10 Authentic Hadiths Regarding Funeral Preparation and Burial
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Qatadah (RA) that a funeral passed by the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. He said:
"Either he has found rest, or others have found rest from him."
A believing servant finds rest from the grief and hardship of the world and attains peace in the mercy of Allah from the harm he faced. Whereas from a wicked person, people, cities, trees, and animals find relief.
(Bukhari: Kitab al-Riqaq, Bab Sakarat al-Mawt: 2156; Muslim: 950)
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Prompt those who are near death with (لا إله إلا الله)."
(Muslim, Kitab al-Jana’iz, Bab Talqin al-Mawta (La ilaha illa Allah), Hadith 916, 917)
The meaning of this Hadith is that (لا إله إلا الله) should be recited near the dying person so that he may also recite it upon hearing it.
Unfortunately, today the ignorant neglect this Sunnah and instead recite the Shahada while carrying the bier after death, which was not the practice in the time of the Companions (RA).
The Prophet ﷺ also said:
"Whoever’s last words are (لا إله إلا الله) will enter Paradise."
(Abu Dawud, Kitab al-Jana’iz, Bab fi al-Talqin: 3116; authenticated by al-Hakim and al-Dhahabi)
Because he uttered the testimony of faith with fear of Allah, and when Allah’s decree came, it became his last words. May Allah grant us all this blessing. Ameen.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"When you visit a sick person or the deceased, say words of goodness, for whatever you say at that time, the angels say ‘Ameen’ to it."
(Muslim, Kitab al-Jana’iz, Bab Ma Yuqal ‘inda al-Marid wal-Mayyit: 919)
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"None of you should die except while having good expectations from Allah."
(Muslim: Kitab al-Jannah, Bab al-Amr bi Husn al-Dhann bi Allah Ta‘ala ‘inda al-Mawt: 2877)
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Anas (RA) that the Prophet ﷺ visited a young man who was near death and asked him, “How do you feel?” He replied:
"I hope in Allah and I fear my sins."
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"When these two qualities are combined in a servant at this time, Allah grants him what he hopes for and grants him safety from what he fears."
(Ibn Majah: 4261; Tirmidhi: Kitab al-Jana’iz, Bab Ma Ja’a fi al-Tashdid ‘inda al-Mawt: 983)
Umm al-Mu’minin Hafsah (RA) narrates:
"I heard Sayyiduna Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA) supplicating:
اللّٰهُمَّ ارْزُقْنِى شَهَادَةً فِى سَبِيلِكَ وَاجْعَلْ مَوْتِى فِى بَلَدِ رَسُولِكَ
‘O Allah! Grant me martyrdom in Your path and let my death occur in the city of Your Messenger.’"
(Bukhari: Abwab Fadail al-Madinah: 1890)
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"Do not wish for death. If you are righteous, perhaps you will increase in good deeds, and if you are sinful, perhaps you will repent and please Allah."
(Bukhari, Kitab al-Tamanni, Bab Ma Yukrahu min al-Tamanni: 7235)
In another narration, he ﷺ said:
"Do not wish for death nor pray for it, for when a person dies, his hope for doing good ends, and a believer’s long life increases his good deeds."
(Muslim, Kitab al-Dhikr wal-Du‘a, Bab Karahiyat Tamanni al-Mawt: 2682)
Sayyiduna Ibn ‘Umar (RA) said:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ took hold of my shoulder and said:
"Be in this world as though you are a stranger or a traveler on a journey."
Ibn ‘Umar (RA) used to say:
"When evening comes, do not expect to see the morning; and when morning comes, do not expect to see the evening. Take advantage of your health before sickness, and your life before death."
(Bukhari, Kitab al-Riqaq, Bab Qawl al-Nabi ﷺ Kun fi al-Dunya ka’annaka Gharib: 6416)
It is permissible to kiss a close relative after their passing as an expression of love.
The practice of the Prophet ﷺ:
"He kissed Sayyiduna ‘Uthman ibn Maz‘un (RA) after he had passed away, and tears were flowing from his eyes."
(Abu Dawud: Kitab al-Jana’iz, Bab fi Taqbil al-Mayyit: 3123; Tirmidhi: 989)
Likewise:
"Sayyiduna Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (RA) came, uncovered the face of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, leaned over him, and kissed him."
(Bukhari: Kitab al-Jana’iz, Bab al-Dukhul ‘ala al-Mayyit ba‘d al-Mawt idha Adrj fi Kafanih: 1241)
Umm al-Mu’minin ‘A’ishah (RA) said:
"When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ passed away, he was covered with a Yemeni cloth having stripes."
(Bukhari: Kitab al-Jana’iz, Bab al-Dukhul ‘ala al-Mayyit ba‘d al-Mawt: 1241)
This Hadith shows that the deceased should be covered with a cloth, which may be removed if needed.
Ahkam (Rulings) and Fadail (Virtues) of Funeral Rites
The Saying of the Prophet ﷺ Regarding a Funeral
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Qatadah (RA) that a funeral passed by the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. He said:
"Either he has found rest, or others have found rest from him."
