The neighbourhood imam leading the funeral prayer in the presence of the guardian

Question

May the imam of the neighbourhood lead the funeral prayer (salat al-janaza) without the permission of the heir of the deceased while the heir is present, or not?

Answer

This is not appropriate. What is better is that, if the imam is righteous and devout, [the guardian] himself should request the imam to lead the prayer; otherwise it is preferable (awla) that the guardian (wali) himself lead the funeral prayer (“Radd al-Muhtar”, vol. 1, p. 823).

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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