The Book of Prayer - Funerals

Exhort to recite" There is no god but Allah" to those of you who are dying.

This hadith has been narrated by Sulaiman b. Bilal with the same chain of transmitters.

Exhort to recite" There is no god but Allah" to those of you who are dying.

If any Muslim who suffers some calamity says, what Allah has commanded him," We belong to Allah and to Him shall we return; O Allah, reward me for my affliction and give me something better than it in exchange for it," …

If any servant (of Allah) who suffers a calamity says:" We belong to Allah and to Him shall we return; O Allah, reward me for my affliction and give me something better than it in exchange for it," ' Allah will give him …

" When Abu Salama died I said: Who is better than Abu Salama, the Companion of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), and Allah decided for me and I said (these words contained in the supplication mentioned above) and I was married …

Whenever you visit the sick or the dead, supplicate for good because angels say" Amen" to whatever you say. She added: When Abu Salama died, I went to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and said: Messenger of Allah, Abu Salama …

The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon came to Abu Salama (as he died). His eyes were fixedly open. He closed them, and then said: When the soul is taken away the sight follows it. Some of the people of his family …

(O Allah! ) let Thee be the caretaker of what is left by him, and he said: Grant him expansion of the grave, but he did not say: Make his grave spacious. Khalid said: He supplicated for the seventh (thing too) which I …

Did you not see when the man died and his eyes were fixedly open? He (Abu Huraira) said: Yes. He (the Holy Prophet) said: It is due to the fact that when (the soul leaves the body) his eyesight follows the soul.

This hadith is narrated on the authority of 'Ala' with the same chain of transmitters.

When Abu Salama died I said: I am a stranger in a strange land; I shall weep for him in a manner that would be talked of. I made preparation for weeping for him when a woman from the upper side of the city came there who …

While we were with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), one of his daughters sent to him (the Messenger) to call him and inform him that her child or her son was dying. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) told the messenger to go back and …

This hadith has been narrated by another chain of transmitters on the authority of 'Asim al-Ahwal.

Has he died? They said: Messenger of Allah, it is not so. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) wept. When the people saw Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) weeping, they also began to weep. He said. Listen, Allah does not punish for the tears …

While we were sitting with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), a person, one of the Ansar, came to him and greeted him. The Ansari then turned back. Upon this the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: o brother of Ansar, how is my …

Endurance is to be shown at the first blow.

Fear Allah and show endurance. She (not recognising him) said: You have not been afflicted as I have been. When he (the Holy Prophet) had departed, it was said to her that he was the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), she was …

" The Apostle of Allah (ﷺ) happened to pass by a woman (who was sitting) by the side of a grave."

Be quiet, my daughter. Don't you know that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) had said:" The deceased is punished because of his family's weeping over the death"?

The dead is punished in the grave because of wailing on it.

The same hadith is narrated on the authority of 'Umar through another chain of transmitters.

When 'Umar was wounded he fainted, and there was a loud lamentation over him. When he regained consciousness he said: Didn't you know that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:" The dead is punished because of the weeping of …

O brother! Upon this 'Umar said: Suhaib, did you not know that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:" The dead is punished because of the lamentation of the living"?

What are you weeping for? Are you weeping for me? He said: By Allah, it is for you that I weep, O Commander of the believers. He said: By Allah, you already know that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) had said: He who is …

O Hafsa, did you not hear the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saying:" One who is lamented would be punished"? Suhaib also lamented over him. 'Umar told him also: O Suhaib, didn't you know that one who is lamented is punished?

We were with the bier of Umm Aban, daughter of 'Uthman, and the rest of the hadith is the same, but he did not narrate it as a marfu' hadith on the authority of 'Umar from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) as it was narrated by …

The dead is punished because of the lamentation of the living.

May Allah have mercy upon Abu 'Abd al-Rahman (the kunya of Ibn 'Umar) that he heard something but could not retain it (well). (The fact is) that the bier of a Jew passed before the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and (the members …

He (Ibn 'Umar) missed (the point). The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) had (in fact) said: He (the dead) is punished for his faults or for his sins, and the members of his family are wailing for him now. (This misunderstanding of …

This hadith has been narrated by Ibn 'Urwa with the same chain of transmitters. The hadith narrated by Abu Usama is more complete.

The dead is punished because of the lamentation of the living. Upon this 'A'isha said: May Allah have mercy upon the father of 'Abd al-Rahman (Ibn 'Umar). He did not tell a lie, but he forgot or made a mistake. The …

I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saying: He who is lamented upon would be punished because of the lamentation for him on the Day of judgment.

