In Nigeria, whether Muslim women attend funerals or not largely depends on regional and cultural practices, more than religious rulings alone…CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
In many Muslim communities around the world, it’s common to notice an absence of women at burial grounds.
While women participate actively in janazah prayers and other mourning rituals, their physical presence at the burial site is often limited or completely absent. This practice, however, is not always due to a religious prohibition but rather stems from a mix of religious interpretations, emotional considerations, and cultural traditions that have evolved over centuries.
Why Muslim Women Don’t Attend Burials
1. Religious Reasons
The question of whether Muslim women can attend burials is rooted in Islamic teachings and the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). One frequently cited narration comes from Umm ‘Atiyyah (RA), a female companion of the Prophet, who said:
We were forbidden to follow funeral processions, but it was not made strictly binding on us.
This hadith, found in both Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, has been interpreted by scholars to mean that while women attending funerals is discouraged (makruh), it is not explicitly haram (forbidden).
The caution stems from concerns over maintaining decorum and dignity during the burial process. In the pre-Islamic era, funerals often became scenes of intense mourning, with women sometimes engaging in loud wailing, tearing of clothes, or expressions of extreme grief that were seen as un-Islamic.
To distance Muslim funeral rites from such practices, scholars and jurists preferred that women stay away from the burial grounds, especially if they might be overcome with grief. However, this interpretation varies among scholars.
Some schools of thought, particularly the Shafi’i and Hanafi, allow women to attend burials under specific conditions: they must remain composed, observe modesty, and avoid causing any form of distraction. The key concern is not the presence of women per se, but the environment of the burial and the behaviour expected during such a solemn occasion.
2. Emotional Considerations
Another reason often given for discouraging women from attending burials is emotional vulnerability. It is widely acknowledged in many cultures that women tend to express grief more openly than men.
Some Islamic scholars argue that intense emotional displays, while understandable, may unintentionally shift the focus from the spiritual importance of the burial to the emotional state of the mourners. This becomes especially significant in cultures where public grieving is dramatic and highly visible.
That said, it’s important to note that men, too, can also be emotional at burials. The distinction is more cultural than biological, and in more liberal or emotionally open societies, the argument of emotional disruption doesn’t always hold strong.
3. Cultural Variation & Social Practice
In many parts of the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia, women are rarely seen at graveyards. In countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh, this absence is so normalised that many believe it’s a religious obligation, not just a tradition.
In contrast, in countries like Egypt, Iran, and parts of North Africa, women not only attend the funeral prayers but also accompany the body to the graveyard. They often stand at a respectful distance and pray silently while the men lower the body into the ground.
In places like Malaysia and Indonesia, it’s also common for women to be present at the burial, though typically in a segregated section. Interestingly, Muslim women living in Western countries such as the UK, Canada, and the United States are increasingly attending burials, often standing quietly at a distance or participating in a limited capacity.
This shift reflects changing attitudes and a growing awareness that Islamic rulings allow for flexibility on muslim funeral traditions, especially when cultural barriers are broken down.
What Do Muslim Scholars Think?
While early scholars tended to discourage women from attending burials, modern Islamic scholars are increasingly offering more balanced interpretations. They emphasise that the hadiths related to this issue must be understood in their historical context.
The Prophet’s prohibition came at a time when certain mourning behaviours were considered excessive and un-Islamic. Today, many women attend burials with solemnity, modesty, and a sense of respect, which aligns with Islamic principles of dignified mourning.
Some scholars also highlight that Aisha (RA), the wife of the Prophet, was known to have visited the grave of her brother, demonstrating that visiting graves is not inherently forbidden for women. The key remains in how one conducts oneself, not merely one’s gender.
Do Nigerian Muslim Women Attend Burials?
In Nigeria, whether Muslim women attend funerals or not largely depends on regional and cultural practices, more than religious rulings alone. Nigeria’s Muslim population is diverse, comprising different ethnic groups such as the Hausa, Yoruba, Kanuri, and Fulani, each with their own customs that influence funeral practices.
Northern Nigeria (Predominantly Hausa-Fulani Muslim Communities)
In the north, it is very uncommon for Muslim women to attend burials. The prevailing cultural norm is heavily influenced by conservative Islamic interpretations and traditional Hausa-Fulani values, which discourages women from going to graveyards or accompanying funeral processions.
Women usually stay back at home to pray, mourn, and receive condolences.
Even when the deceased is a close family member, women may not be physically present at the cemetery.
This practice aligns with the more conservative Maliki school of thought dominant in the north, where scholars generally discourage women’s presence at gravesites due to concerns over modesty, emotional displays, and community decorum.
Southwestern Nigeria (Predominantly Yoruba Muslims)
Among Yoruba Muslims in the southwest, the approach is more flexible and varies from family to family.
Some Yoruba Muslim women do attend the janazah prayers (funeral prayers), although they might not follow the body to the cemetery.
In increasingly urban or educated circles, especially in cities like Lagos and Ibadan, it’s becoming more common for women to go to the burial site, often standing apart or at a respectful distance.
Cultural tolerance and exposure to diverse Islamic opinions (e.g., from scholars in the Middle East or global Muslim communities) may be influencing this shift.
In urban areas, where there’s more exposure to different Islamic views and less strict adherence to old customs, it’s not unusual to see Muslim women quietly present at the burial, particularly if the deceased is a close relative like a spouse, parent, or child.
In rural settings, especially in the north and far west, the tradition of excluding women from burials is more strongly upheld…CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
