𝐈𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐝𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡

Question

I am a recent convert to Islam.  It was somewhat of a tradition in my family to get cremated.  I always had that in my head that this was the best thing to do for the environment of the earth.  Can you please tell me if this is allowed in Islam?  Thank-you very much for your time. 

Answer

Praise be to Allah.

It must be noted that the teachings and laws of Islam came to honour people. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“And indeed, We have honoured the Children of Adam” Quran [al-Israa’ 17:70]

 As the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was the one who conveyed to us the laws of our Lord, he taught us what Allah has prescribed concerning the dead, what we are permitted to do in their case and what we are not permitted to do. Hence the teachings of Islam are different from the teachings of other nations; they include treating the deceased with respect and in a manner that will benefit him.

Allah has prescribed for us that when a Muslim dies, we should wash him and cleanse him, then shroud him in a white cloth, then we should offer the funeral prayer for him and pray for mercy and forgiveness for him. Then after that we must bury him and cover him with earth, then we should visit the graves and pray for their Muslim occupants.

It is not prescribed in Islam to burn or cremate the dead, rather this is an act of disrespect and dishonour. Islam forbids us to step, walk or sit on the grave of the deceased, so how could we burn him? Even non-Muslims are to be buried according to Islam, and this is what the Muslims do in the case of kuffaar who die in their countries, but the kuffaar are not buried with the Muslims in the same place.

Some of the kuffaar may burn their dead because they do not believe in the Last Day. For this reason it is not permitted to burn the dead; rather it is obligatory to bury the dead.

And Allah knows best.

 

𝐈𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐝𝐨𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐛𝐨𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐬?

Question

The law in this country allows cremation of dead bodies, and the Muslim doctor is required to sign the cremation certificate if he has overseen the death of one of his patients. It is not possible for the cremation to be carried out except with his consent. My question is: is it permissible to him to do that according to Islamic sharī’ah?

Answer

Praise be to Allah.

He is not allowed to do that, because this is cooperating in sin and transgression. He should not sign for the purpose of cremation. This is not acceptable according to Shari’ah. If the deceased is Muslim, it is not permissible to sign for his cremation. But if the deceased is a kaafirs=non-Muslim, then the matter is subject to further discussion,

But to be on the safe side he should not sign, because it is not prescribed to cremate kaafirs. So, to be on the safe side he should not sign. But if he is forced to do so, then the matter is easy with regard to a kaafirs=non-Muslim, but with regard to a Muslim, he should not sign. End quote. 

And Allah knows Best.