Assalamu-Alaikum,

I believe the following issue should be clarified properly because, these days, it is being in practice everywhere.

Is it permitted in Islam to delay the burial of someone for his/her relatives/friends/family members etc. ?

Similarly, is it permitted to put the dead-body in the freezer? I heard from some source that a dead body can feel/hear/see everything like an alive but can’t express his/her feelings. Is that true?

Jazakallahu khair

Answer

Walaykumsalaam.

It is not permitted to delay the burial of the deceased. It is mentioned in the Hadith recorded by Imam Tirmidhi (rahimahullah) on the authority of Sayyiduna ‘Ali (radiyallahu’anhu) that Rasulullah (sallallahu’alayhi wasallam) said:

O ‘Ali رضي الله عنه, do not delay in three things; 1) Salah when its time arrives, 2) Offering the janazah salah when the janazah is present and 3) Marriage of a woman whose match is found

(Sunan Tirmidhi, hadith: 171 & 1075)

Nabi [Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam] mentioned, Breaking the bone of a deceased is similar to breaking it when alive.