The funeral prayer over an absent deceased

Question

What is the ruling on the funeral prayer over an absent deceased? Is it established from the Prophet ﷺ and the noble Companions ﵃?

Answer

For the funeral prayer, the presence of the deceased is necessary; it is not valid over one who is absent — unless the deceased was buried without the funeral prayer, in which case the funeral prayer is to be performed over the grave within a particular period. The noble Prophet ﷺ performed the prayer in absentia over the janaza of al-Najashi — this narration is reliable.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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