A believing servant finds rest from the grief and hardship of the world and attains peace in the mercy of Allah from the harm he faced. Whereas from a wicked person, people, cities, trees, and animals find relief.
(Bukhari: Kitab al-Riqaq, Bab Sakarat al-Mawt: 2156; Muslim: 950)
The Importance of Talqin (Prompting) at the Time of Death
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Prompt those who are near death with (لا إله إلا الله)."
(Muslim, Kitab al-Jana’iz, Bab Talqin al-Mawta (La ilaha illa Allah), Hadith 916, 917)
The meaning of this Hadith is that (لا إله إلا الله) should be recited near the dying person so that he may also recite it upon hearing it.
Unfortunately, today the ignorant neglect this Sunnah and instead recite the Shahada while carrying the bier after death, which was not the practice in the time of the Companions (RA).
The Prophet ﷺ also said:
"Whoever’s last words are (لا إله إلا الله) will enter Paradise."
(Abu Dawud, Kitab al-Jana’iz, Bab fi al-Talqin: 3116; authenticated by al-Hakim and al-Dhahabi)
Because he uttered the testimony of faith with fear of Allah, and when Allah’s decree came, it became his last words. May Allah grant us all this blessing. Ameen.
Supplication and Words of Goodness Near the Sick or Deceased
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"When you visit a sick person or the deceased, say words of goodness, for whatever you say at that time, the angels say ‘Ameen’ to it."
(Muslim, Kitab al-Jana’iz, Bab Ma Yuqal ‘inda al-Marid wal-Mayyit: 919)
Death with Good Expectation from Allah
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"None of you should die except while having good expectations from Allah."
(Muslim: Kitab al-Jannah, Bab al-Amr bi Husn al-Dhann bi Allah Ta‘ala ‘inda al-Mawt: 2877)
Combination of Hope and Fear
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Anas (RA) that the Prophet ﷺ visited a young man who was near death and asked him, “How do you feel?” He replied:
"I hope in Allah and I fear my sins."
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"When these two qualities are combined in a servant at this time, Allah grants him what he hopes for and grants him safety from what he fears."
(Ibn Majah: 4261; Tirmidhi: Kitab al-Jana’iz, Bab Ma Ja’a fi al-Tashdid ‘inda al-Mawt: 983)
Desiring Death in Makkah or Madinah
Umm al-Mu’minin Hafsah (RA) narrates:
"I heard Sayyiduna Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA) supplicating:
اللّٰهُمَّ ارْزُقْنِى شَهَادَةً فِى سَبِيلِكَ وَاجْعَلْ مَوْتِى فِى بَلَدِ رَسُولِكَ
‘O Allah! Grant me martyrdom in Your path and let my death occur in the city of Your Messenger.’"
(Bukhari: Abwab Fadail al-Madinah: 1890)
Prohibition of Wishing for Death
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"Do not wish for death. If you are righteous, perhaps you will increase in good deeds, and if you are sinful, perhaps you will repent and please Allah."
(Bukhari, Kitab al-Tamanni, Bab Ma Yukrahu min al-Tamanni: 7235)
In another narration, he ﷺ said:
"Do not wish for death nor pray for it, for when a person dies, his hope for doing good ends, and a believer’s long life increases his good deeds."
(Muslim, Kitab al-Dhikr wal-Du‘a, Bab Karahiyat Tamanni al-Mawt: 2682)
Living Like a Traveler in This World
Sayyiduna Ibn ‘Umar (RA) said:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ took hold of my shoulder and said:
"Be in this world as though you are a stranger or a traveler on a journey."
Ibn ‘Umar (RA) used to say:
"When evening comes, do not expect to see the morning; and when morning comes, do not expect to see the evening. Take advantage of your health before sickness, and your life before death."
(Bukhari, Kitab al-Riqaq, Bab Qawl al-Nabi ﷺ Kun fi al-Dunya ka’annaka Gharib: 6416)
Kissing the Deceased
It is permissible to kiss a close relative after their passing as an expression of love.
The practice of the Prophet ﷺ:
"He kissed Sayyiduna ‘Uthman ibn Maz‘un (RA) after he had passed away, and tears were flowing from his eyes."
(Abu Dawud: Kitab al-Jana’iz, Bab fi Taqbil al-Mayyit: 3123; Tirmidhi: 989)
Likewise:
"Sayyiduna Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (RA) came, uncovered the face of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, leaned over him, and kissed him."
(Bukhari: Kitab al-Jana’iz, Bab al-Dukhul ‘ala al-Mayyit ba‘d al-Mawt idha Adrj fi Kafanih: 1241)
Covering the Deceased with a Cloth
Umm al-Mu’minin ‘A’ishah (RA) said:
"When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ passed away, he was covered with a Yemeni cloth having stripes."
(Bukhari: Kitab al-Jana’iz, Bab al-Dukhul ‘ala al-Mayyit ba‘d al-Mawt: 1241)
This Hadith shows that the deceased should be covered with a cloth, which may be removed if needed.
