FatwaFederal TerritoriesFunerals & Death
IRSYAD HUKUM SIRI KE-386 : HUKUM EMBALMING (MENGAWET) MAYAT YANG DIJANGKITI PENYAKIT BERJANGKIT BAGI URUSAN KELUAR MASUK NEGARA
What is the ruling on embalming a body infected with a contagious disease for entry into or exit from the country?
Short answer
The default ruling on embalming a body with chemicals is haram, because human beings are honoured creatures both in life and after death.
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
The default ruling on embalming a body with chemicals is haram, because human beings are honoured creatures both in life and after death. However, embalming for pressing reasons such as controlling contagious disease is permissible, in line with the decision of the National Fatwa Committee on 11 October 1993. The fatwa reasons that preventing the greater harm of spreading disease takes priority over leaving the body unembalmed.
Written in our own words from the original fatwa — check the source before acting on it.
Adapun mengawet mayat atas sebab-sebab yang mendesak seperti mengawal penyakit berjangkit hukumnya adalah harus sebagaimana keputusan Muzakarah Jawatankuasa Fatwa Majlis Kebangsaan Bagi Hal Ehwal Ugama Islam Kali ke-33 yang bersidang pada 11 Oktober 1993.
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-386 : HUKUM EMBALMING (MENGAWET) MAYAT YANG DIJANGKITI PENYAKIT BERJANGKIT BAGI URUSAN KELUAR MASUK NEGARA”, 30 January 2020. https://muftiwp.gov.my/ms/artikel/irsyad-hukum/umum/4078-irsyad-al-fatwa-siri-ke-386-hukum-embalming-mengawet-mayat-yang-dijangkiti-penyakit-berjangkit-bagi-urusan-keluar-masuk-negara. Found via Rujuk Fatwa: https://rujukfatwa.com/en/fatwa/ruling-embalming-body-contagious-disease-country-travel/