If a [funeral] prayer is led by someone other than a close relative who is neither superior to the close relative and nor did he give permission for this to happen, and the close relative was not present, then the prayer can be repeated. If the deceased is buried, the [funeral] prayer can be offered at the grave. The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم is a close relative of all the Muslims during his blessed era. Thus, Imam Ahmad Raza Khan رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه   states: “During the blessed era of the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, he is the closest relative (greatest owner) of all Muslims. The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said: اَنَااَولٰی بِالْمُؤمِنِیْنَ مِنْ اَنْفُسِھِم  ‘I am a greater owner of the people than themselves.’^[1] When a funeral prayer was offered without informing the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, he صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم repeated it. This is as if the first funeral prayer was offered by someone other than a close relative. A close relative has the choice of performing the funeral prayer again.”^[2]  This is why the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم offered the funeral prayer at the grave of Umm Mihjan رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهَا and when he asked about the most superior action, she said it was to clean the masjid.

Dear Islamic brothers, we should ensure the masjids remain clean and pure, as the one who cleans the masjid is beloved to Allah. It is mentioned in a Hadith:مَنْ اَلِفَ الْمَسجد اَ لِفَهُ اللهُ , meaning,  “Whoever loves the masjid becomes beloved to Allah.”^[3] The people who clean the masjids and remain within them to perform worship are very fortunate. Indeed, the masjid is a great blessing from Allah and an excellent form of protection from the attacks of the Devil. Sayyiduna Abd al-Rahman bin