Attending the funeral of a Hindu or Christian person

Answer

If the deceased is a parent or close relative, then attending the funeral and assisting in burial is permissible, provided no religious rituals are performed. It is reported that when the Prophet's ﷺ uncle died he instructed Ali ibn Abi Talib: *اذْهَبْ فَوَارِ أَبَاكَ* — "Go and bury your father." (Sunan Abi Dawud)

Imaam al-Kasani states in Badaʾi al-Sanaʾi: *ولا يُصَلَّى على كافر، ولكن لا بأس أن يتبع جنازته إذا كان قريبًا له* — "The funeral prayer is not performed for a disbeliever; however, there is no harm in attending his funeral if he is a relative."

If the deceased is a non-relative then it is makruh (disliked) without a need to attend his funeral. Imam al-Haskafi states in al-Durr al-Mukhtar: *ويكره اتباع جنازة كافر إلا لقرابة* — "It is disliked to follow the funeral of a disbeliever except due to kinship." Ibn ʿAbideen further clarifies: *أما إذا كان في اتباعها حضورُ شيءٍ من شعائرهم أو تعظيمٍ لدينهم فلا يجوز* — "However, if it entails participation in their religious symbols or affirming their religion, it is not permissible."

Allah Taʿala says: *مَا كَانَ لِلنَّبِيِّ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَنْ يَسْتَغْفِرُوا لِلْمُشْرِكِينَ وَلَوْ كَانُوا أُولِي قُرْبَى* — "It is not for the Prophet and those who believe to seek forgiveness for the polytheists, even if they were relatives." (al-Tawbah 9:113) And He says: *وَلَا تُصَلِّ عَلَىٰ أَحَدٍ مِّنْهُم مَّاتَ أَبَدًا* — "And do not pray over any of them who dies, ever." (al-Tawbah 9:84)