Rulings regarding a person near death
The word جنائز is the plural of Janazah with a kasra under the letter Jeem, meaning a deceased person, and some have also taken the same meaning with a fatha on Jeem, or with kasra meaning deceased and with fatha meaning the bier on which the deceased lies. Besides, there is also an opinion to the contrary, meaning with kasra it refers to the bier on which the deceased lies. The word جنائز is derived from the root جنزَ يَجُزُ (Daraba), which means “to hide.” Imam Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) and Hafiz Ibn Hajar (may Allah have mercy on him) have established only the fatha on Jeem in the word Janazah.
➊ It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “A Muslim has five rights over another Muslim: to respond to the greeting, عيادة المريض ‘to visit the sick,’ to attend the funeral, to accept the invitation, and when someone sneezes, to say يرحمك الله.”
In the narration of Sahih Muslim, six rights are mentioned with the addition of these words: وإذا استنصحك فانصحه “and when he asks for good wishes, then wish him well.”
➋ It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Musa (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
عودوا المريض وأطعموا الجائع …
“Visit the sick and feed the hungry.”
➌ It is narrated from Hazrat Zaid bin Arqam (may Allah be pleased with him) that I had an eye ailment, so the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) visited me.
➍ Hazrat Saad bin Muadh (may Allah be pleased with him) was wounded on the day of the Battle of the Trench, so the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) had his tent set up in the mosque: ليعوده من قريب “so that he could visit him closely.”
➎ It is narrated from Hazrat Thawban (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
إن المسلم إذا عاد أخاه المسلم لم يزل فى مخرفة الجنة حتى يرجع
“Indeed, when a Muslim visits his Muslim brother, he remains in a garden of Paradise until he returns.”
➏ It is narrated from Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “When a Muslim sits to visit his Muslim brother for the purpose of visiting, if he visits in the morning, seventy thousand angels pray for his forgiveness until the evening, and if he visits in the evening, seventy thousand angels pray for his forgiveness until the morning.”
Giving prayers to the patient at the time of visiting
➊ It is narrated from Hazrat Ibn Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “When a person visits a sick person, he should say: اللَّهُمَّ اشْفِ عَبْدَكَ يَنْكَا لَكَ عَدُوًّا أَوْ يَمْشِي لَكَ جَنَازَةً”
➋ When the Prophet (peace be upon him) used to visit Hazrat Saad (may Allah be pleased with him), he would supplicate:
اللهم اشف سعدا وأتمم له هجرته
“O Allah! Grant Saad healing and complete his migration for him.”
➌ It is narrated from Hazrat Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever says seven times during the visit of a sick person:
أَسْأَلُ اللهَ الْعَظِيمَ رَبَّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ أَنْ يُشْفِيَكَ
If his time of death has not come, Allah will grant him recovery from that illness.”
➍ It is narrated from Hazrat Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “When you are present with a sick or deceased person, speak good words because the angels say ‘Ameen’ to what you say.”
Advising the person near death to recite the Kalima Shahadat
➊ It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Saeed (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: لقنوا موتا كم لا إله إلا الله “Instruct the person who is near death to say لا إله إلا الله.”
➋ It is narrated from Hazrat Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) visited an Ansari man and said: يا خال قل لا إله إلا الله “O uncle! Say لا إله الا الله.”
➌ It is narrated from Hazrat Mu’adh (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: من كان آخر كلامه لا إله إلا الله دخل الجنة “Whoever’s last words are لا إله إلا الله will enter Paradise.”
➍ The same words are narrated from Hazrat Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him).
(Nawawi) The ruling on this instruction is based on recommendation (mustahabb).
To turn it towards the Qibla and (after death) to close its eyes
There is no authentic Marfu’ Hadith proving that a person near death should face the Qibla so that they die in that state.
(Al-Albani) (Probably this is the reason) he has counted this act among innovations.
However, those who advocate facing the Qibla rely on the following Ahadith:
➊ The Messenger of Allah ﷺ mentioned the number of major sins as nine (9) and counted them as follows: Shirk (associating partners with Allah), sorcery, killing a soul unjustly, consuming usury, consuming the property of an orphan, fleeing from the battlefield, accusing chaste women falsely, disobedience to parents, and استحلال البيت الحرام قبلتكم أحياء وأمواتا “considering the Sacred House (Bayt al-Haram) lawful while it is your Qibla in both life and death.”
