Should one participate in Janazah Salah in the Masjid?

In the Name of Allāh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

According to the Hanafi school of thought, it is makruh tahreemi to offer Janazah Salah in the Masjid which has been built for the five daily salah, the Jumuah Salah or the Eid salah, whether the Janazah is offered inside the masjid or the Janazah is placed outside while the people are standing inside.1

If there is no place outside the masjid or there is another valid reason, then offering the salah of Janazah in the masjid is not makruh.2 3

If the trustees and/or the Imam of the Masjid follow the Hanafi school of thought, one should advise them of the reprehensibility of praying the Janazah Salah in the Masjid if one is capable of doing that.

If the Imam and/or the trustees do not take heed and if there are enough people to fulfill the fard kifaayah of praying the Janazah Salah, its better not to participate as a way of showing disapproval with the intention of Islaah (rectification).4

And Allāh knows best.

Ml. Sohail Bengali

Chicago, IL (USA)

Concurred by:

Muftī Abrar Mirza

Chicago, IL (USA)

Under the Supervision of Muftī Ebrahim Desai (South Africa)