Is There Any Reason a Dead Person’s Eyes are Wide Open?
Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Question: Assalam alaykum,
I recently attended a funeral. As soon as the person died we closed the eyes and mouth. We then sent the body to the mosque and when we returned to it 4/5 hours later we found the eyes were wide open which we found to be really strange.
What could this signify or mean?
Answer: Walaikum assalam,
I hope you’re doing well, insha’Allah. Innaa li’l Llahi wa inna ilayhi raji‘un (We are indeed Allah’s, and to Him is our return)
Don’t worry about this: it is something natural.
As Muslims, we don’t take “bad signs” from things. Rather, the sunna is to think well of the deceased, to remember their good deeds, and to ask Allah Most High for His Mercy and forgiveness for them.
Please see: Burial Amongst Muslims, and a Directive for Proper Burial/Estate Division
Wassalam,
[Shaykh] Faraz Rabbani
Shaykh Faraz Rabbani is a scholar and researcher of Islamic law and translator of several Arabic works to the English language. After ten years overseas, Shaykh Faraz returned to Canada in the Summer of 2007. In May 2008 he founded SeekersGuidance to deal with the urgent need to spread Islamic knowledge—both online and on the ground—in a reliable, relevant, inspiring, and accessible manner.
