Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “If anyone attends the funeral of a Muslim out of faith and seeking a reward from God, and stays till prayer is offered and the burial is complete, he will return with a reward of two qirats, each qirat being equivalent to Uhud (The qirat is a small weight, a twentieth, or twenty-fourth of a dinar. Here it is used somewhat figuratively. The statement that it is equivalent to the hill Uhud is a way of expressing that the reward will be very great); and if anyone prays over the dead and returns before the burial, he will come back with one qirat.” (Bukharl and Muslim.)
Exposition of the Hadith
This noble hadith from Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, transmitted by the esteemed companion Abu Huraira, elucidates the immense spiritual merit in accompanying Muslim funerals. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ distinguishes between two levels of reward based on one's fulfillment of this communal obligation (fard kifayah).
Conditions for Reward
The phrase "out of faith and seeking a reward from God" establishes three essential conditions: correct Islamic belief (iman), sincere intention (ikhlas) solely for Divine pleasure, and conscious expectation of heavenly recompense. Mere customary attendance without these spiritual prerequisites yields no reward.
The Two Qirats Explained
The complete reward of two qirats is reserved for those who remain throughout the funeral prayer (salat al-janazah) and subsequent burial rites. The qirat, though technically a small measurement, is metaphorically compared to Mount Uhud - among Medina's largest mountains - indicating an immeasurably vast heavenly compensation beyond human quantification.
Partial Completion Merit
Those who participate in the funeral prayer but depart before burial completion receive one qirat. This gradation teaches us that every righteous action has proportional reward, encouraging maximum participation while still valuing partial involvement. The wisdom behind this distinction emphasizes the importance of seeing religious duties through to completion.
Juridical Implications
Scholars derive from this hadith that attending funerals is a highly recommended act (sunnah mu'akkadah) carrying exceptional merit. The substantial reward demonstrates Islam's emphasis on communal solidarity, remembering mortality, and fulfilling brethren's rights - particularly during their most vulnerable transition from this world to the next.