5. Funerals

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: ذُكِرَتِ الْحُمَّى عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَسَبَّهَا رَجُلٌ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «لَا تَسُبَّهَا فَإِنَّهَا تَنْفِي الذُّنُوبَ كَمَا تَنْفِي النَّارُ خَبَثَ الْحَدِيدِ» . رَوَاهُ ابْن مَاجَه

Abu Huraira said that fever was mentioned in the presence of God’s messenger, and when a man reviled it the Prophet said, "Do not revile it, for it removes sins as fire removes the dross of iron.” Ibn Majah transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَادَ مَرِيضًا فَقَالَ: " أَبْشِرْ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى يَقُولُ: هِيَ نَارِي أُسَلِّطُهَا عَلَى عَبْدِي الْمُؤْمِنِ فِي الدُّنْيَا لِتَكَوُنَ حَظَّهُ مِنَ النَّارِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ ". رَوَاهُ أَحْمَدُ وَابْنُ مَاجَهْ والْبَيْهَقِيُّ فِي شُعَبِ الْإِيمَان

He said that God’s messenger said to an invalid whom he visited, "Cheer up, for God most high says, ‘It is my fire to which I give power over my believing servant in the world to be his portion of hell on the day of resurrection.” Ahmad, Ibn Majah and Baihaqi, in Shu'ab al- iman, transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَنَسٍ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: " إِنَّ الرَّبَّ سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى يَقُولُ: وَعِزَّتِي وَجَلَالِي لَا أُخْرِجُ أَحَدًا مِنَ الدُّنْيَا أُرِيد أَغْفِرَ لَهُ حَتَّى أَسْتَوْفِيَ كُلَّ خَطِيئَةٍ فِي عُنُقِهِ بِسَقَمٍ فِي بَدَنِهِ وَإِقْتَارٍ فِي رِزْقِهِ ". رَوَاهُ رزين

Anas reported God’s messenger as stating that the Lord who is glorious and exalted says, "By my might and glory, I will not take out of the world anyone I intend to forgive till I get payment for every sin which hangs on his neck by illness in his body and scarcity in his provision.” Razin transmitted it.

وَعَن شَقِيق قَالَ: مرض عبد الله بن مَسْعُود فَعُدْنَاهُ فَجَعَلَ يَبْكِي فَعُوتِبَ فَقَالَ: إِنِّي لَا أَبْكِي لِأَجْلِ الْمَرَضِ لِأَنِّي سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ: «الْمَرَضُ كَفَّارَةٌ» وَإِنَّمَا أبْكِي أَنه أَصَابَنِي عَلَى حَالِ فَتْرَةٍ وَلَمْ يُصِبْنِي فِي حَال اجْتِهَاد لِأَنَّهُ يكْتب للْعَبد من الْجَرّ إِذَا مَرِضَ مَا كَانَ يُكْتَبُ لَهُ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَمْرَضَ فَمَنَعَهُ مِنْهُ الْمَرَضُ. رَوَاهُ رَزِينٌ

Shaqiq said he visited ‘Abdallah b. Mas'ud when he was ill, and he began to weep. On being reproved by someone he said, "I am not weeping because of the illness, because I heard God’s messenger say that illness is an atonement; I am weeping simply because it has come to me when my powers are weakened and did not come when I was active, because a servant of God has recorded for him such reward when he is ill as was being recorded for him before he became ill and the illness prevented him from doing .” Razln transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَنَسٍ قَالَ: كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لَا يَعُودُ مَرِيضًا إِلَّا بَعْدَ ثَلَاثٍ. رَوَاهُ ابْنُ مَاجَهْ وَالْبَيْهَقِيُّ فِي شُعَبِ الْإِيمَانِ

Anas said the Prophet was not accustomed to visit an invalid till he had been ill for three days. Ibn Majah and Baihaqi, in Shu'ab al- iman, transmitted it.

وَعَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ ك قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «إِذَا دَخَلْتَ عَلَى مَرِيضٍ فَمُرْهُ يَدْعُو لَكَ فَإِنَّ دُعَاءَهُ كَدُعَاءِ الْمَلَائِكَةِ» . رَوَاهُ ابْنُ مَاجَهْ

‘Umar b. al-Khattab reported God’s messenger as saying, “When you visit an invalid tell him to make supplication for you, for his supplication is like that of the angels.” Ibn Majah transmitted it.

وَعَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ: مِنَ السُّنَّةِ تَخْفِيفُ الْجُلُوسِ وَقِلَّةُ الصَّخَبِ فِي الْعِيَادَةِ عِنْدَ الْمَرِيضِ قَالَ: وَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لَمَّا كَثُرَ لَغَطُهُمْ وَاخْتِلَافُهُمْ: «قُومُوا عَنِّي» رَوَاهُ رزين

Ibn ‘Abbas said that staying for a short time and making little noise when visiting an invalid is part of the sunna. He reported God’s messenger as saying, when their clamour and disagreement became excessive, ‘‘Get up and leave me.”(This was during the Prophet's last illness, the disagreement taking place regarding the advisability of the Prophet giving them further written instructions.) Razin transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَنَسٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى الله عَلَيْهِ وَسلم: «العيادة فوَاق نَاقَة» وَفِي رِوَايَةِ سَعِيدِ بْنِ الْمُسَيَّبِ مُرْسَلًا: «أَفْضَلُ الْعِيَادَةِ سُرْعَةُ الْقِيَامِ» . رَوَاهُ الْبَيْهَقِيُّ فِي شُعَبِ الْإِيمَان

Anas reported God's messenger as saying, “A visit should last as long as the time between the two milkings of a she-camel.”(The reference is to the practice of drawing some milk from the camel, then leaving her for a little for her young to suck milk. When she then let her milk flow copiously she was milked again.) In the version of Sa'id b. al-Musayyib in mursal form it says, “The best type of sick visit is when one gets up and departs soon.”(While this is more explicit to one who is not familiar with the milking of camels, the meaning is the same as in the form given by Anas.) Baihaqi transmitted it in Shu'ab al-iman.

وَعَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ: أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَادَ رَجُلًا فَقَالَ لَهُ: «مَا تستهي؟» قَالَ: أشتهي خبز بر. قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَنْ كَانَ عِنْدَهُ خُبْزُ بُرٍّ فَلْيَبْعَثْ إِلَى أَخِيهِ» . ثُمَّ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «إِذَا اشْتَهَى مَرِيضُ أحدكُم شَيْئا فليطعمه» . رَوَاهُ ابْن مَاجَه

Ibn ‘Abbas said the Prophet once visited a man and asked him what he would like. When he replied that he would like some wheaten bread the Prophet said, “Let anyone who has any wheaten bread send it to his brother,” adding, “When any of you has an invalid who expresses a desire for something, give it to him to eat.” Ibn Majah transmitted it.

وَعَن عبد الله بن عَمْرو قَالَ ك تُوُفِّيَ رَجُلٌ بِالْمَدِينَةِ مِمَّنْ وُلِدَ بِهَا فَصَلَّى عَلَيْهِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَالَ: «يَا لَيْتَهُ مَاتَ بِغَيْرِ مَوْلِدِهِ» . قَالُوا وَلِمَ ذَاكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ؟ قَالَ: «إِنَّ الرَّجُلَ إِذَا مَاتَ بِغَيْرِ مَوْلِدِهِ قِيسَ لَهُ مِنْ مَوْلِدِهِ إِلَى مُنْقَطَعِ أَثَرِهِ فِي الْجَنَّةِ» . رَوَاهُ النَّسَائِيّ وَابْن مَاجَه

‘Abdallah b. ‘Amr said that when a man who had been born in Medina died there, the Prophet prayed at his funeral and said, “Would that he had died somewhere else than in his birthplace!” On being asked why he had said that he replied, “When a man dies somewhere else than in his birthplace a space will be measured for him in paradise equal to the distance between his birthplace and the place where he died.” Nasa’I and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

وَعَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَوْتُ غُرْبَةٍ شَهَادَةٌ» . رَوَاهُ ابْن مَاجَه

Ibn ‘Abbas reported God’s messenger as saying, “Dying abroad is treated as martyrdom." Ibn Majah transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَنْ مَاتَ مَرِيضًا مَاتَ شَهِيدًا أَوْ وُقِيَ فِتْنَةَ الْقَبْرِ وَغُدِيَ وَرِيحَ عَلَيْهِ بِرِزْقِهِ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ» . رَوَاهُ ابْنُ مَاجَهْ وَالْبَيْهَقِيُّ فِي شُعَبِ الْإِيمَانِ

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “He who dies of an illness dies as a martyr, or he will be guarded from the trial in the grave, and will have his provision brought him morning and evening from paradise." Ibn Majah and BaihaqI, in Shu'ab al-iman, transmitted it.

