5. Funerals

وَعَنْ جَابِرٍ قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَبْلَ مَوْتِهِ بِثَلَاثَةِ أَيَّامٍ يَقُولُ: «لَا يَمُوتَنَّ أَحَدُكُمْ إِلَّا وَهُوَ يُحْسِنُ الظَّنَّ بِاللَّه» . رَوَاهُ مُسلم

Jabir said he heard God’s messenger say three days before his death, “See that none of you dies without having good expectations from God.” Muslim transmitted it.

عَنْ مُعَاذِ بْنِ جَبَلٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «إِن شِئْتُم أنبأتكم مَا أَوَّلُ مَا يَقُولُ اللَّهُ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ؟ وَمَا أَوَّلُ مَا يَقُولُونَ لَهُ؟» قُلْنَا: نَعَمْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ: " إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَقُول للْمُؤْمِنين هَل أَحْبَبْتُم لقائي؟ فَيَقُولُونَ نَعَمْ يَا رَبَّنَا فَيَقُولُ: لِمَ؟ فَيَقُولُونَ: رَجَوْنَا عَفْوَكَ وَمَغْفِرَتَكَ. فَيَقُولُ: قَدْ وَجَبَتْ لَكُمْ مَغْفِرَتِي ". رَوَاهُ فِي شَرْحِ السُّنَّةِ وَأَبُو نُعَيْمٍ فِي الْحِلْية

Mu'adh b. Jabal told of God’s messenger saying that if they wished he would tell them the first thing God would say to the believers on the day of resurrection and the first thing they would say to Him. When his hearers expressed a desire to be told, he said that God would say to the believers, “Did you wish to meet me?” and that they would reply, “Yes, our Lord.” He would ask them why, and they would reply that it was because they hoped for His forgiveness and pardon. He would then say, “My forgiveness has become necessary for you.” transmitted it in Sharh as-sunna and Abu Nu'aim in al-Hilya.

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «أَكْثِرُوا ذِكْرَ هَاذِمِ اللَّذَّاتِ الْمَوْتِ» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيُّ وَالنَّسَائِيّ وَابْن مَاجَه

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “Keep much in your remembrance the cutter off of delights, i.e., death.” Tirmidhi, Nasa'i and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

وَعَنِ ابْنِ مَسْعُودٍ أَنَّ نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ لِأَصْحَابِهِ: «اسْتَحْيُوا مِنَ اللَّهِ حَقَّ الْحَيَاءِ» قَالُوا: إِنَّا نَسْتَحْيِي مِنَ اللَّهِ يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ قَالَ: «لَيْسَ ذَلِكَ وَلَكِنَّ مَنِ اسْتَحْيَى مِنَ اللَّهِ حَقَّ الْحَيَاءِ فَلْيَحْفَظِ الرَّأْسَ وَمَا وَعَى وَلْيَحْفَظِ الْبَطْنَ وَمَا حَوَى وَلْيَذْكُرِ الْمَوْتُ وَالْبِلَى وَمَنْ أَرَادَ الْآخِرَةَ تَرَكَ زِينَةَ الدُّنْيَا فَمَنْ فَعَلَ ذَلِكَ فَقَدِ اسْتَحْيَى مِنَ اللَّهِ حَقَّ الْحَيَاءِ» . رَوَاهُ أَحْمَدُ وَالتِّرْمِذِيُّ وَقَالَ: هَذَا حَدِيثٌ غَرِيبٌ

Ibn Mas'ud told of the Prophet saying to his companions one day, “Show due respect towards God.” On their replying, “Prophet of God, we show due respect towards God, praise be to God,” he said, “That is not what I mean; but he who shows due respect to God must guard the head and what it retains, must guard the belly and what it contains, and keep death and decay in remembrance; and he who desires the next world must abandon the adornment of this world. He who does that has shown due respect towards God.” Ahmad and Tirmidhi transmitted it, the latter saying this is a gharib tradition.

