Saturday 28 Oct 2017
Chapter of Prayer: Funeral Prayer
- Hadith of shrouding of the deceased:
- Hadith of Aisha (May Allah be pleased with her) that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) was shrouded in 3 white cloths [Agreed upon].
- This indicates the shrouding should be done with white cloths (preferably).
- If white is not possible then other colours are also allowed.
- It is mentioned that the cloths used were cotton from yemen
- The 3 sheets are laid out and the deceased placed upon the cloths, there are no specific head wear (such as turban or hats) or shirt etc that should be used. Using only one sheet is permissible but it should be able to cover the whole body
- Hadith of Ibn Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) that when Abdullaah Ibn Ubay Ibn Salool died (he was from the head of the hypocrites, NOTE: his son was a righteous Muslim) his son came to the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) and said “Give me your garment so I can shroud him in it” so the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) gave him this garment and he was shrouded in it [Agreed Upon].
- This is from the example of the good manners, gentleness and wisdom of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) that he accepted the request and gave his garment to the son of Abdullaah Ibn Ubay Ibn Salool despite his father’s actions
- This hadith shows that shrouding can be done with tailored garments and the deceased can be made to wear it in the normal way (e.g. a thobe worn as a thobe normally is)
- Hadith of Ibn Abbaas (May Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said “Wear your white clothes for they are the best of your garments and shroud your deceased in them” [Narrated by the 5]
- In day-to-day matters, the colour white is best for the clothes of men and in death both men and women white cloth is preferred. However, in day-to-day matters for women, in public then colours which do not attract attention are preferred and in their own homes they have open choice
- Hadith of Jaabir (May Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said “When one of you shrouds his brother then let him perfect his shrouding” [Narrated Muslim]
- This hadith indicates that the shrouding should be done properly. The first point is that the correct type of cloths/garments (e.g. to look for 3 white cloths of cotton material if possible) are selected and the second point is that the manner of shrouding should be correctly (see previous lesson 39)
- Hadith of Aisha (May Allah be pleased with her) that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) was shrouded in 3 white cloths [Agreed upon].
- Hadith of Jaabir (May Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) (regarding the martyrs of Uhud) used to join two in one garment. He would say “Which of them has more Quran memorised?” and he would place him first. They were not washed nor prayed upon [Bukhari]
- Brief recap of the battle of Uhud. 70 Muslims had been killed and so shrouding and burying them all was a difficulty. The people approached the Prophet how this should be resolved. He told them for a single grave that was dug to bury 2 or 3 martyrs in one grave (normally this is not to be done but if there is a necessity as in this case it is permissible) to make it easier.
- He also gave them permission to shroud more than one person in one shrouding. There are two possible meanings of this, either each shroud was split and shared between two deceased or that two deceased were placed in one shroud.
- This hadith also indicates the one who has memorised more Quran is given precedence in placement in the grave (e.g. being placed closest to the qiblah/facing the qiblah)
- It is permissible to bury more than one person in a grave
- This hadith indicates that the martyr is not washed of their blood and not prayed upon (for the Janaazah prayer). This is because Allah has ennobled the sincere and true martyr and so a prayer (which is an intercession) is not needed; the martyr is not in need of that prayer. NOTE: the one who fights for the sake of Allah and sustains injuries and dies later outside of the battel is washed, shrouded and prayed upon as usual.
- NOTE: Other types of deceased termed as Martyrs in the Sunnah are: those who die in a plaque, women who die in pregnancy, someone who is crushed, burned or drowned or a person killed for his/her money or honour etc. They are however washed, shrouded and prayed on as usual. Therefore, the Martyr is of two types, the martyr of this world and the hereafter (those who die in battle for the sake of Allah) and the martyr of the hereafter who have a normal funeral but have reward in the hereafter.
- Some of the scholars say there are a third group of Martyrs, these are martyrs of this world but not the hereafter. This refers to an insincere person who fought and died in battle. He is buried as a usual martyr in battle (not washed or prayed upon)
- Hadith of Ali (May Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said “Do not exaggerate in the shrouding because it will disappear in the grave” [Abu Dawuud]
- This indicates money should not be excessively used on shrouding, average good cloth should be bought but not something overly expensive as this will not benefit the dead
- This also indicates the impermissibility of wasting money
- any doubt. Many people make up such fabrications to attract attention.
- Q&A:
- Homework: was the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) shrouded on top of his clothes?
NEXT WEEK Insha Allah: OFF
Week after we resume insha Allah on Sat 11 Nov 2017