PnB Rock‘s body is ready to be released to his family, but the process behind the scenes has been drama-filled between them and officials … and actually required police intervention.

Sources tell TMZ … PnB Rock’s mother wanted her son’s body right away because of religious reasons, but the medical examiner wouldn’t give it up because his death’s part of a larger homicide investigation. PnB’s brother, PnB Meen, alluded to this online — saying the family was having issues with the M.E. — making him question how PnB’s Janazah would go.

Janazah is a Muslim funeral ceremony … and there are certain rules that come with conducting one — including getting a burial started within 72 hours.

We’re told PnB Rock’s mom flew from Philadelphia to Los Angeles after being notified her son had been shot and killed Monday, and she went straight to the medical examiner’s office to ID the body and try to get it released to the fam.

Our sources say Rock’s mom was adamant the body needed to be released ASAP because their customs. We’re told things got heated when the family was informed their request for immediate release could not be met and that LAPD was called to the L.A. County Coroner’s office to help calm things down.

Our sources say PnB’s mom also didn’t want an autopsy performed, because it goes against their religion … but we’re told the M.E.’s office told her they had to conduct an autopsy by law.

TMZ broke the story … PnB Rock was shot and killed Monday while dining at a Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles restaurant in South Los Angeles.

The M.E. released the autopsy findings Friday, saying PnB Rock died from a gunshot wound to his back/chest, classifying his death as a homicide.

With PnB Rock’s body finally getting the green light to be released into his family’s possession — after tons of back-and-forth between his loved ones, legal team, LAPD and the M.E. — we’re told the plan is for his family to take the body back to his Philly hometown for a funeral.