FatwaPerakFunerals & Death
Hukum dan Kaedah Pengurusan Jenazah Covid-19
How should the body of a Muslim who died of COVID-19 be handled according to Islamic law?
Short answer
The default ruling is that the deceased is given full funeral rites: washing, shrouding, prayer and burial, following the prescribed SOP.
A reference, not a fatwa. First sentence of the summary below — read the original fatwa and consult your state authority before acting.
- Authority
- Perak State Mufti Department
- Status
- Fatwa committee decision
- Series
- Fatwa Yang Tidak Diwartakan
- Topic
- Funerals & Death
No evidence of gazettement in the source — this is not a gazetted fatwa.
Summary
The default ruling is that the deceased is given full funeral rites: washing, shrouding, prayer and burial, following the prescribed SOP. Where the risk of infection from using water is high, tayammum replaces washing. Where there are obstacles or concern about spreading the disease, the duty of washing or tayammum is waived and shrouding, prayer and burial suffice. Forensic teams in hospitals assess the risk, and the risk status is confirmed by an Islamic medical specialist.
Written in our own words from the original fatwa — check the source before acting on it.
Penilaian risiko merupakan tugas pihak forensik di semua hospital dalam menentukan sama ada jenazah pesakit COVID-19 perlu diurus dengan sempurna atau secara kaedah tayamum atau memadai dengan hanya dikafan, disembahyangkan dan dikebumikan.
Read the full fatwa on the Perak website (new tab)
How to cite
Cite the original fatwa and its authority. Rujuk Fatwa is only where you found it.
Perak State Mufti Department. “Hukum dan Kaedah Pengurusan Jenazah Covid-19”, date not stated. https://mufti.perak.gov.my/images/Fatwa%20tidak%20warta/21%20HUKUM%20DAN%20KAEDAH%20PENGURUSAN%20JENAZAH%20COVID-19.pdf. Found via Rujuk Fatwa: https://rujukfatwa.com/en/fatwa/ruling-covid-19-deceased-funeral-management/