Amid ongoing debates surrounding the burial of former President Muhammadu Buhari, prominent Islamic scholars have refuted claims that the delay in his interment contravened Islamic tradition, insisting that the funeral was fully compliant with religious principles.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Buhari passed away on Saturday, July 13, 2025, in a London hospital and was laid to rest on Tuesday at his Daura residence in Katsina State with full military honours, including a 21‑gun salute.

In the days following his burial, social media—particularly (formerly Twitter)—buzzed with questions over why Buhari was not buried immediately after his death, as many believe Islamic customs require.

However, scholars have clarified that while Islam encourages a prompt burial, it does not prescribe a rigid timeline, especially in exceptional circumstances.

Speaking to Saturday PUNCH, Prof. Afis Oladosu, a Professor of Arabic and Islamic Studies at the University of Ibadan, stated categorically that Buhari’s burial 24 hours later did not violate Islamic law.

“Islamic tradition requires burial as soon as possible after death. But it would be wrong to say that burying former President Buhari 24 hours after his passing broke any rule. There were clear, valid reasons for the delay,” he explained.

Oladosu noted that Buhari’s death abroad would naturally require logistics such as repatriating the body—arrangements that Islamic law recognises as legitimate reasons for delay.

“Islam does not fix an exact number of hours. Burial should be swift, yes, but if there are genuine factors causing delay—such as transportation or legal processes—it remains acceptable,” he added.

He cautioned against misrepresenting Islam’s stance:

“What Islam forbids is unnecessary delay—keeping the deceased in a mortuary for weeks or months without valid cause. That is not the case here.”

Providing further context, he explained the spiritual rationale:

“In Islam, the soul departs at death and awaits the burial of its body before it proceeds to its next stage. This is why we emphasise prompt burial, but allowances exist when circumstances demand.”

Also commenting, Prof. Idris Ayinde, Chief Imam of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, described Buhari’s burial as “understandably exceptional.”

“He didn’t die in Nigeria, and it was his people’s wish to bring him back home to Daura. While it’s generally best to bury a Muslim where he dies, repatriation for burial in one’s hometown is not forbidden,” Ayinde said.

The cleric highlighted the administrative hurdles involved in transporting a body internationally—paperwork, legal authorisations, and associated costs—which can naturally extend the process.

“All these factors could have contributed to the delay,” he noted.

Ayinde reaffirmed Islam’s preference for quick burial but stressed its flexibility in practice:

“Islam says you should bury your dead quickly—if he is a sinner, you won’t share in his sin; if he is righteous, you won’t delay his reward. But in Buhari’s situation, given all the peculiarities, the burial was well within Islamic allowances.

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