|
|
|
|
Authentic
step by step
illustrated
JANAZAH guide
Compiled by
Mohamed Ebrahim Siala
INTRODUCTION
In the name of Allah Most Merciful Most Gracious
All praise is due to Allah; we praise Allah and seek Allah’s
help and forgiveness. And we seek refuge in Allah, Most High,
from the evils of our own selves. Whomsoever has been guided
by Allah, none can misguide him, and whomsoever is misguided,
no one can guide him except Allah.
And I bear witness that there is no god worthy of being
worshipped except Allah Al Mighty, alone, without partner or
associate. I further bear witness that Muhammad (P.B.U.H) is
his true worshipper and messenger, may Allah the exalted
bestow His peace and blessings upon him.
Allah says in the Quran "O you who believe! Fear Allah as
Allah should be feared, and die not except in a state of
Islam " (Quran 3:102).
"O mankind ! Be grateful to your lord, Who created you from a
single soul and from it created its mate, and from them both
Allah created many men and women, and fear Allah through Whom
you demand your mutual rights and do not cut relations of
Kinship. Surely Allah is ever a watcher over you "(Quran
4:1).
"O you who believe! Keep your duty to Allah, and speak always
the truth. Allah will direct you to do good deeds and will
forgive you your sins. And whosoever obeys Allah and His
messenger, he verily has got a great success " (Quran
33:70-71).
Know then that the most truthful book is that of Allah (The
Quran) and that the best guidance is that of the Prophet
Muhammad (P.B.U.H.).
As Muslims, we all must submit to the will and commandments
of Allah. Those commandments are in the Quran, the word of
Allah, and in the Sunnah, the authentic teachings of Prophet
Muhammad (P.B.U.H), and whatever his companions said or did
of which he did not disapprove.
Allah in the Quran says : " We have explained in detail in
this Quran, for the benefit of Mankind, every kind of
similitude "(Quran 18:54), "And we have sent down to you the
Book explaining all things: a guide, a mercy, and glad
tidings " (Quran 16:89).
The Sunnah is the secondary source of Islamic law, it is the
Prophet’s sayings, actions, and what his companions did to
which he showed no objection. Allah in the Quran says that
Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) does not speak from himself, but
is inspired by Allah : "Nor does he say ought of his own
desire and wishes; it is just inspiration sent down to him "
(Quran 53: 3-5).
Muslims are ordered in the Quran to follow the Sunnah of the
Prophet (P.B.U.H), this means to obey and practice the
commands of the Prophet.
Allah in the Quran says : " Whatever the Prophet ordered you
to do, you should do, and whatever he forbids you, you should
reject "(Quran 59: 7), " The sayings of the faithful
believers when they are called to Allah ( His Words { the
Quran } and His Messenger ) to judge between them is only
that they say: " We hear and we obey," And such are the
successful. And whosoever obeys Allah and His Messenger,
fears Allah and keeps his duty (To Him), such ! They are the
successful " (Quran 24: 51-52).
" But no, by your lord, they can have no (Real) faith, until
they make you (Muhammad) a judge in all disputes between
them, and find in their souls no resistance against your
decisions, but accept them with the fullest conviction " (Quran
4:65).
After the death of the Prophet, his companions gave sharp
attention to preserving the Sunnah of the Prophet. Each one
tried to find out what the Prophet did or said in certain
situations, and then recorded it.
Later many scholars spent their lives investigating those who
transmitted the Sunnah; they compiled the authentic Hadiths.
Among these scholars are Imam Bukhari and Imam Muslim; both
wrote books that contain only authentic Hadiths.
The Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) in many authentic Hadiths
showed us in great detail how and what to say and do in our
everyday lives.
Allah’s last revelation states that Islam is the perfect
religion: "Today I have perfected your religion for you,
bestowed my favor upon you and chosen for you Islam as your
religion " (Quran 5:3). Thus it is fitting for us as Muslims
to follow the perfect guidance of Allah and His messenger
through the Quran and the Sunnah.
