Leading the funeral prayer (janaza) whilst in Iʿtikāf

Leading the funeral prayer (janaza) whilst in Itikaf

Darulifta Ahlesunnat

(Dawateislami)

Question

   What do the honourable scholars state in this regard: I serve as Imam in a masjid. Whenever someone in our neighbourhood passes away, I lead their janāza. Normally, there is nobody to lead it besides me.

   I now intend to perform Sunnah Iʿtikāf. The people of my neighbourhood say, if somebody was to pass away whilst I was in ‘Iʿtikāf, there will be nobody to lead their janāza. They ask me to not perform Iʿtikāf for this reason.

   Outside the masjid, there is a field designated for janāza. This field is neither a part of ʿayn-e -masjid nor part of  fināʾ-e-masjid.While performing Iʿtikāf, am I allowed to leave the masjid to lead janāza prayers? From Muhammad Arif Siyalvi

بِسْمِ اللہِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِ

اَلْجَوَابُ بِعَوْنِ الْمَلِکِ الْوَھَّابِ اَللّٰھُمَّ ھِدَایَۃَ الْحَقِّ وَالصَّوَابِ

   If a muʿtakif (the one sitting Iʿtikāf) leaves the masjid for a janāza prayer, his Iʿtikāf will be rendered void. This will remain the case, even if no-one else is available to lead the janāza.

   If you perform Iʿtikāf, the people of the neighbourhood should arrange for someone else to lead janāza instead. Also, janāza can be performed in Fina-e-Masjid, if the Masjid you are performing Iʿtikāf in has such an area. This can only be done if reaching Fina-e-Masjid does not involve you leaving the Masjid at all. Also remember, it is not permissible to perform janāza in ‘Ain-e-Masjid.

   If you have no choice but to leave the Masjid in order to lead a janāza, and you enter the field used to perform janāza; which is not Fina-e-Masjid but a separate place from the Masjid altogether, your Iʿtikāf will be rendered void and will break.

   Whenever Iʿtikāf breaks, it is necessary to make up for it. The method of doing this, is to reach the Masjid before sunset, with the intention of making up for Iʿtikāf. Keep a fast the next day, and after performing Maghrib Salah you may return home. Your Iʿtikāf will be atoned for.

   The meaning of having no choice but to leave the Masjid, as was said earlier, entails that there is nobody besides you capable of leading the janāza. Without this compulsion, it is impermissible to break Iʿtikāf.

وَاللہُ اَعْلَمُ عَزَّوَجَلَّ وَرَسُوْلُہ اَعْلَم صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم

Written by: Mufti Muhammad Qasim Attari