Escorting the deceased to his final place
Since 2012-11-23
This is a message every Muslim person needs to know what is permitted and what is prohibited during escorting the deceased person.
Escorting the deceased to his final place (The permitted and the prohibited)
All Praise is due to Allah the lord of the worlds. And prayers and peace of Allah be upon the most honorable prophet and messenger, Muhammad, and all his family and companions and whoever followed his path till the Day of Judgment.
This is a message every Muslim person needs to know what is permitted and what is prohibited during escorting the deceased person.
First; the excellence of following up the funerals
The Prophet (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “(A believer) who accompanies the funeral of a Muslim out of sincere faith and hoping to attain Allah's reward and remains with it till the funeral prayer is offered and the burial ceremonies are over, he will return with a reward of two Qirats. Each Qirat is like the size of the (Mount) Uhud.” [Narrated by Abu Hurayra, and reported by Al-Bukhâri, and it is an authentic Hadeeth]
«من اتبع جنازة مسلم إيمانًا واحتسابًا وكان معها حتى يصلى عليها ويفرغ من دفنها فإنه يرجع من الأجر بقيراطين كل قيراط مثل أحد» الراوي: أبو هريرة، المحدث: البخاري، صحيح
Second; the signs of the good end
1- The Prophet (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever his last word is ‘There is no God except Allah’ would enter paradise.” [Narrated by Mu’âdh ibn Jabal, and reported by Al-Albâni, and it is an authentic Hadeeth]
«من كان آخر كلامه لا إله إلا الله؛ دخل الجنة» الراوي: معاذ بن جبل المحدث: الألباني، صحيح
This is to whoever practices this word and does not commit its nullifications.
2- Death during performing a good deed.
3- Death in the cause of Allah as a martyr.
4- Death because of plague, abdominal disease, sank, downfall of a building, fire, pleurisy or tuberculosis.
5- Woman’s death in the postpartum period.
Third; it is permissible for the dying person to bequeath one third of his belongings to non-heir persons. And it is recommended for whoever attends him to prompt him the testimony of faith.
When the person dies, his eyes should be closed, and he should be covered and invocation for him should be done. Then, his family should be urged to quickly prepare him for burying, and he should be buried in the city that he died in, and his family should promptly payback his debts.
It is permissible to uncover his face and kiss him between his eyes. And his family has to be patient and accept Allah’s destiny without resentment.
It is desirable for whoever carries the deceased person to perform ablution (having a shower because of carrying the deceased person is not obligatory). And the deceased person should be carried in dignity, tranquility and remembering the hereafter.
It is recommended to get the deceased in the grave from the back and put him on his right side while his face is toward the Qiblah and to say during putting him: “In the name of Allah and by the religion of the Messenger of Allah (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him).” [Narrated by Abdullah ibn Omar, and reported by Ahmed Shaker, and it’s chain of transmission is authentic]
«بسم الله وعلى ملة رسول الله -صلى الله عليه وسلم-» الراوي: عبدالله بن عمر، المحدث: أحمد شاكر، إسناده صحيح
Then the dust should be poured on his grave thrice. Also, the grave must not be plastered or raised above the earth.
The attendants should not haste for returning back; rather they should invoke to him individually, and invoke Allah to provide him stability, and seek forgiveness to him because he would be questioned in his grave in these moments.
It is permitted to condole the deceased’s family (even after the pass of three days) by suitable statements such as: “Whatever Allah takes is His, and whatever He gives is His, and everything is with Him to a prescribed time. Be patient and seek the reward from Allah,” or any good statement fulfill the goal within the limits of the Shari’ah.
Fourth; it is not allowed to recite Surat Yasin for him, because there is no authentic Hadîth proves that the Prophet did that.
The deceased should not be transmitted from the city that he died in; rather he should be buried in the nearest Muslim’s graveyard. If the deceased person entrusted burying him in another city, his entrust should not be fulfilled, because the Prophet ordered people to return back the decedents who died outside Al-Medina and had been carried to be buried in it, and he ordered that they should be buried where they died.
It is prohibited to laminate the deceased person, weep loudly, slap the cheeks or tear the clothes, because they all are the actions of the days of ignorance.
It is prohibited to perform the funeral prayer for the apostate or the person who neglected prayer, and it is not permissible to seek forgiveness to them, inherit them or bury them in the Muslim’s graveyards.
The deceased person should be buried in peace and a reminder to the hereafter. Among the things that people had originated is to raise their voices before the deceased person by saying “Declare His Oneness!” or by calling the deceased person after his death and mentioning the testimony of faith thinking that this would benefit him. Actually, they forgot that Allah almighty said to His Prophet (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him): {Verily, you cannot make the dead to hear.} [Surat An-Naml 27:80]
{إِنَّكَ لا تُسْمِعُ الْمَوْتَى} النمل: 80
Transliteration: Innaka la tusmiAAu almawta
Some people say the Adhan (i.e. call for prayer) in the grave claiming that it reminds the deceased person. Actually, he might was among those who hear the Adhan in their lives and do not answer it; thereupon, so will he do after his death? We seek refuge with Allah.
Also, among the prohibited things is to gather people, slaughter sacrifices, and spend much money in such actions.
Moreover, some people may falsely claim that the deceased was one of the people of faith, good and righteousness, whereas he was opposite to that, thinking this would benefit him.
Some people may put grains or clover or some plants over the grave. Actually, this does not benefit the deceased. What benefit him are his good deeds: {And that man can have nothing but what he does (good or bad)} [Surat An-Najm 53:39]
{وَأَن لَّيْسَ لِلْإِنسَانِ إِلَّا مَا سَعَى} النجم: 39
Transliteration: Waan laysa lilinsani illa ma saAAa
It is important to mention that some people burry the deceased person and do not invoke for him; rather they haste to get out to stand in a line beside the gate of the grave for receiving the condolences, and people put their hands on the shoulders of the deceased’s family members. Actually, all of these things are against the Sunnah.
Among the detested things, that people originated, is to sit in the roads and close the street for three subsequent nights. This is transgression over the rights of the Muslims and breaking down to their affairs.
Among the originated things, that you must be aware of, are writing verses of the Holy Quran on the cover of the deceased person, slaughtering sacrifices on the doorstep after getting the deceased person out, specifying a place for consolation (although the Sunnah is to condole the people of the deceased person wherever they are), and facing the grave while putting the right hand over the left hand (like in prayer) during invoking to the deceased person.
We invoke Allah Almighty to mercy all the deceased Muslims. And the prayers and peace of Allah be upon our prophet, Muhammad, and his family and companions.
Al-Watan House
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