But unfortunately, people listen to this and that, see the
non-Muslim’s ways of doing things and then copy it and it
becomes the norm . The Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) predicted
this by saying :" You would copy the same path as was done by
those before you inch by inch and step by step so that if
they had entered into the hole of a Dhab (a desert lizard)
you will enter too." They ( The Prophet companions ) asked
him: " You mean Jews and Christians by your words’ Those
before you’ ?." He said: " Who else (than those two religious
groups) " (Bukhari and Muslim).
Some Muslims say : " In our country we do things this way and
that way, so it must be the right way ", others say : " We
think this way is much better than the other way ".
So as long as the tendency remains among the Muslims in
taking blind bride in following their ancestry or tribal
heritage or culture or nationality, and as long as Muslims
are hardly bothered to learn and take their practices from
the pure knowledge, the Quran and the authentic Sunnah, more
confusion, and more divisions will continue to hammer the
body of the Muslim Ummah.
The message of Islam covers all aspects of life, commanding
all things that will benefit a person in this life and the
hereafter.
This includes caring for this person when he dies by making
dua’ for him, washing and shrouding his body, performing
Salatul Janazah for him ( Where people pray and ask Allah to
forgive him and have mercy on him ), then putting him in the
grave.
The caring extends to his family too, by comforting his
relatives, sharing with them their sorrow, and offering them
condolences, sympathy and support.
Hoping to fill the need for a simplified Janazah guide to all
Muslims, I have followed the method described in the
authentic Hadiths, explanatory step by step notes and several
illustrated drawings.
I have also included an introduction on importance of
following the Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H.),
and an explanation of scholars’ ruling on issues which should
be known by every Muslim.
A) DEATH
This topic is very important, as each and every one of us
will experience it one day and that is : Death.
Almost every day we hear of the death of someone, yet most
people ignore the fact that one day they will die too, they
go on with their life as if nothing has happened feeling that
their time has not yet come for them to die.
Allah says in the Quran: " Everyone shall taste death. And
only on the day of resurrection shall you be paid your wages
in full. And whoever is removed away from the fire and
admitted to paradise, this person is indeed successful. The
life of this world is only the enjoyment of deception:" (Quran
3:185), " Every soul shall have the taste of death " (Quran
29:57).
In an authentic Hadith Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) said : "
Remember the destroyer of pleasures-death, for not a day
passes upon the grave except it says ‘ I am the house of
remoteness; I am the house of loneliness; I am the house of
soil; I am the house of worms’ " ( Authentic-Thermithi).
The knowledge of the reality of death helps people understand
it and prepare themselves for its coming.
Death is simply a transition state from one world to another,
as birth is. No one knows when and where he will die or knows
how.
In this respect Allah says in the Quran in Surat (Chapter)
Luqman: " Nor does anyone know what it is that he will earn
tomorrow: Nor does anyone know in what land he is to die.
Verily with Allah is full knowledge and Allah is acquainted
with all things " (Quran 31: 34).
Islam is the only religion that explains death in full
detail, how it happens, and what Muslims should do before,
during, and after the death of a Muslim.
Allah has assigned angels responsible for taking our souls
out of our bodies. In the Quran Allah mentioned the Archangel
name "Angel of Death".
Allah says in the Quran : " Say The Angel of Death put in
charge of you, will (Duly) take your souls, then you shall be
brought back to your Lord " (Quran 32:11).
Death involves agony and hardship as mentioned in an
authentic Hadith : " When Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) was
dying, he put his hands in a large cup of water which was
close to him and wipe his face with it, saying : ‘O Allah
help me over the hardship and agony of death ’"( Authentic -Termithi).
For the faithful BELIEVERS Allah says in the Quran: " Those
who have said ‘Our Lord is Allah’, and then have become
upright, the angels will descend upon them saying ‘ Do not
fear nor be sad, but receive good news of the paradise which
you have been promised. We are your protectors in this life
and in the hereafter: therein you shall have all that you
desire; therein you shall have all that you ask for "(Quran
41:30-31).
Allah also says : " When the angels take the lives of the
righteous, the angels say to them : ‘ Salaamun Alikum, enter
paradise, because of the good deeds that you used to do
(during your life) ’ " (Quran 6:32).
For the UNBELIEVERS, Allah says in the Quran : " If only you
could see when the angels take the souls of those who
disbelieved, striking their faces and their backs, and saying
:‘ Taste the punishment of the fire. That is for what your
own hands have put forth ( Of evil deeds )’ " (Quran
8:50-51).
