Can a non-mahram bury the deceased female if she does not have any mahrams present?

Q: If a female deceased has no mahram relatives present at the janaazah, can non-mahram relatives go in to the qabar in order to bury her? Similarly, if there are no family members of the female deceased present at the janaazah, can she be buried by other Muslims?

A: If there are no mahram relatives of the female deceased present, then non-mahram relatives should bury her. Similarly, if there are no family members of the female deceased present, then other Muslims may carry out the burial.

And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.

وذو الرحم المحرم أولى بإدخال المرأة ثم ذو الرحم غير المحرم ثم الصالح من مشايخ جيرانها ثم الشبان الصلحاء ولا يدخل أحد من النساء القبر ولا يخرجهن إلا الرجال (مراقي الفلاح ص609)

Answered by:

Mufti Zakaria Makada

Checked & Approved:

Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)