Funerals

كتاب الجنائز

Chapter 1

Anas (RAA) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said

"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.

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.

Jabir (RAA) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said

“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.

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.

Abu Hurairah (RAA) narrated that the Messenger of Allah said

“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.

Abu Sa’id and Abu Hurairah (RAA) narrated that the messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said

“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)”

Ma'qil bin Yasar (RAA) narrated that the messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said

“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) reported That Abu Bakr kissed the Prophet (ﷺ) after he had died.’ Related by Al-Bukhari.

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.

Jabir bin Samurah (RAA) narrated, ‘A man who killed himself with a broad-headed arrow, was brought to the Prophet (ﷺ) but he did not offer the funeral prayer for him.’ Related by Muslim.

Ibn ‘Abbas (RAA) narrated, ‘I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say, "If a Muslim man dies and a group of forty people, who do not associate any one with Allah, pray for him, Allah will accept their intercession for him (by way of their Du’A for him.” Related by Muslim.

‘Ali bin Abi Talib (RAA) narrated that he said six Takbirat when he prayed over Sahl bin Hunaif, and he said (explaining his action), ‘He is one of the Companions, who fought in the Battle of Badr.’ Related by Sa’id bin Mansur.

Abu Hurairah (RAA) narrated, ‘When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) prayed a funeral prayer, he would say, "O Allah! Forgive those of us who are alive, and those who are dead, those present and those absent, those who are young and those who are male and those who are female. O Allah! Let those of us to whom You have given life, live in Islam, and let those of us You take back die in a state of faith. O Allah! Do not deprive us of our reward for (supplicating for) him, and cause us not to go astray after him." Related by Muslim and the four Imams.

Abu Hurairah (RAA) narrated that the Messenger of Allah said, "Hurry up when you carry the dead body (the janazah), for if the deceased is righteous, you would be taking it to something better, and if he or she is an evil person, then you will be getting him or her off your necks.’ Agreed upon.

A’ishah (RAA) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said

“Breaking a deceased body’s bones is exactly like breaking them when he is alive.” Related by Abu Dawud in accordance with the conditions of Muslim.

Sa'd bin Abi Wqqas (RAA) said (during his death illness) ‘Make a lahd for me and cover it with un-burnt bricks, as you did with the grave of the Prophet (ﷺ).’ Related by Muslim.

Ibn Majah added on the authority of Bin Mas’ud, “And they make you (i.e. the graves) renounce this worldly life.”