Allah also says :" If you only could see when the
transgressors are going through the agonies of death, and the
angels stretching forth their hands saying ‘Deliver your
souls; this day you shall be recompensed the torment of
degradation because of what you use to utter against Allah
other than the truth, and you used to reject Allah’s signs
with disrespect’ " (Quran 6:93).
The grave is the first station of the stations of the
hereafter. The Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) said:
"When the deceased is placed in his grave and when his
friends depart and leave him, he hears their footsteps, then
two angels will make him sit and ask him : What did you say
about this man ( Muhammad (P.B.U.H) ) ? The Believer will
say: I bear witness that he was the servant and Messenger of
Allah..
They (The two Angeles) will say to the deceased: Look to your
place in Hell. Allah has substituted it with a place in
paradise. They see it all together.
However, the unbeliever or the
hypocrite, will be asked about Muhammad (P.B.U.H). He
will say:’ I don’t know! I used to say what people used to
say’. The two angels say to him:‘ How come you did not know
and you did not read about him’. Then they beat him heavily
with a metal hammer.This causes him to scream painfully and
all his surroundings will hear him except human beings and
Jinns." (Bukhari and Muslim).
Another authentic Hadith narrated by Imam Ahmed states that
the Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) said two or three times: "
Seek refuge in Allah from the punishment of the grave,’ then
he said :‘ When a believer is about to leave this world,
angels with bright faces like the sun come down to him from
heaven with a shroud from the shrouds of paradise and some of
the perfume of paradise and sit away from him as far as the
eye can see.
Then the angel of death comes and sits at his head and says:’
O good soul, come out to forgiveness and acceptance from
Allah’. The soul then comes out gently as a drop flows from a
water - faucet and he seizes it.
Then the other angels take the soul from the angel of death
and shroud it with the shroud from paradise, perfume with the
perfume of paradise; its fragrance will be like that of the
sweetest musk found on the face of the earth.
They then take the sweet-smelling soul up, and whenever they
pass by a group of Angeles, they ask :‘ Who is this good soul
?’ The angels, accompanying the soul, reply using the best of
his names that people used to call him by during his life:‘
So and so, the son of so and so.’ When they reach the first
heaven they request permission to enter, and the gates will
open to them.
The same is done in the following heavens until they reach
the seventh heaven, and Allah says :‘ Record the book of my
slave in the highest place and take him back to earth, for I
created mankind from it, into it they shall return, and from
it shall be brought another time.’
The soul returns to the body, and two angels come to him,
make him sit and ask him: ‘ Who is your Lord ?’ He replies:‘
My Lord is Allah. They ask:‘ What is your religion ?’ and he
replies:‘ My religion is Islam’.
They ask again:‘ Who is this man who was sent among you ?’ He
replies:‘ He is Allah’s messenger’. They ask :’ What is your
knowledge ?’ He replies:’ I read the book of Allah, believed
in it and declared it to be true.’ .
Then it will be said:‘ My slave has spoken the truth, so
spread out carpets from paradise for him, cloth him from
paradise, and open a gate for him into paradise’.
Then some of its joy and fragrance come to him, his grave is
made spacious for him as far as he can see, a man with a
glorious face, beautiful garments and sweet perfume comes to
him and says:’ Rejoice in what pleases you for this is your
day which you have been promised’..
He asks:’ Who are you, for your appearance brings goodness
?’. The man replies:’ I am your good deeds.’ He then says: ‘
O Allah, bring the hour, so that I may return to my family
and property.’.
But when a non-believer is about to leave this world, angels
with ugly faces come down to him from heaven with a hard and
rough cloth, and sit away from him as far as the eye can see.
Then the angel of death comes and sits at his head and says:‘
O wicked soul, come out to anger and displeasure from Allah.’
It then becomes dissipated in his body.
The angel draws it out violently as a spit is drawn out from
moistened wool, and he seizes it; then the other angels take
the soul and put it in that rough cloth which emits a very
offensive bad stench like the worst smell found on the face
of the earth.
