Fatwa: # 17668
Category: Misc. Fiqh
Country: South Africa
Date: 7th March 2009

Title

What is ruling about keeping the aquarium in the house?

Question

1. What is ruling about keeping the aquarium in the house?
2. A Muslim living with non Muslim friends died few months ago, they buried in a Christian cemetery without Janaza. 

a) What should be done now? Janaza should be offered on the Non Muslim Graveyard after 4 months of burial?

b) Should this dead man be taken away from here to any other Muslim Grave yard?

Answer

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Assalaamu `alaykum waRahmatullahi Wabarakatuh

1) Hazrat Abu Hurairah (radiyallahu anhu) had a cat as a pet, whilst, the younger brother of Anas (radiyallahu anhu) had a bird. Hence, it is permissible to keep an aquarium / fish tank in the house, as long as the fish are fed on time and the necessary care is taken.

2. A) It is permissible to perform Janazah Salaah beside the grave as long as it is certain that the body did not disintegrate. 

فان دفن بلا صلا ة صلى على قبره ما لم يتفسخ..... وقيد بعدم التفسخ لأنه لا يصلي عليه بعد التفسخ لأن الصلاة شرعت على بدن الميت فإذا تفسخ لم يبق بدنه قائما
(Al-Bahrur Ra’iq vol.2 pg182, Rashidiyya)
(Fatawa Mahmoodiyya vol.8 pg671, Farookiyya)

وشرطها إسلام الميت وطهارته ما دام الغسل ممكنا وإن لم يمكن بأن دفن قبل الغسل ولم يمكن إخراجه إلا بالنبش تجوز الصلاة على قبره للضرورة
(Fatawa Hindiyya vol.1 163, Rashidiyya) 

 

As far as putting a time limit for performing Salaah beside the grave, it will differ according to the climate of each area (hot, cold, moist etc). In order to determine this, someone local should be consulted.

( وإن دفن ) وأهيل عليه التراب ( بغير صلاة ) أو بها بلا غسل أو ممن لا ولاية له ( صلي على قبره ) استحسانا ( ما لم يغلب على الظن تفسخه ) من غير تقدير هو الأصح
(Ad-Durrul Mukhtaar, vol.2 pg224, HM Saeed)

 

( قوله هو الأصح ) لأنه يختلف باختلاف الأوقات حرا وبردا والميت سمنا و هزالا والأمكنة بحر
(Raddul Muhtaar, vol.2 pg224, HM Saeed)

ولم يقيد المصنف بمدة لأن الصحيح أن ذلك جائز إلى أن يغلب على الظن تفسخه والمعتبر فيه أكبر الرأي على الصحيح من غير تقدير بمدة

 كذا في شرح المجمع وغيره
(Al-Bahrur Ra’iq vol.2 pg182, Rashidiyya)

b) There is no need to transfer the body to another cemetery.

وكذا لو مات في غير بلده يستحب تركه فإن نقل إلى مصر آخر لا بأس به ولا ينبغي إخراج الميت من القبر بعد ما دفن إلا إذا كانت الأرض مغصوبة أو أخذت بشفعة
(Fatawa Hindiyya vol.1 pg 167, Rashidiyya)

 

And Allah knows best

 

Checked and Approved by:

Mufti Ebrahim Desai
Darul Iftaa

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