Encouragement to Hasten with the Funeral Procession
✍ Written by: Imran Ayyub Lahori
Islam encourages that the funeral procession be conducted swiftly. This is rooted in the Sunnah and reflects respect for the deceased and the solemnity of the moment.
➊ Narrated by Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه, the Prophet ﷺ said:
أسرعوا بالجنازة
"Hasten with the funeral."
For if the deceased was righteous, then you are bringing him closer to goodness, and if he was otherwise, then you are removing an evil from your shoulders.
[Bukhārī: 1315; Kitāb al-Janā’iz: Bāb al-Surʿah bil-Janāzah, Muslim: 944, Abū Dāwūd: 3181, Tirmidhī: 1015, Nasā’ī: 4/42, Ibn Mājah: 1477, Aḥmad: 2/240]
➋ In the narration from Abū Bakrah رضي الله عنه:
ونحن مع رسول الله نرمل رملا
"We used to walk briskly with the funeral alongside the Messenger of Allah ﷺ."
[Ṣaḥīḥ: Ṣaḥīḥ Abū Dāwūd: 2725, Abū Dāwūd: 3182, Aḥmad: 5/36, Nasā’ī: 4/42, Ḥākim: 1/355]
➌ Abū Mūsā al-Ashʿarī رضي الله عنه said in his will:
إذا انطلقتم بجنازتي فأسرعوا في المشي
"When you carry my funeral, walk quickly with it."
[Bayhaqī: 4/22]
➍ The narration stating that the Prophet ﷺ saw people hurrying with a funeral and said:
لتكن عليكم السكينة
"Let there be calmness upon you"
— is weak.
[Ḍaʿīf: Ibn Mājah: 1479, Aḥmad: 4/403, Bayhaqī: 2224, Misbāḥ al-Zujājah: 1/481]
➎ Similarly, the narration where the Prophet ﷺ is said to have instructed:
مادون الحبب
"A pace just below running" — is also weak.
[Ḍaʿīf: Abū Dāwūd: 3184, Tirmidhī: 1011, Ibn Mājah: 1484, Bayhaqī: 4/22, Aḥmad: 1/432]
✔ Majority of scholars (Jumhūr) agree:
Hastening the funeral is mustaḥabb (recommended).
[Al-Rawḍah al-Nadiyyah: 1/428]
✔ Imām Ibn Ḥajar رحمه الله preferred this view.
[Fatḥ al-Bārī: 3/539]
✔ Imām Nawawī رحمه الله stated:
There is consensus among scholars that hastening the funeral is recommended, unless there is risk of harm to the deceased (e.g. due to excessive speed or rough transport).
[Al-Majmūʿ: 5/271]
✔ Ibn Ḥazm رحمه الله held the opinion that it is wājib (obligatory).
[Al-Muḥallā: 5/154]
✔ Shaykh al-Albānī رحمه الله also preferred the view of obligation.
[Ahkām al-Janā’iz: p. 94]
✔ Hastening with the funeral is part of the Prophetic Sunnah and a sign of honoring the deceased.
✔ Most scholars consider it recommended, while others hold it to be obligatory.
✔ This haste should be done with dignity, without disturbing the body, and in line with Islamic etiquette.
✍ Written by: Imran Ayyub Lahori
❖ The Funeral Should Be Taken Quickly for Burial
Islam encourages that the funeral procession be conducted swiftly. This is rooted in the Sunnah and reflects respect for the deceased and the solemnity of the moment.
◈ Clear Instruction from the Prophet ﷺ:
➊ Narrated by Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه, the Prophet ﷺ said:
أسرعوا بالجنازة
"Hasten with the funeral."
For if the deceased was righteous, then you are bringing him closer to goodness, and if he was otherwise, then you are removing an evil from your shoulders.
[Bukhārī: 1315; Kitāb al-Janā’iz: Bāb al-Surʿah bil-Janāzah, Muslim: 944, Abū Dāwūd: 3181, Tirmidhī: 1015, Nasā’ī: 4/42, Ibn Mājah: 1477, Aḥmad: 2/240]◈ Practice of the Companions:
➋ In the narration from Abū Bakrah رضي الله عنه:
ونحن مع رسول الله نرمل رملا
"We used to walk briskly with the funeral alongside the Messenger of Allah ﷺ."
[Ṣaḥīḥ: Ṣaḥīḥ Abū Dāwūd: 2725, Abū Dāwūd: 3182, Aḥmad: 5/36, Nasā’ī: 4/42, Ḥākim: 1/355]➌ Abū Mūsā al-Ashʿarī رضي الله عنه said in his will:
إذا انطلقتم بجنازتي فأسرعوا في المشي
"When you carry my funeral, walk quickly with it."
[Bayhaqī: 4/22]◈ Weak Narrations Do Not Contradict This Principle:
➍ The narration stating that the Prophet ﷺ saw people hurrying with a funeral and said:
لتكن عليكم السكينة
"Let there be calmness upon you"
— is weak.
[Ḍaʿīf: Ibn Mājah: 1479, Aḥmad: 4/403, Bayhaqī: 2224, Misbāḥ al-Zujājah: 1/481]➎ Similarly, the narration where the Prophet ﷺ is said to have instructed:
مادون الحبب
"A pace just below running" — is also weak.
[Ḍaʿīf: Abū Dāwūd: 3184, Tirmidhī: 1011, Ibn Mājah: 1484, Bayhaqī: 4/22, Aḥmad: 1/432]◈ Scholarly Opinions:
✔ Majority of scholars (Jumhūr) agree:
Hastening the funeral is mustaḥabb (recommended).
[Al-Rawḍah al-Nadiyyah: 1/428]✔ Imām Ibn Ḥajar رحمه الله preferred this view.
[Fatḥ al-Bārī: 3/539]✔ Imām Nawawī رحمه الله stated:
There is consensus among scholars that hastening the funeral is recommended, unless there is risk of harm to the deceased (e.g. due to excessive speed or rough transport).
[Al-Majmūʿ: 5/271]✔ Ibn Ḥazm رحمه الله held the opinion that it is wājib (obligatory).
[Al-Muḥallā: 5/154]✔ Shaykh al-Albānī رحمه الله also preferred the view of obligation.
[Ahkām al-Janā’iz: p. 94]
Conclusion
✔ Hastening with the funeral is part of the Prophetic Sunnah and a sign of honoring the deceased.
✔ Most scholars consider it recommended, while others hold it to be obligatory.
✔ This haste should be done with dignity, without disturbing the body, and in line with Islamic etiquette.