They then take the foul-smlling soul up, and whenever they
pass by a group of Angels, they ask :‘ Who is this wicked
soul ?’ The angels, accompanying the soul, reply using the
worst of his names that people used to call him by during his
life :‘ So and so, the son of so and so,’ when they reach the
first heaven they request permission to enter and the gates
will not open to them.
Then the Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) recited this verse from
the Quran : " The gates of the heaven will not be opened to
them "(Quran 7:40), the Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) continued
saying :‘Allah then says:" Record his book in the lowest
place,"’ and his soul falls down to earth.
Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) then recited another verse from
the Quran: " He who assigns partners with Allah is as if he
had fallen down from heaven and been snatched up by birds, or
made to fall by the wind in a place far distant " (Quran
22:31).
The soul returns to the body, and two angels come to him,
make him sit and ask him:’ Who is your Lord ?’ He replies:‘
My Lord? Oh, I do not know’. They ask:‘ What is your religion
?’ and he replies:‘ My religion ! Oh, I do not know.
They ask again:‘ Who is this man who was sent among you ?’ He
replies:‘ Oh, I do not know’. Then it will be said:‘ He has
lied, so spread out carpets from hellfire for him, and open a
gate for him into hellfire.’
Then some of its heat and poison come to him, his grave is
made so narrow for him so that his ribs are pressed together
in it.
A man with a horrifying face, ugly garments and offensive
odor comes to him and says:‘ Be grieved with what displeases
you for this is your day which you have been promised’. He
asks:‘ Who are you, for your appearance brings evil ?’ The
man replies:‘ I am your wicked deeds.’ He then says:‘ O
Allah, do not bring the hour’" (Authentic-Ahmed).
All of this, and the day of judgment has not yet started. So
I remind myself first and I remind you as my brothers and
sisters to prepare for this day; prepare for it by truly and
sincerely submitting to Allah, doing good deeds according to
Allah’s commands in the Quran and the teachings of the
Prophet.
Avoid all types of wrong and evil which Allah and the Prophet
asked us to avoid, but do not delay or postpone since you do
not know when death will come.
The following are simple step by step procedures for a Muslim
funeral that explain what should be done Islamically when
death occurs.
1) WHEN A MUSLIM IS AT THE POINT OF
DEATH
Family members of the dying person and his most pious friends
should be informed and should be present at his side to help
him turn his thoughts to Allah, encourage him very gently to
repent, remind him about all the good deeds that he did,
about Allah’s mercy, and Allah’s forgiveness so that he may
anticipate Allah’s mercy and Allah’s favors.
Allah in the Quran said: "And who despairs of the mercy of
his Lord, but those who are misguided "(Quran 15:56).
Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) said: " Let no Muslim die except
expecting and hoping the best from Allah" (Muslim).
Those who are present near a dying Muslim should do the
following :
They should be kind and patient.
They should never leave him alone.
They should give him hope, not allowing him to collapse out
of pain or panic.
They should prompt him very gently (Encouragement without
insistence) every now and then to say the Shahada: "La ilaha
ella Allah", which means ‘There is no God but Allah,’ in a
very kind and sincere manner as these may be his last words.
Abu-Saeed Al-Khuduri reported that Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H)
said : " Help Muslims who are dying to say: ‘ La ilaha ella
Allah’ " (Muslim).
They should make Dua’ (Supplicate) to Allah to help him go
through situation easy, and forgive him.
NOTE:
There is no authentic proof of directing the dying Muslim to
the Qiblah.
There is no Islamic teaching of putting the Quran under the
head of a dying Muslim.
There is no Islamic teaching of asking junubs( Those who did
not take a shower after a sexual act), or menstruating women,
to leave the room .
2) JUST AFTER DEATH HAS BEEN
DETERMINED
When the person is confirmed dead, family members or those
who are present should :
Close the eyes of the deceased.
Um Salma reported that : " When her husband died, Prophet
Muhammad (P.B.U.H) closed his
eyes" (Muslim).
They should bind his lower jaw to his head so that it does
not sag.
They should cover all his body completely with a clean sheet.
Aisha reported that : " Muslims covered the body of Prophet
Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) when he died" (Bukhari & Muslim).
They should make Dua’ (Supplicate) to Allah to forgive him.
They should hasten to prepare the body for washing, shrouding
and burial.
Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) said: " You should hasten with his
burial" (Bukhari & Muslim).
