ruling: According to the Imam of our school of jurisprudence, Imam Abu Hanifa (may Allah have mercy on him), performing multiple funeral prayers (Salat al-Janazah) for the same deceased person is not permissible. Once the funeral prayer has been duly performed for a deceased person, it should not be repeated a second time. However, if the first funeral prayer was performed by non-relatives without the permission or presence of the deceased's rightful legal guardians (Awliya / close male heirs), then the legal guardians/heirs have the right to perform the funeral prayer a second time.
Al-Hidayah (p. 180), Fath al-Qadir (2/123), Radd al-Muhtar (2/224).