A hadith like this has been narrated by Mughira b. Shu'ba from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).

This hadith has been narrated from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) through another chain of transmitters.

Among my people there are four characteristics belonging to pre-Islamic period which they do not abandon: boasting of high rank, reviling other peoples' genealogies, seeking rain by stars, and walling. And he (further) …

I was looking (at him) through the crevice of the door. A man came to him and mentioned that Ja'far's women were lamenting. He (the Holy Prophet) commanded him to go and forbid them (to do so). So he went away but came …

" You did not spare the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) the botheration."

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) took a promise from us along with the oath of Allegiance that we would not lament. But only five among us fulfilled the promise (and they are) Umm Sulaim, and Umm al-'Ala', and the daughter of …

Umm 'Atiyya reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) took pledge from us (including this promise) that we would not lament. Only five amongst us fulfilled the promise, and one of them (who fulfilled the promise) was Umm …

When this verse was revealed:" When believing women came to thee giving thee a pledge that they will not associate aught with Allah, and will not disobey thee in good" (lx. 12), she (Umm Atiyya) said: In (this pledge) …

We were forbidden to follow the bier, but it was not made absolute on us.

We were refrained from following the bier, but it was not made absolute on us.

The Apostle of Allah (ﷺ) came to us when we were bathing his daughter, and he told us: Wash her with water and (with the leaves of) the lote tree, three or five times, or more than that if you think fit, and put camphor …

We braided her hair in three plaits.

One of the daughters of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) died. And in the hadith transmitted by Ibn 'Ulayya (the words are): The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came to us and we were washing his daughter. And in the hadith transmitted …

" three times, five times, seven times, or more than that, if you deem fit:" Hafsa (further) said on the authority of Umm 'Atiyya: We braided (the hair) of her head in three plaits.

We washed her an odd number of times, i. e. three, five or seven times; and Umm 'Atiyya (further) said: We braided her hair in three plaits.

When Zainab the daughter of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) died, he said to us: Wash her odd number of times, i. e. three or five times, and put camphor or something-like camphor at the fifth time, and after you have washed …

There came to us the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) as we were washing one of his daughters. So he said: Wash her (dead body) an odd number of times, five times or more than that, the rest of the hadith is the same. She …

Umm 'Atiyya reported that when the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) asked her to wash his daughter, he told her to start from the right side, and with those parts of the body over which Wudu' is performed.

Umm 'Atiyya reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said to them (the women) in regard to the washing of his daughter to start from the right side and with those parts of the body over which Wudu' is performed.

We migrated with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) in the path of Allah seeking Allah's pleasure alone. Thus our reward was assured with Allah. And amongst us were those who spent life (in such a state of piety and austerity) …

A hadith like this has been narrated by 'Uyaina on the authority of A'mash with the same chain of transmitters.

I would keep it in order to shroud myself in it. He then said: If Allah, the Exalted and Majestic, would have desired it for His Apostle, he would have been shrouded with it. So he sold it and gave its price in charity.

I would be shrouded in it, but then said: How is it that I should be shrouded in it in which the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was not shrouded! So he gave it in charity.

This hadith is narrated on the authority of Hisham with the same chain of transmitters, but in the hadith narrated by him there is no mention of the story of 'Abdullah b. Abu Bakr.

I asked 'A'isha with how many garments the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was shourded. She said: With three garments of Sahul.

When the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upom him) died, he was covered with a Yamani wrapper.

This hadith has been narrated by Zuhri with the same chain of transmitters.

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) one day in the course of his sermon made mention of a person among his Companions who had died and had been wrapped in a shroud not long (enough to cover his whole body) and was buried during the …

Make haste at a funeral; if the dead person was good, it is a good state to which you are sending him on; but if he was otherwise it is an evil of which you are ridding yourselves.

" I do not know whether the hadith is marfu'."

Hasten at a funeral, for if (the dead person) is good, you would (soon) bring him close to the good. And if it is otherwise, it is an evil of which you are ridding yourselves.

He who attends the funeral till the prayer is offered for (the dead), for him is the reward of one qirat, and he who attends (and stays) till he is buried, for him is the reward of two qirats. It was said: What are the …

" two great mountains." No mention is made of what followed (these words) ; and in the hadith transmitted by 'Abd al- A'la (the words are):" till (the burial) is complete." In the hadith transmitted by 'Abd ar-Razzaq …

" He who followed it (the bier) till he (the dead) is buried."

