❀ A Research-Based Analysis of the Hadith Regarding the Deceased Recognizing Those Who Bury Him ❀
Extracted from: Fatāwā ad-Dīn al-Khāliṣ, Vol. 1, p. 150
In Mirqāt al-Mafātīḥ (4/42), a narration is cited—also reported by Imām Aḥmad, al-Ṭabarānī, Ibn Abī al-Dunyā, al-Marwazī, and Ibn Mandah (رحمهم الله)—which states:
"Abū Saʿīd al-Khudrī (رضي الله عنه) narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said: ‘The deceased recognizes the one who carries him, gives him his shroud, and participates in his burial.’"
Is this ḥadīth authentic, and what is its proper understanding?
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh. Ammā baʿd…
Yes, this narration has been reported by:
◈ Imām Aḥmad رحمه الله in al-Musnad (3/3)
Imām Aḥmad states:
“This narration was reported to us by Abū ʿĀmir → from ʿAbdullāh ibn Ḥasan al-Ḥārithī → from Saʿd ibn ʿUmar ibn Salīm → who said: I heard it from one of our people—ʿAbd al-Malik said: ‘I forgot his name, but it was either Muʿāwiyah or Ibn Muʿāwiyah, and he narrated it from **Abū Saʿīd al-Khudrī (رضي الله عنه).’”
✔ Shaykh al-Albānī رحمه الله declared this ḥadīth ḍaʿīf (weak) in Ḍaʿīf al-Jāmiʿ al-Ṣaghīr (ḥadīth: 1794)
Some people attempt to use this narration as a proof that the dead can know the unseen (ghayb) or hear supplications (duʿāʾ). This is incorrect, as:
✔ The narration is weak, and
✔ It pertains to barzakhī (intermediate) realities which are beyond full human comprehension.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“When the deceased is taken to his grave, if he was righteous, he says: ‘Take me quickly!’
But if he was evil, he says: ‘Woe to me! Where are you taking me?’
Every creature hears his cry except humans. If they were to hear it, they would fall unconscious.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 1338; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 2870; Mishkāt al-Maṣābīḥ: 1/44]
✔ The dead have some level of awareness in the barzakh, but they are not omniscient.
✔ The ability to hear or know is limited, and humans cannot hear their cries.
✔ This does not justify belief in the universal awareness of the deceased or the idea that they hear duʿās or know the identities of all who visit them.
In Majmaʿ al-Zawāʾid (3/21), Imām al-Haythamī رحمه الله states:
“It was narrated by Aḥmad and al-Ṭabarānī in al-Awsaṭ, but in the chain is a narrator whose biography I could not find.”
✔ When a narrator’s biography is unknown, the narration is classified as weak.
◈ The hadith is ḍaʿīf (weak) due to an unknown narrator.
◈ It cannot be used to establish theological points about the deceased hearing or knowing the unseen.
◈ Authentic narrations from Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī and Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim are available that clarify barzakhī realities.
◈ ʿAqīdah (Islamic belief) must be based only on sound narrations, not on weak or questionable reports.
هذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
This is what I hold, and Allah knows best what is correct.
Extracted from: Fatāwā ad-Dīn al-Khāliṣ, Vol. 1, p. 150
❖ Question:
In Mirqāt al-Mafātīḥ (4/42), a narration is cited—also reported by Imām Aḥmad, al-Ṭabarānī, Ibn Abī al-Dunyā, al-Marwazī, and Ibn Mandah (رحمهم الله)—which states:
"Abū Saʿīd al-Khudrī (رضي الله عنه) narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said: ‘The deceased recognizes the one who carries him, gives him his shroud, and participates in his burial.’"
Is this ḥadīth authentic, and what is its proper understanding?
❖ Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh. Ammā baʿd…
Yes, this narration has been reported by:
◈ Imām Aḥmad رحمه الله in al-Musnad (3/3)
Chain of Transmission:
Imām Aḥmad states:
“This narration was reported to us by Abū ʿĀmir → from ʿAbdullāh ibn Ḥasan al-Ḥārithī → from Saʿd ibn ʿUmar ibn Salīm → who said: I heard it from one of our people—ʿAbd al-Malik said: ‘I forgot his name, but it was either Muʿāwiyah or Ibn Muʿāwiyah, and he narrated it from **Abū Saʿīd al-Khudrī (رضي الله عنه).’”
Grading of the Hadith: Weak (Ḍaʿīf)
- There is an unknown narrator (مجهول) in the chain.
- ʿAbd al-Malik himself admits: “I forgot his name.”
- The identity and reliability of the narrator (Muʿāwiyah or Ibn Muʿāwiyah) cannot be confirmed.
✔ Shaykh al-Albānī رحمه الله declared this ḥadīth ḍaʿīf (weak) in Ḍaʿīf al-Jāmiʿ al-Ṣaghīr (ḥadīth: 1794)
Misuse in Theology
Some people attempt to use this narration as a proof that the dead can know the unseen (ghayb) or hear supplications (duʿāʾ). This is incorrect, as:
✔ The narration is weak, and
✔ It pertains to barzakhī (intermediate) realities which are beyond full human comprehension.
What is Authentically Reported About the Dead?
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“When the deceased is taken to his grave, if he was righteous, he says: ‘Take me quickly!’
But if he was evil, he says: ‘Woe to me! Where are you taking me?’
Every creature hears his cry except humans. If they were to hear it, they would fall unconscious.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 1338; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 2870; Mishkāt al-Maṣābīḥ: 1/44]
Commentary:
✔ The dead have some level of awareness in the barzakh, but they are not omniscient.
✔ The ability to hear or know is limited, and humans cannot hear their cries.
✔ This does not justify belief in the universal awareness of the deceased or the idea that they hear duʿās or know the identities of all who visit them.
Mention in Majmaʿ al-Zawāʾid
In Majmaʿ al-Zawāʾid (3/21), Imām al-Haythamī رحمه الله states:
“It was narrated by Aḥmad and al-Ṭabarānī in al-Awsaṭ, but in the chain is a narrator whose biography I could not find.”
✔ When a narrator’s biography is unknown, the narration is classified as weak.
✿ Conclusion:
◈ The hadith is ḍaʿīf (weak) due to an unknown narrator.
◈ It cannot be used to establish theological points about the deceased hearing or knowing the unseen.
◈ Authentic narrations from Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī and Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim are available that clarify barzakhī realities.
◈ ʿAqīdah (Islamic belief) must be based only on sound narrations, not on weak or questionable reports.
هذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
This is what I hold, and Allah knows best what is correct.
