Making statements such as ‘Rest in peace’ and praising deceased Kuffar
The 9th Surah of the Quraan Sharif is named Surah Baraa’at which commences in the 10th Juz of the Quraan Sharif and terminates in the 11th Juz of the Quraan Sharif. One of the reasons for the Surah being referred to as Surah Baraa’at is that there are many laws recorded in this Surah pertaining to the Kuffar, which clearly indicate that we Muslims should absolve and disassociate ourselves from them in worldly matters as well as matters of the hereafter.
Hence, we are prohibited from performing the Janaazah Salaah of the Kuffar and seeking forgiveness for them after their demise. Allah Ta’ala mentions,
وَلاَ تُصَلِّ عَلَى أَحَدٍ مِّنْهُم مَّاتَ أَبَدًا وَلاَ تَقُمْ عَلَىَ قَبْرِهِ إِنَّهُمْ كَفَرُواْ بِاللّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ وَمَاتُواْ وَهُمْ فَاسِقُونَ
(When Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam was about to perform the funeral prayer of the leader of the Munaafiqeen, Allah Ta’ala addressed him saying,) Do not ever perform (the funeral) Salaah for any of them who die and do not stand over their graves (to bury them or to visit their graves). Undoubtedly they disbelieved in Allah and His Rasool and died as disobedient people (as Kuffaar). [Re:- Surah Taubah, Verse 84]
In the very same Surah we are prohibited from making Dua of forgiveness for the Kuffar. It is recorded in Saheeh Bukhari and Muslim that although Abu Talib, the uncle of Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam, didn’t accept Islam, he shielded and protected Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam until his very end. Despite being a Kaafir, he never adhered to the advice of any Kaafir in this particular matter (of abandoning Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam). Therefore, Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam was desirous that his uncle recites the Kalimah (of Tawheed) and accepts Islam, so that he may be able to intercede on behalf of his uncle on the day of Qiyaamah, due to which he may be protected from the punishment of Jahannam.
It was with this concern that Rasulullah went to his uncle during his final moments but found Abu Jahl and Abdullah Bin Umayyah seated there. He told his uncle, “O my uncle! Recite the Kalimah so that I am able to make an effort to attain your forgiveness.” Abu Jahl immediately admonished him saying, “Will you discard the religion of Abdul Muttalib?” Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam repeated his request (of reciting the Kalimah) several times but Abu Jahl would repeat his statement as well on every occasion. Finally Abu Taalib said, “I am upon the Deen of Abdul Muttalib” and passed away.
Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam took an oath (in the name of Allah) that he will continue seeking forgiveness for his uncle as long as he is not prohibited from doing so. On this occasion Allah Ta’ala revealed verses of the Quraan prohibiting Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam and the Muslimeen from seeking forgiveness for the disbelievers even though the deceased disbeliever may be a close relative.
Allah Ta’ala states,
مَا كَانَ لِلنَّبِيِّ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ أَن يَسْتَغْفِرُواْ لِلْمُشْرِكِينَ وَلَوْ كَانُواْ أُوْلِي قُرْبَى مِن بَعْدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُمْ أَنَّهُمْ أَصْحَابُ الْجَحِيمِ
It is not (permissible) for the Nabi nor (is it permissible for) the Mu’mineen to (ever) seek forgiveness for the Mushrikeen, even if they be their relatives, after it has become clear to them (when these Mushrikeen died without Imaan) that they (the Mushrikeen) are to be residents of the Blaze (Jahannam). [Re:- Surah Taubah, Verse 113]
This created a doubt in the heart of some Muslims with regards to Ibrahim Alaihis Salaam, that he too made Dua for his Kaafir father after his demise. To clarify the matter and remove all elements of doubt, Allah Ta’ala revealed the subsequent verse which states,
وَمَا كَانَ اسْتِغْفَارُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ لِأَبِيهِ إِلاَّ عَن مَّوْعِدَةٍ وَعَدَهَا إِيَّاهُ فَلَمَّا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُ أَنَّهُ عَدُوٌّ لِلّهِ تَبَرَّأَ مِنْهُ إِنَّ إِبْرَاهِيمَ لأوَّاهٌ حَلِيمٌ
Ibraheem sought forgiveness for his father only because of a promise that he (Ibraheem) had made to him when he said to his father that he would seek forgiveness for him, hoping that this would encourage his father to accept Imaan). (However,) When it became clear to him (Ibraheem) that his father was Allaah’s enemy (when his father died without Imaan), he absolved himself from him (from his obligation to seek forgiveness for his father). Indeed Ibraheem was extremely soft-hearted and tolerant. [Re:- Surah Taubah, Verse 114]
In various parts of the Quraan Sharif the Dua of Ibrahim Alaihis Salaam for his father has been recorded. These Duas (of Ibrahim Alaihis Salaam for his father) actually mean that Allah Ta’ala should bless his father with Imaan so that he may be forgiven in the court of the Allah Ta’ala.
Imaam Qurtubi Rahimahullah mentions that it is proven from the above that one may make Dua of forgiveness for a living Kaafir with the intention that he is blessed with Imaan, and as a result he is pardoned by Allah Ta’ala. However, when a person dies upon Kufr, then supplicating for his forgiveness has been totally prohibited.
Many use the term ‘Rest in peace’ on the demise of prominent Kuffar. This is, in actual fact, a Dua for the Kaafir to have a peaceful and comfortable stay in the Qabr, whereas the Hadith states that the Qabr is either a garden from amongst the gardens of Jannah (for a true believer), or a pit from amongst the pits of the fire of Jahannam (for a disbeliever). We have received emails stating that such statements are being made by Muslim presenters on Muslim Radio stations. We, as Muslims, should comply fully to the teachings of the Quraan Sharif and not engage in any form of Dua for a Kaafir as explained above. There is really no need for us to curry favour with the Kuffar and please them. The happiness and pleasure of Allah Ta’ala is sufficient for us.