FatwaPerlisFunerals & Death
Fatwa Tentang Pengurusan Mayat Yang Tidak Dituntut
How should an unclaimed body be handled, and may it be transported?
Short answer
A body with signs of being Muslim, even if only by assumption, is treated as a Muslim body unless other signs contradict this.
A reference, not a fatwa. First sentence of the summary below — read the original fatwa and consult your state authority before acting.
- Authority
- Perlis State Mufti Department
- Status
- Fatwa committee decision
- Series
- Himpunan Fatwa Negeri Perlis
- Topic
- Funerals & Death
No evidence of gazettement in the source — this is not a gazetted fatwa.
Summary
A body with signs of being Muslim, even if only by assumption, is treated as a Muslim body unless other signs contradict this. A body found in a Muslim-majority country with no signs and no claimant is also considered Muslim. Recovered body parts of a person confirmed dead must be washed, shrouded and prayed over. Moving a body without need is disliked, and forbidden if it causes damage. Transport with formalin injection is allowed under conditions, including urgent need, expert handling, and only after the body has been washed, shrouded and prayed over.
Written in our own words from the original fatwa — check the source before acting on it.
Jika tiada petanda dan tiada tuntutan dari pihak lain sementara mayat dijumpai di negara majoriti muslim, maka dianggap sebagai mayat muslim.
Read the full fatwa on the Perlis website (new tab)
How to cite
Cite the original fatwa and its authority. Rujuk Fatwa is only where you found it.
Perlis State Mufti Department. “Fatwa Tentang Pengurusan Mayat Yang Tidak Dituntut”, date not stated. https://muftiperlis.gov.my/index.php/himpunan-fatwa-negeri/459-fatwa-tentang-pengurusan-mayat-yang-tidak-dituntut. Found via Rujuk Fatwa: https://rujukfatwa.com/en/fatwa/handling-unclaimed-bodies-in-islam/