FatwaFederal TerritoriesFunerals & Death
IRSYAD HUKUM SIRI KE-600: ADAKAH MEREKA YANG MENINGGAL KERANA COVID-19 INI BOLEH DIKLASIFIKASIKAN MATI SYAHID DAN TIDAK PERLU DIMANDIKAN
Is a person who dies of COVID-19 considered a martyr, and does the body not need to be washed?
Short answer
Death from COVID-19 is classed as martyrdom in the hereafter, meaning the reward of a martyr is given in the afterlife, and it is not the martyrdom of those killed in battle.
A reference, not a fatwa. First sentence of the summary below — read the original fatwa and consult your state authority before acting.
- Authority
- Federal Territories Mufti Office
- Date
- Status
- Opinion (irsyad)
- Series
- Irsyad al-Hukum (Umum)
- Topic
- Funerals & Death
No evidence of gazettement in the source — this is not a gazetted fatwa.
Summary
Death from COVID-19 is classed as martyrdom in the hereafter, meaning the reward of a martyr is given in the afterlife, and it is not the martyrdom of those killed in battle. The body must therefore in principle be washed and prayed over as usual. If there is a valid excuse such as the risk of infection, the body may be given tayammum instead, and if tayammum is also not possible according to expert opinion, both requirements fall away. Application depends on the current situation and the burial SOP set by the relevant authorities.
Written in our own words from the original fatwa — check the source before acting on it.
Oleh itu, jenazah mereka hendaklah dimandikan serta disolatkan sepertimana biasa.
Read the full fatwa on the Federal Territories website (new tab)
How to cite
Cite the original fatwa and its authority. Rujuk Fatwa is only where you found it.
Federal Territories Mufti Office. “IRSYAD HUKUM SIRI KE-600: ADAKAH MEREKA YANG MENINGGAL KERANA COVID-19 INI BOLEH DIKLASIFIKASIKAN MATI SYAHID DAN TIDAK PERLU DIMANDIKAN”, 5 August 2021. https://muftiwp.gov.my/ms/artikel/irsyad-hukum/umum/4904-irsyad-al-fatwa-siri-ke-600-adakah-mereka-yang-meninggal-kerana-covid-19-ini-boleh-diklasifikasikan-mati-syahid-dan-tidak-perlu-dimandikan. Found via Rujuk Fatwa: https://rujukfatwa.com/en/fatwa/covid-19-death-martyr-washing-the-body/