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 …

He who offers prayer for the dead, for him is (the reward of) one qirat; and he who follows the bier till it is placed in the grave, for him (is the reward of) two qirats. I (Abu Hazim, one of the narrators) said: Abu …

He who follows the bier, for him is the reward of one qirat. Ibn 'Umar said: Abu Huraira narrated it too often. So he sent (a messenger to) 'A'isha to ascertain (the fact). She ('A'isha) testified Abu Huraira. Ibn 'Umar …

Ibn 'Umar, do you hear what Abu Huraira says that he heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say:" He who goes out with the bier when taken out from its residence and offers prayer for it and he then follows it till it is …

He who offered prayer for the dead, for him is the reward of one qirat, and he who attended its burial, he would have two qirats as his reward. And qirat is equivalent to Uhud.

" The Apostle of Allah (ﷺ) was asked about qirat, and he said: It is equivalent to Uhud."

If a company of Muslims numbering one hundred pray over a dead person, all of them interceding for him, their intercession for him will be accepted.

So I went out and I informed him about the people who had gathered there. He (Ibn 'Abbas) said: Do you think they are forty? He (Kuraib) said: Yes. Ibn 'Abbas then said to them: Bring him (the dead body) out for I have …

There passed a bier (being carried by people) and it was lauded in good terms. Upon this the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: It has become certain, it has become certain, it has become certain. And there passed a bier and …

This hadith has been narrated through another chain of transmitters.

Whenever a bier passed before him, he said: He is the one to find relief and the one with (the departure of him) other will find relief. They said: Apostle of Allah, who is al-Mustarih and al-Mustarah? Upon this he said: …

(The believing servant) finds relief from the troubles of the world and its hardships and (gets into) the Mercy of Allah.

Abu Huraira reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) gave the people news of the death of Negus on the day he died, and he took them out to the place of prayer and observed four takbirs.

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) gave us the news of the death of Negus, the ruler of Abyssinia, on the day when he died, and he said (to us): Beg pardon for your brother. Ibn Shihab said that Sa'id b. Musayyib had told that …

This hadith is narrated through another chain of transmitters.

Jabir b. 'Abdullah reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) offered prayer for Ashama, the Negus, and recited four takbirs.

There died today the pious servant of Allah, Ashama. So he stood up and led us in (funeral prayer) over him.

A brother of yours has died, so stand up and offer prayer over him. So we stood up and drew ourselves up into two rows.

A brother of yours has died; so stand up and offer prayer for him, i. e. Negus. And in the hadith transmitted by Zubair (the words are):" Your brother."

I said to Sha'bi: Who narrated it to you? He said: An authentic one, 'Abdullah b. 'Abbas. This is the word of a hasan hadith. In the narration of Ibn Numair (the words are): The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) went to the grave …

" The Apostle of Allah (ﷺ) recited four takbirs."

The hadith as narrated by Shaibani has been narrated through another chain of transmitters.

Anas reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) observed prayer on the grave.

Lead me to her (or his) grave. They led him to that place and he said prayer over her (or him) and then remarked: Verily, these graves are full of darkness for their dwellers. Verily, the Mighty and Glorious Allah …

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) recited thus.

Whenever you see a funeral procession, stand up for that until it moves away or is lowered on the ground.

Should any one of you come across a funeral procession, and if he does not intend to accompany it, he must stand up until it passes by him or is placed upon the ground before it passes him.

Should anyone amongst you see a bier he must stand up so long as it is within sight in case he does not intend to follow it.

When you follow a bier, do not sit until it is placed on the (ground).

Whenever you come across a bier you should stand up, and he who follows it should not sit down till it is placed on the ground.

There passed a bier and the Prophet (ﷺ) stood up for it and we also stood up along with him. We said: Messenger of Allah, that was the bier of a Jewess. Upon this he remarked: Verily, death is a matter of consternation, …

Ibn Juraij told me that Abu Zubair heard Jabir say that the Prophet (ﷺ) kept standing for a bier until it disappeared.

Again Abu Zubair heard Jabir say that the Prophet (ﷺ) and his Companions kept standing for a bier of a Jew until it disappeared from sight.

Was he not a human being or did he not have a soul? And in the hadith narrated by 'Amr b. Murra with the same chain of transmitters, (the words) are:" There passed a bier before us."

