Al-Bukhari related on the authority of Abu Hurairah, “Whoever accompanies the funeral of a Muslim, seeking the reward only from Allah, the Almighty, and he stays with it until he offers the funeral prayer and the burial is completed, will return back with two Qirat, each Qirat is equal to the mount of Uhud.”
Bulugh al-Maram 569: Commentary on Funeral Procession Reward
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. This noble hadith from Sahih al-Bukhari, transmitted by the esteemed companion Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him), concerns the immense spiritual reward for accompanying a Muslim funeral procession with sincere intention.
The Condition of Sincerity (Ikhlas)
The phrase "seeking the reward only from Allah" establishes the fundamental condition of purity of intention. The reward is contingent upon performing this act solely for the pleasure of Allah, not for worldly recognition, social obligation, or any other temporal motive. This aligns with the Quranic principle that deeds are judged by intentions.
The Required Actions
The scholar stipulates three actions that must be completed to attain the full reward: 1) Accompanying the funeral procession (walking with it), 2) Remaining present to offer the prescribed funeral prayer (Salat al-Janazah), and 3) Staying until the burial is fully completed, including placing the deceased in the grave and covering it with soil.
The Magnitude of the Reward: Two Qirat
The reward is quantified as "two Qirat." The scholars explain that a Qirat is not a standard earthly measurement but a immense, divine measure of reward. The comparison to "the mount of Uhud" provides a tangible, albeit still unimaginably vast, analogy for the human mind. Mount Uhud is a massive mountain near Madinah. Thus, the reward is likened to two mountains of good deeds, emphasizing the tremendous value Allah places on this act of compassion and communal solidarity.
Legal and Spiritual Implications
This hadith establishes that accompanying a funeral is a highly recommended (mustahabb) communal obligation (fard kifayah). It underscores the importance of fulfilling the rights of a deceased Muslim brother or sister. The immense reward serves as a divine encouragement to participate in this final act of kindness, which provides comfort to the deceased's family and reinforces the bonds of brotherhood within the Muslim community (Ummah).