Can women go to the cemetery for a funeral burial?

Dear Brother / Sister,

Just as the responsibility of carrying the deceased is assigned to men, attending the funeral is also considered a duty for men.

Since the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) prohibited women from attending funerals (1), it has been unanimously agreed that it is makruh (disliked) for women to accompany the funeral procession.

According to the Hanafi sect of school, it is considered tahriman makruh (disliked close to forbidden), and if there is a fear of fitna (mischief or moral corruption), it is unanimously considered haram (forbidden).

Imam Malik, however, allows elderly women and female relatives of the deceased to attend the funeral, provided there is no fear of fitna. If there is a fear of fitna, he also states that it is forbidden for them to participate (2).

Footnotes:

1) References to Hadith collections: Bukhari, Sahih, Funerals, 29, vol. II, p. 78; Menstruation, 12, vol. I, p. 80; Muslim, Sahih, Funerals 11, vol. II, p. 646; Ibn Maja, Sunan, Funerals, 50, vol. I, p. 502; Abu Dawud, Sunan, Funerals, 44, vol. III, p. 202.
2) al-Jaziri, al-Fiqhul alal Madhahib al-Arba'ah, Beirut.

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