Hiring out a hearse to transport non-Muslim deceased

Question:-

Can a Muslim hire out hearses for use by non-Muslims?

Answer:-

It is permissible to hire out hearses to non-Muslims to transport their deceased to their place of burial. However, if a Muslim hires out the hearse to move a non-Muslim corpse from one town to another town, then it will not be permissible to take a fee. Hence, one may only hire out the hearse (for a fee) to move the deceased to the place of burial.

وَلَوْ اسْتَأْجَرَ الْمُشْرِكُونَ مُسْلِمًا لِيَحْمِلَ مَيِّتًا مِنْهُمْ إلَى مَوْضِعٍ يُدْفَنُ فِيهِ إنْ اسْتَأْجَرُوهُ لِيَنْقُلَهُ إلَى مَقْبَرَةِ الْبَلْدَةِ جَازَ عِنْدَ الْكُلِّ، وَإِنْ اسْتَأْجَرُوهُ لِيَنْقُلَ مِنْ بَلَدٍ إلَى بَلَدٍ قَالَ مُحَمَّدٌ – رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى -: إنَّهُ إنْ لَمْ يَعْلَمْ الْحَمَّالُ أَنَّهُ جِيفَةٌ فَلَهُ الْأَجْرُ، وَإِنْ عَلِمَ فَلَا أَجْرَ لَهُ وَعَلَيْهِ الْفَتْوَى هَكَذَا فِي فَتَاوَى قَاضِي خَانَ (الفتاوي الهندية ص449 ج4)

ALLAH TA’ALA KNOWS BEST!

ANSWERED BY:

Mufti Mohammed Desai

Date: 26 Jumadal Ula 1444 / 21 December 2022