It is not permissible to pray funeral prayer when the deceased is not present. This is the most authentic opinion of scholars. some scholars say that it is permissible only when the deceased had great influence and benefit to Islam. This is not the most authentic opinion.

As for the Najashi, scholars say that the Prophet salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam prayed on him because he died and no Muslims were in his country to offer funeral prayers.

Sheikh, kindly clarify this statement: Prophet [S] offered Janazah prayers for King Najashi of Abysinnia, when he heard that the king had passed away. Abysinnia would have been far from Makkah or Madina.Is it not permissible for regular people to offer Janazah prayers upon hearing a demise, if living different parts of the world?

Funerals | February 19, 2014 1:03 pm
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I am from South Africa and it is the custom here that on the day a person dies, they bury him and return to the house and serve food.
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I would like to ask what are the sunnah that I can do while visiting my mother’s grave, and what are the common innovations that I should avoid? Is reading Quran ok?