They should pay his debts from his money, or if there is not
enough, then from any family member or any relative, this
matter is important since the Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H)
encouraged Muslims to pay the debts of the deceased.
NOTE:
There is no Islamic teaching of putting the Quran under the
pillow of the deceased.
There is no Islamic teaching of asking junubs (Those who did
not take a shower after sexual act), or menstruating women to
leave the room of the deceased.
There is no Islamic teaching of putting flowers, candles
etc., in the deceased’s room.
B) MOURNING THE DEAD
Mourning over the dead is allowed in Islam, but there is a
great difference between what is allowed Islamically and the
practice of some Muslims at the present time.
Grief at the death of a beloved person is normal, and weeping
for the dead is allowed in Islam. What is prohibited is to
express grief by wailing ( Bewailing refers to mourning in a
loud voice), shrieking, beating the chest and cheeks, tearing
hair or clothes, breaking things or scratching faces or
saying phrases that makes a Muslim lose faith.
All of this is totally prohibited, and the deceased may feel
pain by these actions, Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) said: "The
deceased suffers when someone bewails loudly" (Bukhari &
Muslim).
Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) said : " Two things in people are
Kufr ( Ignorance ), one is to ridicule someone on his family
genealogy, and the other is bewailing loudly the dead "
(Muslim).
Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) also said : " I detest a woman who
cries out very loudly, or shaves her hair, or tears her
clothes when a beloved one dies " (Bukhari & Muslim).
Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) said :" He is not of us who beats
his face, tears his clothes and bewails loudly when
misfortune happens to him as was done before during the days
of ignorance " (Bukhari & Muslim).
Some people let their beard grow to show their sadness, then
after several days they shave it. Others wear black clothes,
or black ties. All of this has no
basis in Islam.
It is a Muslim’s duty to advise gently those who
do these things to stop doing so, since it is totally
prohibited. No loss, however great, should lead a Muslim to
sour his faith. They should however bear patiently and accept
Allah’s destiny.
There is no objection to quiet weeping as Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H)
did when his son died and said : " It is a mercy that Allah
made in the hearts of his servants" (Bukhari).
Relatives of a deceased Muslim may mourn him for three days
only, but a widow may mourn her husband four months and ten
days.
This is due to Hadith of Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) who said
: " It is prohibited for a woman who believes in Allah and
the day of judgment to mourn any dead person more than three
days except her husband four months and ten days " (Bukhari).
This period is called the Edda (Waiting period) which is
prescribed by Allah in the Quran (2 : 234).
C) AL-GHUSUL ( WASHING THE DEAD
MUSLIM )
When a Muslim dies, it is the responsibility of his family or
other Muslims to wash him according to the Islamic rites of
washing the deceased. Two or three persons may perform the
washing.
The person(s) who may wash the deceased should :
Be a trustworthy, and honest adult Muslim(s).
Know the Islamic way of washing the dead and be able to carry
out the washing.
Not make any comment on the body of the deceased.
NOTE:
If the deceased is a male, then ONLY males should wash
him.
If the deceased is a female, then ONLY females should wash
her.
For a married person, the spouse may perform the washing.
For a child, either males or females may do the washing.
PLACE OF WASHING :
The deceased’s body should be washed in a clean, secluded,
and private place where clean water and soap are available.
Gloves or pieces of cloth are needed.
The body of the deceased should be washed with water and, if
available, lotus leaves, or camphor (To be used in the final
wash).
The washing should be done three or five, or any more odd
number of times if necessary.
STEPS OF WASHING :
The body of the deceased should be placed on a table or
alike, the deceased’s clothes should be removed , and the
body should be covered with a sheet of cloth.
The head and the upper body should be raised slightly to
insure the washing water with exudations from the body flows
down and does not run back to the body.
The Aura (Private parts) of the deceased should be covered
with a piece of cloth (The Aura of a male is from the belly
button to the knee in the presence of males, for the female
is the same in the presence of females).
The washer should start washing by saying:" Bismil - lah ","
In the name of Allah ".
The washer winds a piece of cloth around his hand, and with
this he cleans away any impurities from the body using water.
Then he should dispose of this piece.
