Q. Some 358 Muslims
reportedly got incinerated when the World Trade Center was attacked on
September 11, 2001. Since there is no hope of recovering these bodies, should
the janaza still be performed for them?
A. Under extenuating
circumstances, the requirement of the body for the funeral prayer is one that
can be waived. And the wanton terrorist sin of September 11 certainly presents
such an extenuating circumstance. It has its precedent in the Prophet Muhammad's
performance of the janaza for the Negus of Abysinnia. His body was not there, but the Prophet
nonetheless did the prayer. I am aware of some weak hadith that claim
the earth shrank and the body was brought before the Prophet, but these
traditions are fabrications. Since the bodies were incinerated -- even in the
absence of a precedent, one would still have to rule for a prayer for the
entire amount of Muslims -- in the form of a single janaza.
The question regarding bathing the dead and shrouding does not apply. Every
single victim is a martyr, and martyrs are not bathed nor
shrouded. And Allah knows best.
Posted October 28, 2001