Authored by: Shaykh Mubashir Ahmad Rabbani (Hafizahullah)
Uthman ibn Affan (رضي الله عنه) narrated that when the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) completed the burial of a deceased person, he would say:
"Seek forgiveness for your brother and supplicate for his steadfastness, for he is now being questioned."
[Sunan Abu Dawood, Hadith No. 3221 | Al-Mustadrak by Al-Hakim 1/370 | Al-Bayhaqi 4/56]
Explaining this Hadith, Shams-ul-Haq Azimabadi (رحمه الله) stated:
"This Hadith establishes the permissibility of making du'a for the deceased after burial and asking Allah to grant them steadfastness, as they are being questioned at that moment."
[Awn al-Ma'bood, Vol. 3, Pg. 209]
From this authentic Hadith, we understand that after burial, praying for the deceased's forgiveness is a Sunnah practice. However, instructing (Talqeen) the deceased to recite the Kalimah or prompting them for the answers of the grave has no basis in any authentic Hadith.
"When one of you dies and the soil is leveled over him, let someone stand at the head of the grave and say: ‘O so-and-so, son of so-and-so, remember what you departed upon: the testimony that there is no god but Allah, and that Muhammad is His Messenger.’"
However, this narration has been classified as weak by several scholars:
Imam Al-Haythami (رحمه الله): "This narration contains a group of narrators whom I do not recognize." [Majma' al-Zawaid, Vol. 3, Pg. 48]
Imam Ibn Qayyim (رحمه الله): "This Hadith is not proven as an authentic report from the Prophet (ﷺ)." [Zad al-Ma'ad, Vol. 1, Pg. 523]
Imam Al-San'ani (رحمه الله): "Scholars have deemed this narration as weak, and acting upon it is an innovation (Bid'ah). Do not be deceived by those who follow this practice in large numbers." [Subul al-Salam, Vol. 2, Pg. 773]
Imam Al-Nawawi (رحمه الله) and Hafiz Al-Iraqi (رحمه الله) also declared this Hadith weak.
Shaykh Al-Albani (رحمه الله) classified it as Munkar (denounced and unreliable). [Silsilat al-Ahadith al-Da'ifah, Vol. 2, Hadith No. 64, 599]
Thus, this narration cannot be used as evidence to support the practice of instructing the deceased after burial.
"Instruct your dying ones (موتاكم) to say: La ilaha illa Allah."
[Sahih Muslim, Book of Funerals, Hadith No. 916]
This Hadith is often misquoted to justify the practice of reciting Talqeen after burial. However, its correct meaning is explained in Sahih Ibn Hibban (Hadith No. 719, Al-Mawarid):
The instruction (Talqeen) mentioned in the Hadith refers to the time when a person is near death.
The purpose is to help the dying person utter the Kalimah before their last breath, so their final words are "La ilaha illa Allah", ensuring their entry into Jannah.
It does not mean to instruct the deceased after burial.
The Prophet (ﷺ) himself practiced Talqeen by prompting a dying man to say "La ilaha illa Allah":
Anas (رضي الله عنه) reported: "The Prophet (ﷺ) visited a man from Banu Najjar who was dying and said to him: 'Say La ilaha illa Allah.' The man asked: 'Is it good for me to say it?' The Prophet (ﷺ) replied: 'Yes.'"
[Musnad Ahmad, Vol. 3, Pg. 152]
(Classified as authentic according to the conditions of Sahih Muslim.)
Thus, the Sunnah is to prompt a person to recite the Kalimah while they are still alive, not after they have passed away.
Fatawa Alamgiri states:
"Talqeen should be done before the soul departs, not after death. The practice of instructing the deceased at the grave is not supported by authentic reports." [Fatawa Alamgiri, Vol. 1, Pg. 157]
Allama Aini Al-Hanafi (رحمه الله) explains:
"The purpose of Talqeen is to ensure that the last words of the dying person are the Kalimah. This cannot be achieved by instructing the deceased in the grave, as the Prophet (ﷺ) said: ‘Whoever's last words are La ilaha illa Allah will enter Jannah.’ This is why Talqeen after burial is not permissible." [Al-Binayah fi Sharh al-Hidayah, Vol. 3, Pg. 207]
Imam Al-Kasani (رحمه الله) further clarifies:
"Talqeen is for the dying person, as they are in their final moments. The deceased cannot benefit from being instructed after death." [Bada'i as-Sana'i, Vol. 1, Pg. 443]
The only proven Sunnah after burial is to supplicate for the deceased's forgiveness and steadfastness in the grave.
Misinterpreting the Hadith on Talqeen leads to an innovation (Bid'ah) that has no basis in Islam.
Even the Hanafi scholars do not support this practice, making it incorrect to attribute Talqeen after burial to any school of thought.
Therefore, Muslims should avoid this practice and adhere strictly to the Sunnah as demonstrated by the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) and his Companions.
May Allah grant us the ability to follow the authentic teachings of Islam and guide us towards righteous deeds that are based on the Qur’an and Sunnah. (Ameen!)
Question:
Is it proven from any authentic Hadith that the deceased should be instructed (Talqeen) to recite the Kalimah after death? Kindly provide a detailed explanation.Answer:
When a believing Muslim passes away and is buried, it is Sunnah to supplicate for their ease in the questioning of the grave and steadfastness. This was the practice of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) and his companions.Uthman ibn Affan (رضي الله عنه) narrated that when the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) completed the burial of a deceased person, he would say:
"Seek forgiveness for your brother and supplicate for his steadfastness, for he is now being questioned."
