Category: Fiqh-us Sunnah Section 60. Contemplation Of Death and Preparation for it by Good Deed

Section : Contemplation of death and preparation for it by good deeds.Allah and His Messenger, peace be upon him, encourage us to contemplate death and be ready for it with good deeds. This is regarded as a sign of goodness. Ibn 'Umar reports: "I came to the Prophet, peace be upon him, and I was … Continue reading Fiqh-us-Sunnah Volume 4, Funerals and Dhikr, Fiqh 4.013.

Section : It is not proper for a Person to Wish for Death.It is makruh or "disliked" to wish for one's death, or pray to Allah for it, due to poverty, distress, illness, or the like. The six canonical compilers of hadith narrate on the authority of Anas that the Prophet, peace be upon him, … Continue reading Fiqh-us-Sunnah Volume 4, Funerals and Dhikr, Fiqh 4.013A.

Section : Excellence of a Long Life Enriched with Good Deeds.It is reported by Abdurrahman ibn Abu Bakrah on the authority of his father that a man asked: "O Messenger of Allah ! Who is the best of all people?" He replied, "He who lives long and does good deeds." The man asked, "And who … Continue reading Fiqh-us-Sunnah Volume 4, Funerals and Dhikr, Fiqh 4.014.

Section : Good Deeds Prior to Death: An Indication of a Good End.Anas reported that the Prophet, peace be upon him, said: "When Allah intends good for a servant of His, He uses him for good." They asked: "How does Allah use him?" The Prophet, peace be upon him, replied: "He enables him to do … Continue reading Fiqh-us-Sunnah Volume 4, Funerals and Dhikr, Fiqh 4.015.

Section : Desirability of Having a Good Opinion about Allah.The patient should remember the boundless mercy of Allah and have a good opinion about his Sustainer. Jabir reported: "I heard the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, saying, three nights before his death, 'Let none of you die unless he has a good opinion … Continue reading Fiqh-us-Sunnah Volume 4, Funerals and Dhikr, Fiqh 4.015A.

Section : Desirability of Supplications and Remembrance of Allah for Those Visiting Someone on his Deathbed.It is desirable that righteous people visit patients on their deathbeds and remember Allah.Umm Salamah reported: "Allah's Messenger, peace be upon him, said, 'When you visit someone who is ill or is dying, say good things about him. Indeed, the … Continue reading Fiqh-us-Sunnah Volume 4, Funerals and Dhikr, Fiqh 4.015B.

Section : What Should be Done When Someone Dies.It is sunnah to do the following when a person dies:1. Advise the dying person to say: "La ilaha illa-Allah" (there is no god but Allah). It is narrated on the authority of Abu Sa'id al-Khudri that the Prophet, peace be upon him, said: "Prompt your dying … Continue reading Fiqh-us-Sunnah Volume 4, Funerals and Dhikr, Fiqh 4.016.

Section : On invoking Allah upon witnessing Death.Saying: "Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un" (We belong to Allah and truly to Him we shall Return)A believer should, at the death of a relative or a friend, invoke Allah and say: "Verily we belong to Allah, and truly to Him shall we return." The following reports … Continue reading Fiqh-us-Sunnah Volume 4, Funerals and Dhikr, Fiqh 4.019.

Section : Informing the Deceased's Family and Friends.The scholars consider it desirable that the deceased's family, friends, and other good people be informed about his death, so that they may share in the reward of participating in his funeral. It is reported in Sihah Sittah on the authority of Abu Hurairah that the Prophet, peace … Continue reading Fiqh-us-Sunnah Volume 4, Funerals and Dhikr, Fiqh 4.020.

Section : Weeping Over the Dead.Muslim scholars are agreed that weeping for the dead is permissible, whereas crying and wailing are not. It is reported in a sound hadith that the Prophet, peace be upon him, said: "Allah does not punish a person for shedding tears or feeling pain in his heart. But He does … Continue reading Fiqh-us-Sunnah Volume 4, Funerals and Dhikr, Fiqh 4.021.

Section : Wailing over the Dead.Wailing refers to mourning in a loud voice and crying in a high pitch, which was prohibited by the Prophet, peace be upon him. Abu Malik alAsh'ari reported that the Prophet, peace be upon him, said: "Four practices of the pre-Islamic days of Ignorance will continue to be practiced by … Continue reading Fiqh-us-Sunnah Volume 4, Funerals and Dhikr, Fiqh 4.022.

Section : Mourning for a Deceased.It is permissible for a woman to mourn for a period of three days on the death of a near relative, provided that her husband does not object to her doing so. It is not permissible for her to mourn for more than three days, except in the case of … Continue reading Fiqh-us-Sunnah Volume 4, Funerals and Dhikr, Fiqh 4.023.

Section : Preparing Food for the Bereaved Family is Encouraged.Abdullah ibn Ja'far reported that the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: "Prepare some food for the family of Ja'far, for what has befallen them is keeping them preoccupied." This is narrated by Abu Daw'ud, Ibn Majah and Tirmizhi, who grades it as a … Continue reading Fiqh-us-Sunnah Volume 4, Funerals and Dhikr, Fiqh 4.023A.

Section : Preparing the Kafan (Shroud) and Grave Before Death.Bukhari deals with this subject in a chapter entitled: "Those Who Prepared the Kafan in the Prophet's Days without him objecting to it. Reporting on the authority of Sahl, Bukhari says: "A woman came to the Prophet, peace be upon him, with a woven piece of … Continue reading Fiqh-us-Sunnah Volume 4, Funerals and Dhikr, Fiqh 4.024.

Section : The Desire to Die in the Haramain (Sacred precincts around the Ka'aba in Makkah and the Mosque of the Prophet in Madinah).The desire to die in either of the sanctuaries in Makkah and Madinah is commendable. Bukhari has reported on the authority of Hafsah that 'Umar said: "O Allah ! Grant me martyrdom … Continue reading Fiqh-us-Sunnah Volume 4, Funerals and Dhikr, Fiqh 4.025.