How did Ibn Taymiyyah distinguish visiting a sick Christian neighbour from following his funeral?
2026-10-13
T148 · Ibn Taymiyyah
Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah
شيخ الإسلام أحمد بن تيمية
Original Q&A · Complete source question and answer
Complete original question and answer, 24/265. The answer distinguishes visiting the living neighbour from following his funeral and offering the funeral prayer. The theological statement is translated as the author's general statement about dying in unbelief.
النص العربي
السؤال الأصلي
وسئل رحمه الله تعالى عن قوم مسلمين مجاوري النصاري: فهل يجوز للمسلم إذا مرض النصراني أن يعوده؟ وإذا مات أن يتبع جنازته؟ وهل على من فعل ذلك من المسلمين وزر، أم لا؟
الجواب
الحمد لله رب العالمين، لا يتبع جنازته، وأما عيادته فلا بأس بها. فإنه قد يكون في ذلك مصلحة لتاليفه على الإسلام، فإذا مات كافرا، فقد وجبت له النار؛ ولهذا لا يصلي عليه. والله أعلم.
English translation
English translation prepared for SalafAlSalih.com from the cited Arabic source. It is not an official translation.
Original question
He, may Allah have mercy on him, was asked about Muslims who lived next to Christians: if a Christian becomes ill, may a Muslim visit him? If he dies, may he follow his funeral? Does a Muslim who does that incur sin?
Answer
Praise belongs to Allah, Lord of the worlds. He does not follow his funeral. As for visiting him when ill, there is no harm in that, because it may serve the good of drawing him towards Islam. If he dies in unbelief, the Fire has become his due; for this reason the funeral prayer is not offered for him. Allah knows best.
Source and editorial notes
Majmūʿ al-Fatāwā 24/265
مجموع الفتاوى
Majmūʿ al-Fatāwā
Arabic question and complete answer collated with the cited source text and its adjacent question boundaries. Arabic diacritics omitted, display marks removed and honorific glyphs expanded. Browsing headings and scope notes are editorial.