[Sunan Abu Dawood, Hadith No. 3221 | Al-Mustadrak by Al-Hakim 1/370 | Al-Bayhaqi 4/56]
Explaining this Hadith, Shams-ul-Haq Azimabadi (رحمه الله) stated:
"This Hadith establishes the permissibility of making du'a for the deceased after burial and asking Allah to grant them steadfastness, as they are being questioned at that moment."
[Awn al-Ma'bood, Vol. 3, Pg. 209]
From this authentic Hadith, we understand that after burial, praying for the deceased's forgiveness is a Sunnah practice. However, instructing (Talqeen) the deceased to recite the Kalimah or prompting them for the answers of the grave has no basis in any authentic Hadith.
Is Talqeen After Burial Proven?
Some people refer to a weak narration from Abu Umamah (رضي الله عنه) to support the practice of instructing the deceased in the grave. The narration states that the Prophet (ﷺ) allegedly said:"When one of you dies and the soil is leveled over him, let someone stand at the head of the grave and say: ‘O so-and-so, son of so-and-so, remember what you departed upon: the testimony that there is no god but Allah, and that Muhammad is His Messenger.’"
However, this narration has been classified as weak by several scholars:
Imam Al-Haythami (رحمه الله): "This narration contains a group of narrators whom I do not recognize." [Majma' al-Zawaid, Vol. 3, Pg. 48]
Imam Ibn Qayyim (رحمه الله): "This Hadith is not proven as an authentic report from the Prophet (ﷺ)." [Zad al-Ma'ad, Vol. 1, Pg. 523]
Imam Al-San'ani (رحمه الله): "Scholars have deemed this narration as weak, and acting upon it is an innovation (Bid'ah). Do not be deceived by those who follow this practice in large numbers." [Subul al-Salam, Vol. 2, Pg. 773]
Imam Al-Nawawi (رحمه الله) and Hafiz Al-Iraqi (رحمه الله) also declared this Hadith weak.
Shaykh Al-Albani (رحمه الله) classified it as Munkar (denounced and unreliable). [Silsilat al-Ahadith al-Da'ifah, Vol. 2, Hadith No. 64, 599]
Thus, this narration cannot be used as evidence to support the practice of instructing the deceased after burial.
Misinterpretation of the Hadith on Talqeen
Some people misinterpret the following Hadith of the Prophet (ﷺ):"Instruct your dying ones (موتاكم) to say: La ilaha illa Allah."
[Sahih Muslim, Book of Funerals, Hadith No. 916]
This Hadith is often misquoted to justify the practice of reciting Talqeen after burial. However, its correct meaning is explained in Sahih Ibn Hibban (Hadith No. 719, Al-Mawarid):
The instruction (Talqeen) mentioned in the Hadith refers to the time when a person is near death.
The purpose is to help the dying person utter the Kalimah before their last breath, so their final words are "La ilaha illa Allah", ensuring their entry into Jannah.
It does not mean to instruct the deceased after burial.
The Prophet (ﷺ) himself practiced Talqeen by prompting a dying man to say "La ilaha illa Allah":
Anas (رضي الله عنه) reported: "The Prophet (ﷺ) visited a man from Banu Najjar who was dying and said to him: 'Say La ilaha illa Allah.' The man asked: 'Is it good for me to say it?' The Prophet (ﷺ) replied: 'Yes.'"
[Musnad Ahmad, Vol. 3, Pg. 152]
(Classified as authentic according to the conditions of Sahih Muslim.)
Thus, the Sunnah is to prompt a person to recite the Kalimah while they are still alive, not after they have passed away.
The Hanafi Position on Talqeen After Death
Interestingly, even the Hanafi school of thought does not endorse this practice.Fatawa Alamgiri states:
"Talqeen should be done before the soul departs, not after death. The practice of instructing the deceased at the grave is not supported by authentic reports." [Fatawa Alamgiri, Vol. 1, Pg. 157]
Allama Aini Al-Hanafi (رحمه الله) explains:
"The purpose of Talqeen is to ensure that the last words of the dying person are the Kalimah. This cannot be achieved by instructing the deceased in the grave, as the Prophet (ﷺ) said: ‘Whoever's last words are La ilaha illa Allah will enter Jannah.’ This is why Talqeen after burial is not permissible." [Al-Binayah fi Sharh al-Hidayah, Vol. 3, Pg. 207]
Imam Al-Kasani (رحمه الله) further clarifies:
"Talqeen is for the dying person, as they are in their final moments. The deceased cannot benefit from being instructed after death." [Bada'i as-Sana'i, Vol. 1, Pg. 443]
Conclusion:
Talqeen after burial (instructing the deceased to recite the Kalimah) is not proven from any authentic Hadith.The only proven Sunnah after burial is to supplicate for the deceased's forgiveness and steadfastness in the grave.
Misinterpreting the Hadith on Talqeen leads to an innovation (Bid'ah) that has no basis in Islam.
Even the Hanafi scholars do not support this practice, making it incorrect to attribute Talqeen after burial to any school of thought.
Therefore, Muslims should avoid this practice and adhere strictly to the Sunnah as demonstrated by the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) and his Companions.
May Allah grant us the ability to follow the authentic teachings of Islam and guide us towards righteous deeds that are based on the Qur’an and Sunnah. (Ameen!)