This excerpt is taken from the Arabic book Al-Awamer wal-Nawahi by Sheikh Hussain bin Mubarak Al-Mosuli, whose Urdu translation has been done by Muhammad Sarwar Gohar Sahib under the title Ahkamat o Mamnoaat.
① Abu al-Hayyaj Hayyan bin Haseen Al-Asadi, may Allah have mercy on him, narrates that Sayyiduna Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, said to me: Should I not send you on a task on which the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, also sent me?
أن لا تدع تمثالا إلا طمسته ولا قبرا مشرفا إلا سويته
“Erase every image and statue, and level every high grave.”
Reference: Muslim, Book of Funerals 969. Abu Dawood, Book of Funerals 3218. Tirmidhi, Book of Funerals from the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, 1049.
① Sayyiduna Abu al-Hayyaj Hayyan bin Husain al-Asadi narrates, Sayyiduna Ali رضي الله عنه said: Should I not send you on the task on which the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم sent me? That I should erase every idol and level every elevated grave.
And in another narration: That I should erase every picture.
Reference: Musnad Ahmad, Musnad al-Ashara al-Mubashshara bil-Jannah 1064, 741 verified by Ahmad Shakir. Muslim, Book of Funerals 93/969.
① It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Musa Ash'ari (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
إذا مات ولد العبد قال الله تعالى لملائكته: قبضتم ولد عبدي؟ فيقولون: نعم، فيقول: قبضتم ثمرة فؤاده؟ فيقولون: نعم، فيقول: ماذا قال عبدي؟ فيقولون: حمدك واسترجع، فيقول الله تعالى: ابنوا لعبدي بيتا فى الجنة وسموه بيت الحمد
"When a person's child dies, Allah commands the angels: Have you taken the child of My servant (i.e., caused him to die)? They say: Yes! Then Allah asks: Have you placed your hand on his beloved? They say: Yes! Then He asks: What did My servant say? They say: He praised You and said انا لله وانا إليه راجعون. Then Allah commands: Build a house for My servant and name it 'Bayt al-Hamd' (House of Praise)."
Reference: Tirmidhi, Book of Funerals 1021, its narration is weak, Abu Sinan al-Tamali in its chain is weak.
① It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ibn Umar رضي الله عنهما that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:
اذكروا محاسن موتاكم وكفوا عن مساوئهم
"Speak well of your deceased and refrain from mentioning their faults."
Reference: Abu Dawood, Kitab al-Adab 4900. Tirmidhi 1019, this narration is weak, in its chain is Imran bin Anas al-Makki who is a weak narrator.
② It is narrated from Sayyida Aisha رضي الله عنها that when the deceased were mentioned in bad words in the presence of the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم, he said:
لا تذكروا هلكاكم إلا بخير
"Speak of your deceased in good words."
Reference: Nasa'i 52/4, the narration is authentic.
