3 – “Never pray over any of them who dies, nor stand by his grave. They rejected Allah and His Messenger and died in a state of open defi­ance.” (al-Tawbah 9:84)

Meaning: do not perform the funeral prayer for anyone who dies from among the hypocrites, nor stand at his grave after burial to supplicate for him; offering the funeral prayer and standing at the grave on their behalf constitutes intercession, and intercession will not benefit them.

• “They rejected Allah and His Messenger and died in a state of defi­ance” – they have completely abandoned the religion of Allah. Whoever is a disbeliever and dies upon that will not be helped by the intercession of the intercessors. This is a lesson for others and a deterrent and punishment for them. Likewise, anyone whose disbelief or hypocrisy is known is neither to be prayed over nor to be asked forgiveness for.

• This verse, conversely, affirms the legitimacy of praying over the believers and standing at their graves—especially at the time of burial—to implore Allah’s mercy for them. Such was the Prophet’s ﷺ regular practice with the believers. The Sunnah has further clarified the obligatory funeral rites for a Muslim: washing the body, shrouding it, performing the funeral prayer, carrying it, and burying it, as is well known.