What is the status of burying some one with face open? Some Syrian brothers in our community say that it is their custom to bury with face open. Could you give some guidance.
Bismillahi Ta’ala
Walaikum Assalam Warahmatullah,
We have reviewed the issue in our books of Hanafiya, and based on our findings there is no scope in the Hanafi Fiqh in support of burying the deceased with their face uncovered.
While one may find a mention in the Shafi’i Fiqh allowing the face of the deceased in the state of Ihram to remain uncovered, this does not extend to the general cases where the deceased was not in Ihram.
It’s possible that this specific scenario may have been misunderstood or taken out of context. If you have been provided with a clear, authoritative source from reputable scholars indicating otherwise, you are most welcome to share with us so we can assess it. As it stands, in light of the information available to us, it would not be allowed to bury the deceased with their face exposed.
Wallahu A’lam
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Maulana Israar Ahmed
Checked and Approved by
Mufti Faisal al-Mahmudi