وَعَن عبد الله بن عَمْرو قَالَ ك قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «تُحْفَةُ الْمُؤْمِنِ الْمَوْتُ» . رَوَاهُ الْبَيْهَقِيُّ فِي شُعَبِ الْإِيمَان

‘Abdallah b. ‘Amr reported God’s messenger as saying, ‘‘The gift to a believer is death.”( i.e. death is the means by which he gains an introduction to the delights of paradise.) Baihaqi transmitted it in Shu'ab al-iman.

وَعَنْ بُرَيْدَةَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «الْمُؤْمِنُ يَمُوتُ بِعَرَقِ الْجَبِينِ» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ وَالنَّسَائِيّ وَابْن مَاجَه

Buraida reported God’s messenger as saying, “The believer dies with the sweat on his brow.” Tirmidhi, Nasa'i and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

وَعَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَوْتُ الْفُجَاءَة أَخْذَةُ الْأَسَفِ» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُدَ وَزَادَ الْبَيْهَقِيُّ فِي شُعَبِ الْإِيمَانِ وَرَزِينٌ فِي كِتَابِهِ: «أَخْذَةُ الأسف للْكَافِرِ وَرَحْمَة لِلْمُؤمنِ»

‘Ubaidallah b Khalid reported God’s messenger as saying, “Sudden death is an act of punishment out of anger.” Abu Dawud transmitted it. Baihaqi in Shu'ab al-iman and Razin in his book made an addition, saying “An act of punishment out of anger for the infidel and a mercy for the believer.”

وَعَن أنس قَالَ: دخل النَّبِي عَلَى شَابٍّ وَهُوَ فِي الْمَوْتِ فَقَالَ: «كَيْفَ تجدك؟» قَالَ: أرجوالله يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَإِنِّي أَخَافُ ذُنُوبِي فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «لَا يَجْتَمِعَانِ فِي قَلْبِ عَبْدٍ فِي مِثْلِ هَذَا الْمَوْطِنِ إِلَّا أَعْطَاهُ اللَّهُ مَا يَرْجُو وَآمَنَهُ مِمَّا يَخَافُ» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيُّ وَابْنُ مَاجَهْ وَقَالَ التِّرْمِذِيُّ هَذَا حَدِيث غَرِيب

Anas said that the Prophet visited a young man who was dying and asked him how he was. He replied, “I am hoping in God, messenger of God, but I am afraid of my sins,” whereupon God's messenger said, “The two cannot come together in a man’s heart at such a time without God giving him what he hopes for and granting him security from what he fears.” Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it, Tirmidhi saying that this is a gharib tradition.

عَنْ جَابِرٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «لَا تَمَنَّوُا الْمَوْتَ فَإِنَّ هَوْلَ الْمُطَّلَعِ شَدِيدٌ وَإِنَّ مِنَ السَّعَادَةِ أَنْ يَطُولَ عُمْرُ الْعَبْدِ وَيَرْزُقَهُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ الْإِنَابَة» . رَوَاهُ أَحْمد

Jabir reported God’s messenger as saying, “Do not wish for death, for the terror of the place whence one looks down in severe. It is part of a man’s happiness that his life should be long and God who is great and glorious should supply him with repentance.” Ahmad transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَبِي أُمَامَةَ قَالَ: جَلَسْنَا إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَذَكَّرَنَا وَرَقَّقَنَا فَبَكَى سَعْدُ بْنُ أَبِي وَقَّاصٍ فَأَكْثَرَ الْبُكَاءَ فَقَالَ: يَا لَيْتَنِي مِتُّ. فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «يَا سَعْدُ أَعِنْدِي تَتَمَنَّى الْمَوْتَ؟» فَرَدَّدَ ذَلِكَ ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ ثُمَّ قَالَ: «يَا سَعْدُ إِنْ كُنْتَ خُلِقْتَ لِلْجَنَّةِ فَمَا طَالَ عُمْرُكَ وَحَسُنَ مِنْ عَمَلِكَ فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَك» . رَوَاهُ أَحْمد

We sat attentive to God’s messenger who gave us an exhortation and softened our hearts. Then Sa'd b. Abu Waqqas wept copiously and said, “Would that I were dead! ” God’s messenger said, “Do you wish for death in my presence, Sa'd?’’ repeating it three times. He then said, “Sa'd, if you have been created for paradise, it will be better for you if your life is prolonged and your deeds are good.” Ahmad transmitted it.

