Ruling regarding Transportation of a Dead Body

In accordance with Islamic tradition, it is essential to understand that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) never endorsed the practice of relocating deceased individuals from one place to another. Instead, he advocated for the burial of the deceased in the local graveyard of the area where they passed away. This practice was diligently followed by the companions of the Prophet during the era of the Four Rightly Guided Caliphs.

Historically, there exists no Hadith (Prophetic report) or recorded incident wherein the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) permitted or approved the transportation of a deceased person's body from one location to another, regardless of the proximity of that location to the holy cities of Makkah or Madinah. Consequently, the majority of Islamic jurists prohibit the relocation of a corpse from its place of death to another location for burial purposes. This prohibition stands unless there is a compelling Shar'ai reason, such as the risk of desecration of the grave, concerns regarding the dignity of the deceased, or the threat of defilement due to natural disasters such as flooding.

A minority of jurists who have allowed the transportation of a corpse to another location have done so under strict conditions, emphasizing that it must be justified by genuine Shar'ai reasons. Furthermore, they stipulate that such transportation is permissible only if it does not alter the essential composition and nature of the body.

The sanctity of the deceased and their dignified burial are fundamental obligations in Islam, and any actions that harm, disrespect, or damage the natural composition of the body before burial are strictly prohibited. Some scholars argue that Sa'ad bin Waqqas and Sa'eed bin Zaid (may Allah be pleased with them) were transported from al-A'qeeq, which is ten miles away from Madinah, to Madinah for burial. This is reported in Imam Malik's hadith book, Muwatta.

However, it's essential to note that this transportation neither caused significant delays nor changed the composition of the bodies in any way.

In contrast, modern-day international shipment of corpses involves procedures that can alter the body's composition and nature. International corpse shipment typically necessitates embalming, a process involving three main types:

1. Arterial Embalming: This procedure involves the injection of embalming fluids into the arteries while draining the blood through veins. These fluids penetrate all parts of the body, including tissues, muscles, organs, and the skin.
2. Cavity Embalming: The fluids inside the abdomen, thoracic cavities, and organs are removed through suction. All body organs are punctured to facilitate fluid drainage.
3. Surface Embalming: Embalming fluids are applied to the skin and tissues to preserve them and protect against decomposition.

Embalming fluids typically consist of a mixture of formaldehyde, methanol, and other solvents, including ethanol. The formaldehyde content can range from 5 to 29 percent, and ethanol content may range from 9 to 56 percent. This process is problematic from an Islamic perspective, primarily due to the inclusion of alcohol in the embalming fluids.

The incisions, injection of external fluids (including alcohol), puncturing of body organs, suction of internal fluids, and the overall process of embalming are all considered detrimental to the dignity of the deceased's body, unless there are extraordinary circumstances justifying such actions for Shar'ai reasons.

Islamically, it is emphasized that the deceased should be buried swiftly, as delaying the burial without a valid reason is discouraged. This practice aligns with the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), who urged the quick burial of the deceased, emphasizing that it is an act of both kindness and responsibility.

Therefore, the general practice recommended by Islamic tradition is to bury the deceased in the local graveyard of the area where they have passed away as promptly as possible, while considering the transportation of the deceased to a distant location only in exceptional circumstances when Islamic burial is not feasible, and the dignity of the deceased is at risk.