Funeral Prayer in absentia

Q 11: Is it permissible to offer the Funeral Prayer for deceased people in absentia, as the Prophet (peace be upon him) did for his beloved friend Al-Najashy (the Negus) or was this specific to him alone?

A: It is permissible to offer the Funeral Prayer in absentia, because the Prophet (peace be upon him) did so. This is not specifically for the Prophet (peace be upon him), because his Sahabah (Companions) also prayed with him for Al-Najashy. The basic ruling is for non-specificity, but this should only be done for those who made a contribution to Islam, and not for just any person.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.