عَن حَارِثَةَ بْنِ مُضَرَّبٍ قَالَ: دَخَلْتُ عَلَى خَبَّابٍ وَقَدِ اكْتَوَى سَبْعًا فَقَالَ: لَوْلَا أَنِّي سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُول: «لَا يَتَمَنَّ أَحَدُكُمُ الْمَوْتَ» لَتَمَنَّيْتُهُ. وَلَقَدْ رَأَيْتُنِي مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مَا أَمْلِكُ دِرْهَمًا وَإِنَّ فِي جَانِبِ بَيْتِيَ الْآنَ لَأَرْبَعِينَ أَلْفَ دِرْهَمٍ قَالَ ثُمَّ أُتِيَ بِكَفَنِهِ فَلَمَّا رَآهُ بَكَى وَقَالَ لَكِنَّ حَمْزَةَ لَمْ يُوجَدْ لَهُ كَفَنٌ إِلَّا بُرْدَةٌ مَلْحَاءُ إِذَا جُعِلَتْ عَلَى رَأْسِهِ قَلَصَتْ عَنْ قَدَمَيْهِ وَإِذَا جُعِلَتْ عَلَى قَدَمَيْهِ قَلَصَتْ عَنْ رَأْسِهِ حَتَّى مُدَّتْ عَلَى رَأْسِهِ وَجُعِلَ عَلَى قَدَمَيْهِ الْإِذْخِرُ. رَوَاهُ أَحْمَدُ وَالتِّرْمِذِيُّ إِلَّا أَنَّهُ لَمْ يذكر: ثمَّ أُتِي بكفنه إِلَى آخِره

Haritha b. Mudarrab said he visited Khabbab who had been cauterised seven times. He said that were it not for the fact that he had heard God’s messenger say that no one must wish for death he would wish for it. He added, “I have seen myself in the company of God’s messenger when I did not possess a dirham, but now there are 40,000 dirhams in my house.” His shroud was produced, and when he saw it he wept and said, “No shroud was found for Hamza (the Prophet’s uncle. He was killed at Uhud and his remains were treated with indignity by Hind.) but a garment with black and white stripes, which did not reach his feet when put over his head and did not reach his head when put over his feet. It was eventually stretched over his head and grass was put on his feet.” Ahmad and Tirmidhi transmitted it, but Tirmidhi did not include the passage from “His shroud was produced” to the end.

عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ وَأَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَا: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «لَقِّنُوا مَوْتَاكُمْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ» . رَوَاهُ مُسْلِمٌ

Abu Sa'id and Abu Huraira reported God's messenger as saying, “Recite to those of you who are dying, ‘There is no god but God. ’ ” Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أُمِّ سَلَمَةَ قَالَتْ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «إِذَا حَضَرْتُمُ الْمَرِيضَ أَو الْمَيِّت فَقولُوا خيرا فَإِن الْمَلَائِكَةَ يُؤَمِّنُونَ عَلَى مَا تَقُولُونَ» . رَوَاهُ مُسْلِمٌ

Umm Salama reported God’s messenger as saying, “When you are with one who is ill or dying speak good words, for the angels say Amen to what you say.” Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أُمِّ سَلَمَةَ قَالَتْ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: " مَا مِنْ مُسْلِمٍ تُصِيبُهُ مُصِيبَةٌ فَيَقُولُ مَا أَمَرَهُ اللَّهُ بِهِ: (إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ) اللَّهُمَّ أَجِرْنِي فِي مُصِيبَتِي وَاخْلُفْ لِي خَيْرًا مِنْهَا إِلَّا أَخْلَفَ اللَّهُ لَهُ خَيْرًا مِنْهَا ". فَلَمَّا مَاتَ أَبُو سَلمَة قَالَت: أَيُّ الْمُسْلِمِينَ خَيْرٌ مِنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ؟ أَوَّلُ بَيْتِ هَاجَرَ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ثُمَّ إِنِّي قُلْتُهَا فَأَخْلَفَ اللَّهُ لِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ. رَوَاهُ مُسلم