The point of evidence in this Hadith is “considering the House of Allah lawful while it is your Qibla in both life and death.” But this does not serve as proof for the mentioned issue because it refers to the House of Allah being the Qibla in death, not that a person near death should face the Qibla. Moreover, for the living, the House of Allah is the Qibla during prayer, and for the dead, it is the Qibla in the grave; therefore, a person near death is not included in either category.
However, if this logic is accepted, then every living person must face the Qibla regardless of whether it is prayer time or not. Surely, this contradicts both narration and reason.
➋ Hazrat Bara bin Ma’rur (RA) advised that when his time of death comes, he should be made to face the Qibla. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said about him: أصاب الفطرة “He has reached the natural disposition (Fitrah).”
➌ The beloved daughter of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, Hazrat Fatimah (RA), at the time of her death, faced the Qibla and used her right hand as a pillow.
However, it is narrated about Hazrat Saeed bin Musayyib (RA) that he disliked a person near death facing the Qibla.
➊ It is narrated from Hazrat Shaddad bin Aws (RA) that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
إذا حـضـرتــم موتا كم فأغمضوا البصر فإن البصر يتبع الروح وقولوا خيرا فانه يؤمن على ما قال أهل البيت
“When you visit your dead, close their eyes, for indeed the sight follows the soul. And speak good words because the family of the deceased say ‘Ameen’ to what is said.”
➋ It is narrated from Hazrat Umm Salamah (RA) that when the Prophet ﷺ came at the time of the death of Hazrat Abu Salamah (RA), his eyes were open. فاغمضه “So the Prophet ﷺ closed them.”
(Shawkani) This proves that closing the eyes of the deceased is prescribed.
(Nawawi) There is consensus among Muslims on this.
Reciting Surah Yaseen near him and hastening his shrouding and burial, except when delayed due to the possibility of his revival.
It is narrated from Hazrat Muqil bin Yasar (RA) that the Prophet (PBUH) said:
اقرأوا على موتاكم يٰس
“Recite Surah Yaseen near your deceased.”
In one narration, these words are mentioned:
مامن ميـت يـمـوت فيقرأ عنده يس إلا هون الله عليه
“On the deceased over whom Surah Yaseen is recited, Allah makes things easy for him.”
(Al-Albani) There is no authentic hadith about reciting Surah Yaseen near the deceased.
➊ It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Hurairah (RA) that the Prophet (PBUH) said:
أسرعوا بالجنازة …
“Hasten with the funeral (preparation and burial)…”
➋ The Prophet (PBUH) advised Hazrat Ali (RA) not to delay in three matters. (One of them was) والجنازه إذا حضرت “When the funeral is present, do not delay in carrying it.”
➌ When Hazrat Talhah bin Bara’ (RA) fell ill with a terminal illness, the Prophet (PBUH) came to visit him and said:
فآذنوني به وعـجـلـوا فإنه لا ينبغي لجيفة مسلم أن تحبس بين ظهراني أهله
“Inform me about it and hasten, for it is not permissible to keep the dead body of a Muslim among his family members.”
This applies when a person’s death is certain, and if it is not certain, the burial should not be done until death is confirmed.
➍ Hazrat Abu Musa (RA) made a will that:
إذا انطلقتم بجنازتي فأسرعوا بي المشي
“When you carry my funeral, take me quickly.”
It is permissible to fulfill the debt of the deceased by covering him (with some cloth) and kissing him.
➊ It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Huraira (RA) that the Prophet (PBUH) said:
نفس المومن معلقة بدينه حتى يقضى عنه
“The soul of a believer remains suspended because of debt until it is paid off.”
➋ It is narrated from Hazrat Saad bin Atul (RA) that his brother passed away leaving behind a legacy of three hundred dirhams. Since the deceased had dependents, Hazrat Saad (RA) said that he intended to spend this money on his dependents, but the Prophet (PBUH) said:
إن أخاك محبوس بدينه فاقض عنه
“Indeed, your brother is being withheld because of his debt; pay off his debt on his behalf.”
