Question:

Dear scholars, As-Salamu `alaykum. In the south Asia earthquake a great number of people have died. Whole families died and their bodies were in the sea around where we live but we could not recover them. Is that a dishonorable death? Jazakum Allah khayran.  

Answer:

Wa `alaykum As-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.

Dear questioner, we would like to thank you for the great confidence you place in us, and we implore Allah Almighty to help us serve His cause and render our work for His sake.

Earthquakes are signs from Allah Most High. A Muslim has to reflect on Allah\'s creation and always be mindful of His signs. In times of disasters, the victims will be counted for their deeds and if they were believers, they will die as martyrs and thus enter Paradise.

In such times, we should hasten to repent to Allah and pray to Him for safety, to remember Him much, and to seek His forgiveness, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said when there was an eclipse: �If you see anything like that, hasten to remember Him, call on Him, and seek His forgiveness.�

In his response to your question, Dr. Rif`at Fawzi, former professor of Shari`ah at Cairo University, states:

In times of devastating disasters such as the recent South Asian tsunami, a large number of people are expected to die. In Shari`ah, people who die in such disasters are considered martyrs. Their account is left to Allah who alone knows their intentions and deeds. So, we should make du`a� for their forgiveness and pardon.

Muslims in such times should hasten to Allah by repenting and should feel compassion towards the victims of this calamity, which is a sign from Allah. They should not gloat over others� grief. They should also hasten to help the survivors by all possible means.

Moreover, the eminent scholar and renowned da`iyah, Sheikh `Abdel Khaliq Hasan Ash-Shareef states:

Earthquakes are natural disasters and signs from Allah, the All-Powerful. It is reported that some Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) drowned in the sea and their bodies were not recovered. Houses of other Companions were destroyed over their heads. So it should be stressed that honor and dishonor in death depend on one�s relationship with Allah. Almighty Allah says: [Lo! the noblest of you, in the sight of Allah, is the best in conduct. Lo! Allah is Knower, Aware] (Al-Hujurat 49:13).

Question:

Dear scholars, As-Salamu `alaykum. In the south Asia earthquake a great number of people have died. Whole families died and their bodies were in the sea around where we live but we could not recover them. Is that a dishonorable death? Jazakum Allah khayran.  

Answer:

Wa `alaykum As-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.

Dear questioner, we would like to thank you for the great confidence you place in us, and we implore Allah Almighty to help us serve His cause and render our work for His sake.

Earthquakes are signs from Allah Most High. A Muslim has to reflect on Allah\'s creation and always be mindful of His signs. In times of disasters, the victims will be counted for their deeds and if they were believers, they will die as martyrs and thus enter Paradise.

In such times, we should hasten to repent to Allah and pray to Him for safety, to remember Him much, and to seek His forgiveness, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said when there was an eclipse: �If you see anything like that, hasten to remember Him, call on Him, and seek His forgiveness.�

In his response to your question, Dr. Rif`at Fawzi, former professor of Shari`ah at Cairo University, states:

In times of devastating disasters such as the recent South Asian tsunami, a large number of people are expected to die. In Shari`ah, people who die in such disasters are considered martyrs. Their account is left to Allah who alone knows their intentions and deeds. So, we should make du`a� for their forgiveness and pardon.

Muslims in such times should hasten to Allah by repenting and should feel compassion towards the victims of this calamity, which is a sign from Allah. They should not gloat over others� grief. They should also hasten to help the survivors by all possible means.

Moreover, the eminent scholar and renowned da`iyah, Sheikh `Abdel Khaliq Hasan Ash-Shareef states:

Earthquakes are natural disasters and signs from Allah, the All-Powerful. It is reported that some Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) drowned in the sea and their bodies were not recovered. Houses of other Companions were destroyed over their heads. So it should be stressed that honor and dishonor in death depend on one�s relationship with Allah. Almighty Allah says: [Lo! the noblest of you, in the sight of Allah, is the best in conduct. Lo! Allah is Knower, Aware] (Al-Hujurat 49:13).

Allah knows best.

Responded by:

Group of Muftis