She reported God’s messenger as saying, “If any Muslim who suffers some calamity says what God has commanded him, ‘We belong to God and to Him do we return ; O God, reward me for my affliction and give me something better than it in exchange for it,’ God will give him something better than it in exchange.” When Abu Salama died she said, “What Muslim is better than Abu Salama whose family was the first to emigrate to God’s messenger? ”(He and his wife, Umm Salama, were among those who emigrated to Abyssinia. Abu Salama died of wounds received at the battle of Uhud, and the Prophet later married Umm Salama.) She then said the words, and God gave her God’s messenger in exchange. Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَن أُمِّ سَلَمَةَ قَالَتْ: دَخَلَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَلَى أبي سَلمَة قد شَقَّ بَصَرَهُ فَأَغْمَضَهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ: «إِنَّ الرُّوحَ إِذَا قُبِضَ تَبِعَهُ الْبَصَرُ» فَضَجَّ نَاسٌ مِنْ أَهْلِهِ فَقَالَ: «لَا تَدْعُوا عَلَى أَنْفُسِكُمْ إِلَّا بِخَير فَإِن الْمَلَائِكَة يُؤمنُونَ على ماتقولون» ثُمَّ قَالَ: «اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِأَبِي سَلَمَةَ وَارْفَعْ دَرَجَتَهُ فِي الْمَهْدِيِّينَ وَاخْلُفْهُ فِي عَقِبِهِ فِي الْغَابِرِينَ وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا وَلَهُ يَا رَبَّ الْعَالَمِينَ وَأَفْسِحْ لَهُ فِي قَبْرِهِ وَنَوِّرْ لَهُ فِيهِ» . رَوَاهُ مُسلم

She said that God’s messenger came in to Abu Salama when his eyes were fixedly open. Closing them he said, “When the soul is taken the sight follows it.” Some of his family wept and wailed, so he said, “Do not supplicate for yourselves anything but good, for the angels say Amen to what you say.” He then said, “O God, forgive Abu Salama, raise his degree among those who are rightly guided, and grant him a succession in his descendants who remain. Forgive both us and him, Lord of the universe, make his grave spacious for him and grant him light in it.” Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْ عَائِشَةَ قَالَتْ: إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ حِينَ تُوُفِّيَ سجي بِبرد حبرَة

‘A’isha said that when God’s messenger died he was covered with a striped Yemen garment. (Bukharl and Muslim.)

عَنْ مُعَاذِ بْنِ جَبَلٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَنْ كَانَ آخِرُ كَلَامِهِ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ دَخَلَ الْجَنَّةَ» رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد

Mu`adh b. Jabal reported God’s messenger as saying, “If anyone’s last words are ‘There is no god but God,’ he will enter paradise.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

وَعَنْ مَعْقِلِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسلم: «اقرؤوا سُورَةَ (يس) عَلَى مَوْتَاكُمْ» . رَوَاهُ أَحْمَدُ وَأَبُو دَاوُد وَابْن مَاجَه

Ma'qil b. Yasar reported God’s messenger as saying, “Recite sura. Ya Sin(Qur’an, xxxvi) over your dead.”(This is a literal translation. The meaning is probably those who are on the point of death.) Ahmad, Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

وَعَنْ عَائِشَةَ قَالَتْ: إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَبَّلَ عُثْمَانَ بْنَ مَظْعُونٍ وَهُوَ مَيِّتٌ وَهُوَ يَبْكِي حَتَّى سَالَ دُمُوعُ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَلَى وَجْهِ عُثْمَانَ. رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيُّ وَأَبُو دَاوُدَ وَابْنُ مَاجَهْ

‘A’isha said that God’s messenger kissed ‘Uthman b. Maz'un (The first of the Emigrants to die in Medina after returning from Badr) when he was dead, and the Prophet wept so much that his tears flowed over ‘Uthman's face. Tirmidhl, Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

وَعَن عَائِشَةَ قَالَتْ: إِنَّ أَبَا بَكْرٍ قَبَّلَ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَهُوَ مَيِّتٌ. رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ وَابْن مَاجَه

She said that Abu Bakr kissed the Prophet when he was dead. Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it.