He who offered prayer over the dead, but did not follow the bier, for him is the reward of one qirat, and he who followed it, for him is the reward of two qirats. It was asked what the qirats were. He said: The smaller amongst the two is equivalent to Uhud.
Hadith Text
He who offered prayer over the dead, but did not follow the bier, for him is the reward of one qirat, and he who followed it, for him is the reward of two qirats. It was asked what the qirats were. He said: The smaller amongst the two is equivalent to Uhud.
Reference
The Book of Prayer - Funerals, Sahih Muslim 945 d
Commentary
This hadith establishes the immense spiritual merit in participating in funeral rites. The qirat mentioned is not a worldly measurement but a metaphorical unit of divine reward. The comparison to Mount Uhud - a massive mountain in Medina - illustrates the magnitude of Allah's generosity. Even the smaller reward (one qirat) is likened to a mountain, indicating that minimal participation in funeral rites brings substantial spiritual benefit.
Following the funeral procession to the burial site demonstrates complete fulfillment of this communal obligation and reflects greater commitment to the deceased Muslim's rights. The two qirats represent a complete, perfected reward for those who accompany the deceased from prayer to burial, while one qirat is for partial participation.
Scholars emphasize that this hadith encourages Muslims to fully participate in funeral rites, highlighting Islam's emphasis on communal responsibilities and the spiritual benefits of accompanying fellow believers in their final journey.