Nafi' b. Jubair saw me and we were standing for a bier, while he was sitting and waiting for the bier to be placed on the ground. He said to me: What makes you keep standing? I said: I am waiting that the bier may be …

Verily, the Prophet (ﷺ) used to stand first but later on kept sitting; but it is also narrated that Nafi' ibn Jubair saw Waqid b. 'Amr standing for a bier till it was placed down.

This hadith has been narrated by Yahya b. Sa'id with the same chain of transmitters.

I heard from Mas'ud b. al-Hakam who narrated it on the authority of Hadrat 'Ali that he said: We saw the Prophet (ﷺ) stood up for a (bier) and we also stood up; he sat down and we too sat down.

This hadith has been narrated by Shu'ba with the same chain of transmitters.

I heard it from 'Auf b. Malik that the Prophet (ﷺ) said prayer on the dead body, and I remembered his prayer:" O Allah! forgive him, have mercy upon him, give him peace and absolve him. Receive him with honour and make …

A hadith like this has been narrated through another chain of transmitters.

I prayed behind the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and he prayed for a woman who had died in the state of delivery. He stood in front of her waist.

This hadith has been narrated by Husain with the same chain of transmitters, but no mention is made of Umm Ka'b.

I was a young boy during the time of the Prophet (ﷺ) and I retained in my mind (what I learnt from him), and nothing restrained me from speaking except the fact that there were persons far more advanced in age than I. …

It is reported on the authority of Jabir ibn Samura that an unsaddled horse was brought to the Prophet (ﷺ) and he rode on it when he returned after having offered the funeral prayer of Ibn Dahdah and we walked on foot …

then an unsaddled horse was brought to him and a person hobbled it, and he (the Messenger of Allah) rode upon it and it bounded and we followed it and ran after it. One of the people said that the Prophet (ﷺ) remarked: …

" Make a niche for me in the side of the grave and set up bricks over me as was done in case of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ).

Ibn 'Abbas said that a piece of red stuff was put in the grave of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ).

When we were with Fadala b. 'Ubaid in the country of the Romans at a place (known as) Rudis, a friend of ours died. Fadala b. 'Ubaid ordered to prepare a grave for him and then it was levelled; and then he said: I heard …

Should I not send you on the same mission as Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) sent me? Do not leave an image without obliterating it, or a high grave without levelling It. This hadith has been reported by Habib with the same chain …

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) forbade that the graves should be plastered or they be used as sitting places (for the people), or a building should be built over them.

A hadith like this has been transmitted on the authority of Jabir b. 'Abdullah.

Jabir said that he was forbidden to plaster graves.

It is better that one of you should sit on live coals which would burn his clothing and come in contact with his skin than that he should sit on a grave.

A hadith like this has been narrated by Suhail with the same chain of transmitters.

Do not sit on the graves and do not pray facing towards them.

Do not pray facing towards the graves, and do not sit on them.

How soon the people have forgotten that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) offered not the funeral prayer of Suhail b al-Baida' but in a mosque.

How hastily the people criticise that about which they know little. They criticise us for carrying the bier in the mosque. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) offered not the funeral prayer of Suhail b. Baida' but in the …

Bring it (the bier) into the mosque so that I offer prayer for him. But, this act of hers was disapproved. She said: By Allah, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) offered prayer in the mosque for the two sons of Baida', viz, for …

Peace be upon you, abode of a people who are believers. What you were promised would come to you tomorrow, you receiving it after some delay; and God willing we shall join you. O Allah, grant forgiveness to the …

Should I not narrate to you (a hadith of the Holy Prophet) on my authority and on the authority of my mother? We thought that he meant the mother who had given him birth. He (Muhammad b. Qais) then reported that it was …

" Peace be upon the inhabitants of the city (i. e. graveyard)." In the hadith transmitted by Zuhair (the words are):" Peace be upon you, the inhabitants of the city, among the believers, and Muslims, and God willing we …

I sought permission to beg forgiveness for my mother, but He did not grant it to me. I sought permission from Him to visit her grave, and He granted it (permission) to me.

The Apostle of Allah (ﷺ) visited the grave of his mother and he wept, and moved others around him to tears, and said: I sought permission from my Lord to beg forgiveness for her but it was not granted to me, and I sought …

I forbade you to visit graves, but you may now visit them; I forbade you to eat the flesh of sacrificial animals after three days, but you way now keep it as along as you feel inclined; and I forbade you nabidh except in …

This hadith has been narrated through another chain of transmitters.

(The dead body) of a person who had killed himself with a broad-headed arrow was brought before the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), but he did not offer prayers for him.