The washer should take another piece of cloth around his
hand, press lightly the stomach of the deceased so as so to
expel, if possible, any remnants from it, and then wash the
body of all impurities using water. Then he should dispose
this piece of cloth.
The washer should take another piece of cloth around his hand
(May use gloves), and wash the covered private parts, then
dispose of this piece of cloth.
The washer should perform Wudu (Ablution) on the deceased
without inserting the water in the nose and in the mouth.
The washer should clean the body with water and soap (If
available), starting from the head (hair, face and beard
{Men}), then the upper right side of the body then the left
side, after that the lower right side then the lower left.
In the case of a female, her hair should be loosened, washed,
combed, and be braided in three braids, and placed behind her
back.
The washing should be done three times, or five times, or
seven times, as needed, providing that after washing the
head, wash the right side before the left, and the upper
parts before the lower ones.
In the last wash, the washer may use camphor, or some perfume
with the water.
After that the body should be dried with clean towel.
Then the body should be totally covered with a white sheet.
Get ready to start the shrouding.
SPECIAL NOTE : In case the deceased is a female in her
menstrual period or have child birth bleeding, padding should
be used to prevent blood from leaving the body.
NOTE:
It is recommended that those who performed the washing should
take a bath .
It is recommended that those who performed the washing should
make Wudu.
All of this is based on authentic Hadith that Um Atiyah
narrated that: " When the daughter of Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H)
died, he instructed us:‘ Wash her three times, or more than
that if you feel it is necessary, with water and sidr(good
smelling leaves), and then after the last wash apply some
camphor to the body , then loosen her hair, wash it, comb it,
and make it in three braids laid behind her back " (Bukhari &
Muslim).
NOTE:
There is no Islamic teaching of reading the Quran during the
Ghusul.
There is no Islamic teaching of making special dthiker
(Certain words to remember Allah) during the Ghusul.
D) AL-KAFAN ( SHROUDING THE DEAD
MUSLIM )
Shourding should start Just after washing the body of the
deceased. It is recommended to use white sheets from
inexpensive material. Extravagance is not recommended in the
Kafan (Shroud).
Aisha relates that : " When the Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H)
died, he was shrouded in three white sheets from Yemen" (Bukhari
& Muslim).
THE KAFAN OF A MALE
The Kafan of a male should consist of three white winding
sheets about{7 x 7 feet}, clean and large enough to conceal
the whole body, after having been perfumed with incense. Use
4 tie ropes, each 7 feet long ( Figure (1) ).
The material of the sheet should not be silk, nor should any
gold be used.
STEPS OF SHROUDING :
The winding sheets should be spread out one on the
top of the other .
The deceased, covered with a sheet, is lifted and laid on his
back on the winding sheets.
Some scent or perfume may be put on those parts of the body
upon which one rests during prostration, that is the
forehead, nose, hands, knees, and feet.
If it is possible the deceased’s left hand should be placed
on his chest, then put his right hand on the left hand like
the way in the Salat (Prayer).
The edge of the top sheet is folded over the deceased right
side, then the other edge over his left side. Then the second
sheet should be folded the same way. The third and the
largest sheet should be treated the same way.
These sheets should be fastened with a piece of cloth {Tie
ropes}, one above the head, another under the feet, and two
around the body.
These sheets should be fastened with a piece of cloth {Tie
ropes}, one above the head, another under the feet, and two
around the body.
The Kafan of a female should consist of
five white garments, (Two winding sheet, a long loose
sleeveless shirt {From shoulder to feet}, a waist wrapper,
and a head veil ), these should be large enough to cover
the whole body and may be perfumed with incense, a loin
cloth may be used to bind the upper part of her legs, use 4
tie ropes, each one is 7 feet long ( Figure (2)
).STEPS
OF SHROUDING :
The garments are spread out ( First:
winding sheets {7 x 7 feet}, Second:
the long loose sleeveless shirt {3 1/2 x 14 feet, with a
hole in the middle line for the head}, Third:
waist wrapper {6 feet x 3 1/2 feet }, Fourth
head veil {a 4x4 square feet white sheet}, and
Fifth: the loin cloth {12 inches wide x 4 feet
long} ).
The deceased, covered with a sheet, is
lifted and laid on her back on the shroud.
