"The Messenger of Allah said: 'Whoever offers the funeral prayer will have one Qirat and whoever stays until )the body) is placed in the Lahd will have two Qirats, and the two Qirats are like two great mountains."'
Hadith Text & Reference
"The Messenger of Allah said: 'Whoever offers the funeral prayer will have one Qirat and whoever stays until (the body) is placed in the Lahd will have two Qirats, and the two Qirats are like two great mountains."'
Source: Sunan an-Nasa'i 1994 | Book: The Book of Funerals
Meaning of Key Terms
Qirat: A immense, immeasurable measure of divine reward whose exact magnitude is known only to Allah.
Lahd: The niche excavated in the side of the grave to place the deceased's body, facing the Qiblah.
Scholarly Commentary
This hadith establishes the immense virtue of accompanying a Muslim's funeral procession. The first reward is for performing the funeral prayer (Salat al-Janazah), a collective obligation (Fard Kifayah).
The greater, doubled reward is reserved for those who exhibit patience and compassion by remaining until the body is laid to rest in the Lahd. This act demonstrates complete fulfillment of the duty to one's brother/sister in faith.
The simile "like two great mountains" illustrates the magnitude of the reward. Scholars explain that it signifies an incalculable, tremendous weight of good deeds recorded for the believer, encouraging full participation in the funeral rites.
Legal & Spiritual Rulings
The ruling for the funeral prayer is Fard Kifayah (communal obligation). If performed by a sufficient number, the obligation is lifted from the rest.
Staying until burial is a highly recommended (Mustahabb) Sunnah, not an obligation, but it yields a far greater reward for the perseverance and sincere intention involved.
This hadith highlights Islam's emphasis on community, brotherhood, and the importance of honoring the deceased until their final earthly journey is complete.