Muslim burial for insane deceased under the care of a Muslim revert
Question
A mentally ill adult has passed away in a care home. He has been mentally ill since he was a small child. His non-Muslim parents died forty years ago. Currently, his next of kin and guardian is his brother who is a Muslim revert. Should the deceased be given a Muslim burial? Please outline the views of all four schools of thought.
Transferring the deceased after burial
Question
In our country in Central America, some Muslims are buried in a graveyard controlled by non-Muslims who are planning to use the graves again to bury non-Muslims. In this scenario, is it permissible to transfer the bodies of the Muslims to a nearby Muslim graveyard that has been established recently?
The scholars have differing views regarding the location of the grave of the beloved daughter of the Prophet ﷺ, Sayyidatuna Fatima (May Allah be pleased with her). The following document in Arabic outlines several views and concludes with the preferred view that she is buried in the Baqi graveyard, though the precise location of her grave in Baqi is unknown.
FIVE QUESTIONS REGARDING JANĀZAH ṢALĀH AND BURIAL
(1) We have been taught to recite the additional words ‘Wa Jalla Thanāʾuka’ in the Thanāʾ of Janāzah Ṣalāh. Is there a ḥadīth that substantiates this?
(2) Is it permissible to read Sūrah al-Fātiḥah in Janāzah Ṣalāh?
(3) Is it sunnah to read the verse of the Qurʾān ‘Minhā Khalaqnākum Wa Fīhā Nuʿīdukum Wa Minhā Nukhrijukum Tāratan Ukhrā’ during burial?
(4) What is the ruling regarding reciting Sūrah al-Fātiḥah or the opening of Sūrah al-Baqarah after burial at the head-side and the final verses of Sūrah al-Baqarah at the foot-side?
(5) It is common to raise hands and make congregational duʿāʾ after burial. Is this sunnah and was this the common practice in the time of the Prophet ﷺ?
Burying a deceased abroad
Question
I am aware that it is prohibited without a genuine need to transfer the body of a person who has passed away in the UK to another country, such as India or Pakistan. However, this is common practice in some communities. Please can you share some verses from the Qurʾān or Prophetic statements to encourage people to avoid this practice.
What is the correct method of burying the deceased?
(1) Some people ensure that the whole body of the deceased is tilted towards the Qiblah whilst others merely tilt the face whilst the back of the body touches the ground. Merely tilting the face has become common practice with some claiming it fulfils the Sunnah. What is the preferred method?