➌ It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Huraira (RA) that during the time of the Prophet (PBUH), if a debtor died, the Prophet (PBUH) would inquire whether he had left anything to pay off his debt. If people said yes, he (PBUH) would lead his funeral prayer; if people said no, he (PBUH) would say: صلوا على صاحبكم “Pray the funeral prayer for your companion yourself.” Then, when Allah granted His Messenger victories, the Prophet (PBUH) said: أنا أولى بالمومنين من أنفسهم فمن توفي ، عليه دين فعلى قضاء ومن ترك مالا فهو لورثته “I am closer to the believers than their own selves; therefore, whoever dies owing debt, its payment is my responsibility, and whatever wealth he leaves behind is for his heirs.”
➍ It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Huraira (RA) that the Prophet (PBUH) said:
من أخذ أموال الناس يريد أدائها أدى الله عنه ومن أخذها يريد إتلافها أتلفه الله “Whoever takes wealth from people intending to repay it but fails to do so during his lifetime, Allah will repay it on his behalf. And whoever takes wealth intending to destroy (or confiscate) it, Allah will destroy him.”
It is narrated from Hazrat Aisha (RA) that:
ان النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم حين توفى سجي ببرد حبرة
“When the Prophet (PBUH) passed away, he was covered with a striped sheet.”
Whoever dies in the state of Ihram, his head and face should not be covered, as narrated from Hazrat Ibn Abbas (RA) that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:
ولا تخـمــروا رأسه ولا وجهه….
“Do not cover his head (and face)…”
➊ Hazrat Aisha (RA) says:
ان ابا بكر قبل النبى بعد موته
“Indeed, Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA) kissed the Prophet (PBUH) after his death.”
➋ It is narrated from Hazrat Aisha (RA) that:
قبل رسول الله عثمان بن مظعون وهو ميت حتى رأيت الدموع تسيل
“The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) kissed Hazrat Uthman bin Maz’un (RA) after he had passed away, and I saw tears flowing from the Prophet’s (PBUH) eyes.”
The patient should have a good opinion of their Lord and turn towards Him.
It is narrated from Hazrat Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
لا يموتن أحدكم إلا وهو يحسن بالله الظن
“None of you should die except while having good expectations from Allah Almighty.”
➋ It is narrated from Hazrat Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) went to a young man who was near death and asked: “How do you feel about yourself?” He said: ارجو الله و اخاف ذنوبي “I hope from Allah Almighty and fear my sins.” Upon hearing this, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: لا يجتمعان فى قلب عبد فى مثل هذا الموطن إلا أعطاه الله ما يرجو و آمنه مما يخاف “When these two things come together in a person’s heart at that time, Allah Almighty grants him what he hopes for and grants him peace from what he fears.”
The following verses are sufficient on this matter:
➊ تُوبُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا أَيُّهَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ
“O believers! All of you turn to Allah in repentance so that you may succeed.”
➋ إِسْتَغْفِرُوا رَبَّكُمْ ثُمَّ تُوبُوا إِلَيْهِ
“Ask forgiveness from your Lord and then turn to Him.”
➌ يَأْيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا تُوبُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ تَوْبَةً نَصُوحًا
“Make sincere and pure repentance before Allah.”
Fulfill all your responsibilities before death
➊ It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “If a person has oppressed another’s honor or has wronged in any way, he should have it forgiven today before that day comes when there will be neither dinars nor dirhams, but if he has any good deeds, they will be taken in exchange for his oppression, and if he has no good deeds, then the sins of his companion (the oppressed) will be placed upon him.”
➋ In one narration, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) asked the companions, “Do you know who the bankrupt person is?” The companions replied, “O Messenger of Allah! Among us, the bankrupt is the one who has neither dinars nor dirhams nor wealth or property.” The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, “The bankrupt among my nation on the Day of Resurrection will be the one who comes with prayers, fasting, and zakat, but he has insulted someone, accused someone falsely, consumed someone’s wealth, shed someone’s blood, and beaten someone unjustly. He will be seated, and his good deeds will be given to those whom he wronged, and if his good deeds run out before his debts are paid, their sins will be taken and placed upon him, then he will be thrown into Hell.”
If such a person owes the rights of others (i.e., debts, trusts, usurped property, etc.), he should return them to the rightful owners, and if he is unable to do so in time, he should make a will.
It is narrated from Hazrat Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
ما حق امري مسلم له شيئ يوصى فيه يبت ليلتين إلا ووصيته مكتوبة عـنـده
“It is not permissible for any Muslim who has any wealth to bequeath to pass two nights without writing a will and keeping it with him.”
