A lady from the USA wrote a letter to Hazrat Amirul Momineen, Khalifatul Masih Vaa, asking why the funeral prayer [janazah] is offered again when the body of a person who had been given interim burial is eventually moved to Bahishti Maqbarah, especially considering that many years may have passed since their death. Huzoor-e-Anwaraa, in his letter dated 21 April 2022, replied to this question as follows:
“Salat al-Janazah is a prayer offered for the forgiveness and spiritual elevation of the deceased. There are countless ranks in Paradise, so even after the funeral prayer, people continue to pray for the deceased. When they visit the graves of their loved ones, they also pray for their spiritual elevation. These practices are based on the sunnah of the Holy Prophetsa. “Hence, as conveyed in ahadith, there was a man who used to clean the mosque. One night, he passed away, and the people subsequently buried him. The following day, when this was brought to the attention of the Holy Prophetsa, he questioned, ‘Why wasn’t I informed?’ Then, he proceeded to visit the man’s grave, where he also offered his funeral prayer. (Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab as-salat) Similarly, it is narrated by Hazrat ‘Uqba bin Amirra that one day the Holy Prophetsa supplicated for the martyrs of Uhud in the same way as one prays for the deceased. (Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-jana’iz)
“It is not necessary to offer the janazah prayer again after the transfer of the dead body of a person who had been given an interim burial, but if it is offered, there is nothing wrong with it. When Hazrat Maulana Abdul Karim Sahib Sialkotira passed away, he was given an interim burial on 11 October 1905. However, it was the wish of the Promised Messiahas that his dead body should be moved to Bahishti Maqbarah. Therefore, when Hazrat Maulvi Sahib’s dead body was moved to Bahishti Maqbarah on 26 December 1905, the Promised Messiahas offered his funeral prayer again. (Al Hakam, No. 36, Vol. 9, 17 October 1905, p. 1; Al Hakam, No. 1, Vol. 10, 10 January 1906, p. 6)
“So, this is our practice, that sometimes we repeat Salat al-Janazah upon the transfer [and reburial] of the dead body, and sometimes we only offer a du‘a when a new grave is prepared. Both practices are correct.”