Some scent or perfume may be put on
those parts of the body upon which one rests during
prostration, that is the forehead, nose, hands, knees,
and feet.
The loin cloth is bound round her upper
legs (Acts like underwear).
The waist wrapper is tied in place.
Put on the sleeveless shirt (Long to
cover the body from the shoulder to the feet) .
Put the head veil.
The deceased’s left hand should be
placed on her chest, then put her right hand on the left
hand like the way in the Salat (Prayer).
The edge of the top sheet is folded
over the deceased right side, then the other edge over
his left side. Then the second sheet should be folded the
same way.
These sheets should be fastened with a
piece of cloth {Tie ropes}, one above the head, another
under the feet, and two around the body.
NOTE:
There is no Islamic teaching of writing
any thing on the shrouds.
E)
SALATUL JANAZAH (THE FUNERAL)
A divine service is held over
the dead body of every Muslim, young or old, even of infants
who have lived only a few minutes. When the soul leaves the
body, preparations are made for bidding him the last farewell.
It is highly recommended
that, after washing and shrouding the body of the deceased, the
body not to be kept long, but rather taken quickly, prayed for,
and then buried.
Salatul Janazah is required
to be performed in congregation to request pardon for the
deceased and all dead Muslims, and to wrap them all in Allah’s
Mercy.
It is preferable that Salatul
Janazah be performed outside the Mosque or the Musalla (Prayer
room), like in activity rooms or courtyards.
Salatul Janazah is a
collective obligation. A Muslim should not hesitate to
participate in it, whether or not the deceased or his relatives
are known to him.
Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H)
said : " If a Muslim dies and forty Muslims, who do not
associate anything with Allah , join in the Salatul Janazah,
Allah accepts their prayers for him." ( Muslim ).
Salatul Janazah is said
silently, except the Takbeer and Tassleem. All conditions for
regular Salat are required in Salatul Janazah such as Tahara,
Wudu, clean body and clothes, neeyah (Intention), and facing
the Qiblah.
There is a reward for
attending Salatul Janazah for both the deceased and those who
make the Salat according to the following Hadith.
Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H)
said : " Who ever attends the Janazah until it is finished,
will earn a Qirat, and who ever stays until the burial, will
earn two Qirats. Someone asked: What does Qirat mean ? , the
Prophet answered :‘It means rewards as big as great mountain" (
Bukhari & Muslim ).
There are specific times when
it is prohibited to perform Salatul Janazah, unless it
becomes necessary, due to the condition of the body, to perform
it quickly and then bury the body.
This is due to the Hadith
of the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) who forbade us to pray, or bury our
dead during these specified times (Muslim).
These prohibited times are
:
From sunrise until the
sun is fully risen,
At the zenith of the sun
(the sun at meridian), until it passes the meridian,
From when the sun pales
before sunset until it has set.
STEPS
OF SALATUL JANAZAH
It is preferable that
Salatul Janazah be performed outside the Mosque / the Musalla.
All conditions for regular
Salat are required in Salatul Janazah such as Tahara, Wudu,
clean body and clothes, neeyah (Intention), and facing the
Qiblah.
Muslims should form a
minimum of three lines facing the Qiblah. The one who leads
the Salat is the leader or his deputy, or the deceased’s
father.
If there is only one Muslim
with the Imam, he should stand behind the Imam.
The body (ies) should be
placed in front of the person who leads the prayer.
In case there are more than
one dead Muslim (Males and females), then the female(s)
should be placed in the first row(s) in the direction of the
Qiblah, then the male(s) in the following row(s), then the
Imam.
For example : If
there are : a dead Muslim male, a female, a young girl, and a
young boy, then behind the Qiblah, first place the body of
the young girl, then the adult female, then the young boy,
then the adult male, so the bodies are arranged in a way that
females’ bodies are first, then the males ( Figure (3)
).
The Imam should stand
by the middle of a female body, and by the head for a
male body, this is due to the Hadith in which Anas
related that Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) leading Salatul
Janazah for a dead male, the Prophet (P.B.U.H) stood in
front of the deceased head, and for a dead female, the
Prophet (P.B.U.H) stood in front of the midlle of her
body.( Authentic-Abu Dawood). In another Hadith Samura
ben Jundub said when Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) made
Salatul Janazah for a dead Muslim female, he stood in
front of her waist (Muslim) ( Figure (4), (5) ).
