Though the majority of Muslim scholars permit offering Funeral Prayer for a person who committed suicide, some of them hold the opinion that leading scholars and Imam (ruler) of the state are recommended not to attend this Prayer; i.e. common people are to offer it (in showing re
poignance to the conduct). “The majority of Muslim scholars are of the opinion that a Funeral Prayer may be offered for a person who is convicted of embezzling public funds, or committing suicide or some related sinful acts.
An-Nawawi quotes Al-Qadi as saying: ‘All Muslim scholars hold that a Funeral Prayer be offered for all Muslims – those sentenced to death under Islamic Law, or stoned to death, or those who commit suicide, or happen to be born out of wedlock. The reports that indicate that the Prophet, peace be upon him, did not pray for embezzlers and those guilty of suicide may be explained perhaps by considering such refusal to be a form of reprimand to these people. This is similar to his act of refusing to offer funeral prayer for those who died debtors, though he asked other Muslims to offer the Funeral Prayer for them’.”
Ibn Hazm said: “Funeral Prayer should be offered for all Muslims, whether good or bad, including those sentenced to death and those that die in revolt. The Imam, or any one other person, may lead the Funeral Prayers. Likewise Funeral Prayer should be offered for an innovator, provided his innovation does not become blasphemy, and Prayer may also be offered for one who commits suicide or kills someone else. A Funeral Prayer may be offered in all such cases even though the deceased might have been the most evil person on earth, provided he dies as a Muslim. This is based on a Hadith of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, that has a general bearing: “Offer a Funeral Prayer for your friend (a fellow Muslim).” All Muslims are friends to one another. The Qur’an says: “Verily! The believers are but a single brotherhood,” (Al-Hujurat: 10) and “The believers, men and women, are protectors, one of another.” (At-Tawbah: 71). Preventing others from offering Funeral Prayers for a Muslim is a most serious thing, for surely a sinful Muslim is more in need of Prayers from his Muslim brothers than a pious and saintly person! An authentic Hadith recorded that a man died in Khayber, and the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Offer a Funeral Prayer for your friend. He has stolen something of the war booty.”
According to `Ata, a Funeral Prayer may be offered for an illegitimate child, and his mother, and for those who curse each other (in cases of Li`an, for instance, when in the absence of any evidence of a spouse’s adultery both the man and wife are required to swear an oath that he/she is telling the truth or be subject to Allah’s curse if they were lying) as well as the person who is killed in requital, and the person stoned to death. `Ata said: “I will never abstain from offering a Funeral Prayer for a person who testifies that there is no god but Allah, for Allah says: ‘It is not fitting for the Prophet and those who believe to pray for forgiveness for pagans, even though they be of kin, after it is clear that they are companions of the Fire’.” (At-Tawbah: 113). Ibrahim An-Nakh`i said: “Our predecessors never eschewed attending a Funeral Prayer for any Muslim. They offered the Funeral Prayer for those who committed suicide, and it is a sunnah to offer Funeral Prayer for those who are stoned to death.” Al-Hasan is reported to have said: “Funeral Prayer will be offered for all those who testify that there is no god but Allah.’ It will be offered for all Muslims; for it is an act of intercession on behalf of the deceased.”
In the light of the above-mentioned reports, it becomes crystal clear that a Funeral Prayer may be offered for a person who commits suicide. If the leading scholars, however, don’t attend such Prayer, there will be no harm.