عَن الْعِرْبَاضِ بْنِ سَارِيَةَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: " يَخْتَصِمُ الشُّهَدَاءُ وَالْمُتَوَفَّوْنَ على فرشهم إِلَى رَبنَا فِي الَّذِينَ يُتَوَفَّوْنَ مِنَ الطَّاعُونِ فَيَقُولُ الشُّهَدَاءُ: إِخْوَاننَا قتلوا كَمَا قتلنَا وَيَقُول: المتوفون على فرشهم إِخْوَانُنَا مَاتُوا عَلَى فُرُشِهِمْ كَمَا مِتْنَا فَيَقُولُ رَبنَا: انْظُرُوا إِلَى جراحهم فَإِن أشبهت جراحهم جِرَاحَ الْمَقْتُولِينَ فَإِنَّهُمْ مِنْهُمْ وَمَعَهُمْ فَإِذَا جِرَاحُهُمْ قد أشبهت جراحهم ". رَوَاهُ أَحْمد وَالنَّسَائِيّ

The martyrs and those who die on their beds will apply to our Lord who is great and glorious for a decision regarding those who die of plague. The martyrs will say, “Our brethren were killed just as we were and those who died a natural death will say, “Our brethren died on their beds just as we died.”. Our Lord will reply, “Look at their wound, for if their wounds resemble those of people who have been killed they are of their number and will be associated with them, for their wounds have resembled theirs." Ahmad and Nasa’i transmitted it.

وَعَنْ جَابِرٍ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «الْفَارُّ مِنَ الطَّاعُونِ كَالْفَارِّ مِنَ الزَّحْفِ وَالصَّابِرُ فِيهِ لَهُ أَجْرُ شَهِيدٍ» . رَوَاهُ أَحْمد

Jabir reported God’s messenger as saying, “He who runs away from plague like him who runs away from battle, but he who meets it with endurance will have a martyr’s reward." Ahmad transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «لَا يَتَمَنَّى أَحَدُكُمُ الْمَوْتَ إِمَّا مُحْسِنًا فَلَعَلَّهُ أَنْ يَزْدَادَ خَيْرًا وَإِمَّا مُسِيئًا فَلَعَلَّهُ أَنْ يستعتب» . رَوَاهُ البُخَارِيّ

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, "None of you must wish for death; neither one who does well, for perhaps he may do still more good, nor one who does ill, for perhaps he may seek to please God.” Bukhari transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «لَا يَتَمَنَّى أَحَدُكُمُ الْمَوْتَ وَلَا يَدْعُ بِهِ مِنْ قَبْلِ أَنْ يَأْتِيَهُ إِنَّهُ إِذَا مَاتَ انْقَطَعَ أَمَلُهُ وَإِنَّهُ لَا يَزِيدُ الْمُؤْمِنَ عُمْرُهُ إِلَّا خيرا» . رَوَاهُ مُسلم

He reported God’s messenger as saying, "None of you must wish or pray for death before it comes to him. When one dies his hope is cut off, but the continued life of a believer only brings him more good.” Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَنَسٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: " لَا يَتَمَنَّيَنَّ أَحَدُكُمُ الْمَوْتَ مِنْ ضُرٍّ أَصَابَهُ فَإِنْ كَانَ لابد فَاعِلًا فَلْيَقُلِ: اللَّهُمَّ أَحْيِنِي مَا كَانَتِ الْحَيَاةُ خَيْرًا لِي وَتَوَفَّنِي إِذَا كَانَتِ الْوَفَاةُ خَيْرًا لي "

