Derived from: Fatawa Ulama-e-Hadith, Kitab al-Salah, Volume 1
❖ Question
What is meant by hastening a funeral?
❖ Answer
Hastening a funeral means that when a Muslim passes away, the funeral prayer should be performed without delay, and the burial should be done immediately after the prayer. This practice is emphasized in the noble Ahadith.
✿ Hadith 1: Advice to Sayyiduna Ali رضي الله عنه
The Prophet ﷺ advised Sayyiduna Ali رضي الله عنه:
«ثَلاثٌ لا تُؤَخِّرْهَا : الصَّلاةُ إِذَا حَانَتْ , وَالْجَنَازةُ إِذَا حَضَرَتْ , وَالأَيِّمُ وَإِذَا وَجَدْتَ لَهَا كُفُؤًا »
(Do not delay three things: the prayer when its time arrives, the funeral when it is prepared, and the marriage of a woman when a suitable match is found.)
— Sunan al-Tirmidhi (127/171), (Tuhfat al-Ashraf: 10251), also in Musnad Ahmad (1/105, 10251)
✿ Hadith 2: Narration of Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه
The Prophet ﷺ said:
«أَسْرِعُوا بِالجَنَازَةِ، فَإنْ تَكُ صَالِحَةً، فَخَيْرٌ تُقَدِّمُونَهَا إلَيْهِ، وَإنْ تَكُ سِوَى ذَلِكَ، فَشَرٌّ تَضَعُونَهُ عَنْ رِقَابِكُمْ. متفق عليه.»
(Hasten with the funeral, for if the deceased was righteous, it is good you are sending him to; and if he was otherwise, it is an evil you are removing from your necks.)
— [Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Jana’iz, Hadith: 1315]
✔ Summary
Hastening a funeral means there should be no undue delay in performing the funeral prayer and burial of the deceased. The Ahadith indicate that for a righteous person, it is better to quickly take them to their destination, while for a non-righteous deceased, it is preferable to quickly remove the burden from one’s shoulders.
