A lady from Canada enquired of Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih V (may Allah be his Helper), regarding the Islamic guidance for women concerning funeral proceedings, specifically asking whether they are permitted to participate in burial rites.
Huzoor-e-Anwar (may Allah be his Helper), in his letter dated January 21, 2023, offered the following guidance on this matter:
“In usual circumstances, it is not considered preferable for women to accompany funeral processions, but it has not been declared unlawful [haram]. Thus, Hazrat Umm Atiyyahra states, ‘We, women, were discouraged from accompanying funeral processions, but this was not strictly enforced upon us.’ [Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith no. 1278]
“Therefore, in accordance with this guidance, women do not accompany funeral processions under normal circumstances. However, instances where individuals proceed directly to the cemetery, accompanied by women who are close relatives and desire to see the deceased’s face; similarly, in Western countries, where funeral and burial arrangements often involve women coming to the mosque—just as men do—for prayers, etc., and where it is not feasible for men to drop them off at home and then proceed to the burial, there is no objection to the women also going to the cemetery in such circumstances of necessity. However, in such cases, they should remain separate during the burial itself and not participate in the actual interment. They may, however, join in the silent prayer [du’a] after the burial is completed.”