Non-Muslim parents and cremation

14 Oct 2020 -

Non-Muslim parents and cremation QUESTION: I am a Muslim convert.  My parents are not Muslims.  It is their wish for me to assist them in cremating their bodies after death.  Is this permissible? What do I do? ANSWER: In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh. Generally, it is not permissible to cremate a dead body in Islam; be it a Muslim or otherwise. [1]

We would encourage you to explain with kindness to your parents that in Islam there is a special sanctity for the deceased.  Indeed, a corpse can feel pain in a manner that someone alive can also.  Therefore, fulfilling their request will be very hard on you out of sheer compassion and care for them.

Hence, you should encourage your parents to alter their wish and request a conventional burial instead.  To assist, you may also find benefit in offering to cover their funeral expenses in this manner.  If they are still unwilling to change, you can make a respectful request to be excused from such a responsibility and for it to be transferred to another individual.

We hope and pray that through your efforts your parents will not only agree, but that they are also blessed with the blessing of Imaan and Islam.  Surely there cannot be a greater honour for anyone leaving this world.   And Allah knows best Asmar Akram Concurred by: Hanif Patel Muadh Chati Approved by: Mufti Siraj Sitponi Falahi