Funerals
كتاب الجنائز
Chapter 1
“Remember, as much as you can, the one thing (fact or reality) which (always) brings an end to all worldly joys and pleasures, (meaning death)”Related by At-Tirmidhi, An-Nasa’i and Ibn Hibban.
"None of you should wish for death due to any affliction, which might have affected him. But if he feels compelled to wish for it (due to extreme distress that he feels he cannot bear), he should say: “O Allah! Grant me life as long as life is better for me, and let me die when death is better for me.” Agreed upon.
“The believer dies while his forehead is sweating." Related by the three Imams.
“Remind those who are on their death bed of the Shahadah “La'Ilaha illall-ah.” (for them to say it, hoping it will be their last words)”
“Recite Yasin (Surah no. 36), over those who are dying.” Related by Abu Dawud, An-Nasa'i and Ibn Hibban graded it as Sahih
Umm Salamah (RAA) narrated, ‘The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came to see Abu Salamah when his sight had become fixed (with his eyes open, as he had already passed away). So the Prophet (ﷺ), closed his eyes and said, “When the soul is seized and leaves the body, the sight follows it.’ Some of Abu Salamah's family wept and wailed, whereupon the Messenger of Allah said to them, ‘Do not supplicate to Allah anything except that which is good for you (i.e. do not say anything which goes against you at that moment), because the angels (who are present at the time of death), say “Amin" (asking Allah to accept your invocation) to whatever you say.” Then he said, "O Allah! Forgive Abu Salamah, raise his status among (Your) rightly guided servants, make his grave spacious, and fill it with light for him, and be his successor in taking good care of his descendants whom he has left behind, (and make them pious).” Related by Muslim.
A’ishah (RAA) narrated ‘When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) died, he was covered with a Yemeni mantle that had some designs on it.' Agreed upon.
A’ishah (RAA) reported That Abu Bakr kissed the Prophet (ﷺ) after he had died.’ Related by Al-Bukhari.
Abu Hurairah (RAA) narrated that the Messenger of Allah said, "A believer‘s soul remains suspended according to his debt until it is settled or paid off on his behalf". Related by Ahmad and At-Tirmidhi.
Ibn ‘Abbas (RAA) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said concerning the man who fell off his mount and died during Hajj, “Wash him with water and Sidr (lotus leaves) and shroud him in his two garments (that he was wearing for Ihram).” Agreed upon.
A’ishah (RAA) narrated, ‘When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) died and they wanted to make Ghusl (full ritual washing of the body), they said, ‘By Allah we do not know whether we should take off the clothes of Allah’s Messenger as we do for our dead or not?’ Related by Ahmad and Abu Dawud.
Umm ‘Atiyah (RAA) narrated, ‘The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came to us when we were washing his daughter (Zainab) after she had died and said, “Wash her three times, five times or more if necessary, with water and lotus leaves (Sidr) and apply some camphor to the last washing.” When we finished making Ghusl for her, we informed the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and he threw his Izar (a cloth, which he wore round his waist) to us and told us to wrap her in it as the first sheet of the shroud (next to her body).’ Agreed upon. In another narration, “Start by washing the organs on the right and those parts that are washed in ablution.” In the narration of Al-Bukhari, “We braided her hair in three braids and made them fall at her back.”
A’ishah (RAA) narrated, ‘The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was shrouded in three pieces of white Yemenite cotton sheets. They did not include either a shirt or a turban.’ Agreed upon.
‘Abdullah bin ’Umar (RAA) narrated, ‘When ‘Abdullah bin Ubay (the head of the hypocrites) died, his son came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said, ‘O Messenger of Allah! Please give me your shirt to shroud him (his father) in it.’ So, Allah’s Messenger gave it to him, Agreed upon.
“Wear white clothes, for they are (considered as) your best clothes, and enshroud your dead in them.” Related by the five Imams, except for An-Nasa’i, and At-Tirmidhi reported it to be sound.
“When one of you is in charge of shrouding his brother, he should give him the best shroud he can (i.e. clean, covering the whole body, but not necessarily expensive as this is disliked.)” Related by Muslim.
Jabir (RAA) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) had each two martyrs of the battle of Uhud wrapped in one shroud, and then would ask, “Which one of them knew more of the Qur’An?” He would put that one (that was pointed out) first in the grave. They were not washed and the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) did not offer a funeral prayer for them.’ Related by Al-Bukhari.
‘AIi (RAA) narrated, ‘l heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say, “Do not be extravagant in shrouding (i.e. do not spend too much money on them) for it will decay quickly.” Related by Abu Dawud.
A’ishah (RAA) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said to her, “If you die before me, I will wash you myself.” Related by Ahmad, Ibn Majah and Ibn Hibban graded it as Sahih.