Anas reported God's messenger as saying, "None of you must wish for death because he is afflicted by evil circumstances, but if he cannot help doing so he should say, ‘O God, give me life as long as life is better for me, and take me when death is better for me.’ ” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَنْ عُبَادَةَ بْنِ الصَّامِتِ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَنْ أَحَبَّ لِقَاءَ اللَّهِ أَحَبَّ اللَّهُ لِقَاءَهُ وَمَنْ كَرِهَ لِقَاءَ اللَّهِ كَرِهَ اللَّهُ لِقَاءَهُ» فَقَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ أَوْ بَعْضُ أَزْوَاجِهِ: إِنَّا لَنَكْرَهُ الْمَوْتَ قَالَ: «لَيْسَ ذَلِكَ وَلَكِنَّ الْمُؤْمِنَ إِذَا حَضَرَهُ الْمَوْتُ بُشِّرَ بِرِضْوَانِ اللَّهِ وَكَرَامَتِهِ فَلَيْسَ شَيْءٌ أَحَبَّ إِلَيْهِ مِمَّا أَمَامَهُ فَأَحَبَّ لِقَاءَ اللَّهِ وَأَحَبَّ اللَّهُ لِقَاءَهُ وَإِنَّ الْكَافِرَ إِذَا حضر بشر بِعَذَاب الله وعقوبته فَلَيْسَ شَيْء أكره إِلَيْهِ مِمَّا أَمَامَهُ فَكَرِهَ لِقَاءَ اللَّهِ وَكَرِهَ الله لقاءه» وَفِي رِوَايَةِ عَائِشَةَ: «وَالْمَوْتَ قَبْلَ لِقَاء الله»

‘Ubada b. as-Samit reported God's messenger as saying, "If anyone wishes to meet God, God wishes to meet him; but if anyone does not wish to meet God, God does not wish to meet him.” When ‘A'isha or one of his wives said she did not want to die, he replied, "That is not what I mean; but when death comes to a believer he is given glad tidings of God’s good pleasure and regard, so nothing is dearer to him than what lies before him, and he wishes to meet God and God wishes to meet him. But when an infidel approaches death he is given tidings of God’s punishment and chastisement, so nothing is more objectionable to him than what lies before him, and he does not wish to meet God and God does not wish to meet him.” In ‘A’isha's version it says that death precedes the meeting with God. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَنْ أَبِي قَتَادَةَ أَنَّهُ كَانَ يُحَدِّثُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مُرَّ عَلَيْهِ بِجِنَازَةٍ فَقَالَ: «مُسْتَرِيحٌ أَوْ مُسْتَرَاحٌ مِنْهُ» فَقَالُوا: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَا المستريح والمستراح مِنْهُ؟ فَقَالَ: «الْعَبْدُ الْمُؤْمِنُ يَسْتَرِيحُ مِنْ نَصَبِ الدُّنْيَا وَأَذَاهَا إِلَى رَحْمَةِ اللَّهِ وَالْعَبْدُ الْفَاجِرُ يستريح مِنْهُ الْعباد والبلاد وَالشَّجر وَالدَّوَاب»

Abu Qatada used to tell that when a funeral was brought past God’s messenger he said, "He is at rest, or others are at rest from him.” When asked what he meant by these words he replied, "The believing servant is at rest from the toil and harm of the world and departs to God’s mercy, but servants (i.e.. mankind), the country, the trees and the animals are at rest from the profligate.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ قَالَ: أَخَذَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِمَنْكِبِي فَقَالَ: «كُنْ فِي الدُّنْيَا كَأَنَّكَ غَرِيبٌ أَوْ عَابِرُ سَبِيلٍ» . وَكَانَ ابْنُ عُمَرَ يَقُولُ: إِذَا أَمْسَيْتَ فَلَا تَنْتَظِرِ الصَّبَاحَ وَإِذَا أَصْبَحْتَ فَلَا تَنْتَظِرِ الْمَسَاءَ وَخُذْ مِنْ صِحَّتِكَ لِمَرَضِكَ وَمِنْ حياتك لموتك. رَوَاهُ البُخَارِيّ

‘Abdallah b. ‘Umar told of God’s messenger taking him by the shoulders and saying, ‘‘Be in the world as though you were a stranger or one who is passing through.” Ibn ‘Umar used to say, “In the evening do not expect to see the morning and in the morning do not expect to see the evening, but take something when in health to serve you in time of illness and something in your life to serve you in your death.” Bukhari transmitted it.