Behind the Imam, males
stand in lines, then children, then females (Figure
(3),(4),(5)).
There are NO
Rukuh, Sujud, Athan, or Eqama.
Having the appropriate
neeyah (Intention), raise your hands in the usual manner
and say : " Alla-who Akbar ".
Fold your right hand
over the left hand in the usual manner.
Recite the Fatiha
silently .
Then say : "Alla-who
Akbar".
Then recite the
Tashahood .
The Tashahood is
:- ( Allahumma sallee ala-Muhammad wa’ala alee Muhammad
kama sallayta ala Ibrahim wa ala alee Ibrahim, wa barik
ala Muhammad wa’ala alee Muhammad kama barakta ala
Ibrahim wa ala alee Ibrahim, innaka hamidun Majeed).
This means : " O Allah!
Grant peace to Muhammad and his family as you did to
Ibrahim and his family. O Allah! Bless Muhammad and his
family as you blessed Ibrahim and his family. Truly you
are Most Glorious and Most Praiseworthy".
Then say : "
Alla-who Akbar ".
Then make dua’
(Supplicate) for the deceased.
Then say: " Alla-who
Akbar ".
Then make dua
(Supplicate) for all dead Muslims.
In the case of a dead
baby or young child, make dua (Supplicate) for his
parents.
Then say : "
Assalamu alykum ", like you say in other Salats.
Tasleem could be said only once.
NOTE:
Salatul Janazah for the
one who died far away is allowed.
There is no Islamic
teaching of putting the picture of the deceased or some
of his clothes or flowers in front of or around the Kafan
( Shroud).
To use a coffin (Box)
is not allowed, unless there is necessity to use it, such
as the body of the deceased is damaged, or for health
reasons, or when the grave is wet and cannot be dried.
F)
FOLLOWING THE JANAZAH
After Salatul Janazah,
the deceased should be transferred to the Muslim cemetery.
Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) said : " Visit the sick and walk
with the Janazah, it will remind you of the
hereafter"(Muslim).
It is recommended for
those following the Janazah on foot to keep behind or
either on the right or on the left of those who are
carrying the body.
They should walk calmly,
quietly, and not crowd or push others who are carrying the
deceased.
Following the Janazah
with incense or candles, mentioning Allah’s name loudly,
weeping loudly or reading Quran, playing music, or carrying
the body of the deceased on a military car, all are not
allowed when escorting the body of the deceased.
The reward of Janazah
prayer and following the Janazah until the burial is
finished is explained in the following Hadith of Prophet
Muhammad (P.B.U.H) who said : " Whoever attends the Janazah
until it is finished, will earn a Qirat, and who ever stays
until the burial, will earn two Qirats. Someone asked: What
a Qirat means ? , the Prophet answered :’ It means rewards
as big as a great mountain" ( Bukhari & Muslim ).
G) AL-DAFIN
( BURIAL )
Islam has a unique style
of building graves and cemeteries that is characterized by
humility, simplicity and economy in costs and that avoids
glorifying the dead with elaborate monuments.
It is of great importance
that a special cemetery be devoted exclusively for the use
of Muslims. Muslims may not be buried in the cemeteries of
non-Muslims, nor can non-Muslims be buried in a Muslim
cemetery.
The deceased should be
buried in the locality in which he lived. It is undesirable
to take the body to the person’s own country or to another
city.
In Muslim cemeteries,
there are two types of graves :
Al-Shaqq : is to make a
deep vertical hole in the ground.
Al-Lahed : is to make a
deep vertical hole in the ground, then in the bottom make
a side horizontal hole big enough to cover the whole
body.
Both types are used, but
it is preferable to use Al-Lahed if the land is solid (
Figure (6) ).
|
The burial should be
done as soon as possible after death, but the following
times should be avoided :
At night.
From sunrise until the
sun is fully risen.
At the zenith of the
sun (The sun at the meridian), until it passes the
meridian.
When the sun pales
before sunset until it has set.
During these times
burying is prohibited unless there is an urgent
necessity, according to the Hadith of the
Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) that was narrated by (Muslim). |
|
|
|
|
|
|