Funeral Of An Apostate

There is the same ruling for funeral of an apostate and a disbeliever. Once a query was asked in the court of A’lā Ḥaḍrat, Imām-e-Aĥl-e-Sunnat, ‘Allāmaĥ Maulānā Shāĥ Imām Aḥmad Razā Khān عَـلَيْهِ رَحْمَةُ الـرَّحْمٰن about a person who had converted from Islam to Christianity. In reply, he رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه writes on page-170, volume 9 of Fatāwā Razawiyyaĥ that if it was proven as per Shar’ī criteria that the dead had, Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ forbid, changed his religion and adopted Christianity, (etc.), performing his funeral Ṣalāĥ, shrouding or burying him like that for Muslims – are all absolutely Ḥarām. Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ says in the Holy Quran:

وَ لَا تُصَلِّ عَلٰۤی اَحَدٍ مِّنۡہُمۡ مَّاتَ اَبَدًا وَّ لَا تَقُمۡ عَلٰی قَبۡرِ ہٖ ؕ

And never offer Ṣalāĥ for any of their dead, and never stand by his grave.

Reference: 

• [Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] 
• (Part 10, Sūraĥ At-Taubaĥ, verse 84)

However, if those offering the funeral Ṣalāĥ were unaware of his conversion to Christianity, (etc.) and were considering him to be a Muslim according to what they knew, and they remained unaware till his funeral/burial, they will not be objected to since they assumed that he was a Muslim, and as such these acts were obligatory for them. But if they were aware of his Christianity, (etc.) and they still performed his Ṣalāĥ and burial, then they committed an absolutely grave sin. As long as they do not repent of this sin, Ṣalāĥ in their Imāmat is invalid; however they will not be treated as apostates as they will not become disbeliever s on committing that sin.

Our sacred Sharī’aĥ (Islamic Sacred Law) defines a straight path; it does not like immoderation in any affair. However, if it is proven that, despite being aware of his Christianity, (etc.), they did so not only due to their ignorance or some worldly interest but also considering his Christianity, (etc.) worthy of respect and deserving of funeral and burial, all those having this intention will, no doubt, become apostates and disbelievers. It will be Wājib for the Muslims to consider them apostates in all matters and their company is strictly impermissible. Those who will accompany them or support them will be sinners.

(Fatāwā Razawiyyaĥ)

Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ says in the 84th verse of Sūraĥ At-Taubaĥ of the Holy Quran:

وَ لَا تُصَلِّ عَلٰۤی اَحَدٍ مِّنۡہُمۡ مَّاتَ اَبَدًا وَّ لَا تَقُمۡ عَلٰی قَبۡرِہٖ ؕ اِنَّہُمۡ کَفَرُوۡا بِاللہِ وَ رَسُوۡ لِہٖ وَ مَا تُوۡا وَ ہُمۡ فٰسِقُوۡنَ ﴿۸۴﴾

And never offer Ṣalāĥ for any of their dead, and never stand by his grave. No doubt, they denied Allah and His Messenger, and died while they were in transgression (infidelity).

Reference:

• [Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] 
• (Part 10, Sūraĥ At-Taubaĥ, verse 84)

Commenting on the above-mentioned verse, Ṣadr-ul-Afāḍil, ‘Allāmaĥ Maulānā Sayyid Muhammad Na’īmuddīn Murādābādī عَـلَيْهِ رَحۡمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ الۡـهَادِی says, ‘This verse has made it clear, that the funeral Ṣalāĥ of a disbeliever is not permissible at all and it is forbidden to stand besides the grave of a disbeliever for burial or to visit.’ 

Reference:

• (Khazāin-ul-‘Irfān, pp. 241)

It is reported by Sayyidunā Jābir Bin ‘Abdullāĥ رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُمَا that the Beloved and Blessed Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, ‘If they fall ill, don’t go to see them, if they die, don’t participate in their funeral.’ 

Reference:

• (Sunan Ibn Mājaĥ, vol. 1, pp. 70, Ḥadīš 92,)