[Q 416] Burying Deceased Abroad Against Will, Burial Location vs. Will, Is Burial Wish Binding?

QUESTION:

Salam. If a person writes in his will that he wants to be buried in Pakistan and he resides in the UK. Can his inheritors go against the will and bury the individual in the UK? Inheritors are his children in this case.

ANSWER:

The one who passes away should be buried close to where he dies. This is why the Noble Prophet صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم buried the blessed companions رضي الله تعالى عنهم who were martyred in battles close to the battlefield. Additionally, transporting the deceased far away poses the risk of causing distress to the body and it undergoing changes, and causing harm to the deceased is impermissible and sinful. This has been prohibited in the noble Ahadith, especially when the body is transported from one country to another, as this involves the use of numerous chemicals and placement in cold storage, which certainly causes suffering.

Therefore, the inheritors are not obligated to fulfil this wasiyyat (will). They should bury the deceased nearby, and they will not be sinful for not fulfilling the will, because acting upon a will regarding burial location is not Wajib (compulsory).

It is stated in the Hadith:

عن جابر، أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: ادفنوا القتلى في مصارعهم
Bury the martyrs at the places where they were martyred.

[Sunan al-Nasa’i, Vol. 4, Page 79, Hadith no. 2005]

Sayyidi Imam Ahmad Raza Khan رحمه الله تعالى says:

A wasiyyat (will) regarding burial is not binding.

(Fatawa Razawiyyah, Vol. 19, Page 405, Raza Foundation)

‘Allamah Ibn Nujaim Misri رحمه الله تعالى states:

قال في الواقعات والتجنيس: القتيل أو الميت يستحب لهما أن يدفنا في المكان الذي قتل أو مات فيه في مقابر أولئك القوم لما روي عن عائشة رضي الله عنها أنها زارت قبر أخيها عبد الرحمن بن أبي بكر رضي الله عنهما وكان مات بالشام وحمل من هناك فقالت: لو كان الأمر فيك بيدي ما نقلتك ولدفنتك حيث مت، لكن مع هذا إذا نقل ميلا أو ميلين أو نحو ذلك فلا بأس.

[Al-Bahr al-Ra’iq Sharh Kanz al-Daqā’iq, Vol. 2, Page 210]

Regarding not causing harm to the deceased, a Hadith says:

عن عبداللہ بن مسعود رضیﷲ تعالی عنہ قال :اذی المؤمن فی موتہ کاذاہ فی حیاتہ.
Causing pain to a Muslim after his death is the same as causing him pain in his lifetime.

(al-Musannaf by Ibn Abi Shaybah, Hadith no. 11990)

Answered by: Mubashir Attari (AskMufti Scholar)
Verified by: Mufti Sajid Attari
Translated answer
Date: 25th June 2025.