Funerals

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رضي الله عنه أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «حَقُّ الْمُسْلِمِ عَلَى الْمُسْلِمِ سِتٌّ» قِيلَ: مَا هُنَّ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ؟، قَالَ: «إِذَا لَقِيتَهُ فَسَلِّمْ عَلَيْهِ، وَإِذَا دَعَاكَ فَأَجِبْهُ، وَإِذَا اسْتَنْصَحَكَ فَانْصَحْ لَهُ، وَإِذَا عَطَسَ فَحَمِدَ اللهَ فَسَمِّتْهُ، وَإِذَا مَرِضَ فَعُدْهُ وَإِذَا مَاتَ فَاتَّبِعْهُ».

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) clarified that a Muslim owes his fellow Muslim six things: First: To greet him with peace upon meeting him by saying: Peace be upon you, and he should return the greeting by saying: And may peace be upon you. Second: To accept his invitation when he invites you to a banquet or any other occasion. Third: To give him advice when he asks for it without flattering or cheating him. Fourth: When he sneezes and says: Alhamdu lillah (praise be to Allah), say Tashmīt to him by saying: Yarhamuka Allah (may Allah have mercy upon you); and he should reply by saying: Yahdīkum Allah was yuslih bālakum (may Allah guide you and set your affairs right). Fifth: To visit him and check on him when he is sick. Sixth: To pray over him when he dies and follow his funeral until he is buried.

• Ash-Shawkāni said: What is meant by (The Muslim's right) is that it should not be neglected, and fulfilling it is either obligatory or firmly recommended in such a way that makes it similar to the obligation that must not be neglected.
• Responding to a greeting of peace is an individual obligation if the greeting is directed at a single person, and if directed at a group, it suffices if one of them responds. As for initiating the greeting of peace, it is basically an act of Sunnah.
• One of the Muslim’s rights over his fellow Muslims is to visit him when he is sick, as it brings joy and comfort to his heart and is considered a communal obligation.
• It is obligatory to respond to an invitation unless it involves a sin. If the invitation is to a wedding banquet, the majority hold that it is obligatory to respond unless there is a valid excuse under the Shariah. However, if the invitation is for something other than a wedding banquet, the majority consider it recommended.
• Saying Tashmīt to the sneezer is obligatory upon whoever hears him praising Allah.
• The perfection of the Shariah and its emphasis on strengthening the bonds of society and faith, as well as the ties of love among its members.
• (Say Tasmīt to him) and in some versions "Tashmīt" with "s" and with "sh": a supplication for goodness and blessing. It was said that "Tashmīt" means: May Allah keep you away from gloating and protect you from what may cause your enemy to rejoice over you. "Tasmīt" means: may Allah guide you to the straight path.

صحيح مسلم (4/ 1705) (2162). منحة العلام في شرح بلوغ المرام، لعبد الله الفوزان (10/ 7). توضيح الأحكام من بلوغ المرام، للبسام (3/ 128). بهجة الناظرين شرح رياض الصالحين، لسليم الهلالي (1/ 327).

عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه عن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: «مَنْ شهدَ الْجَنَازَةَ حتى يصلَّى عليها فله قِيرَاطٌ، ومن شهدها حتى تُدفن فله قِيرَاطان، قيل: وما القِيرَاطَانِ؟ قال: مثل الجبلين العظيمين». ولمسلم: «أصغرهما مثل أُحُدٍ».

Allah, the Almighty, is kind towards His slaves and He wills to facilitate for them the means of forgiveness. Hence, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) urged us to join the funeral procession and prayer, for this is a type of intercession that leads to mercy. Allah, the Almighty, has made the reward of whoever attends the funeral prayer equal to one Qirāt, and whoever attends the funeral till burial another Qirāt of reward. Such is a great reward whose specific amount is known to our Lord. Since the Companions (may Allah be pleased with him) had no knowledge about how much this reward was, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) tried to bring it closer to their understanding, stating that each Qirāt is like a huge mountain. Such an act entails a great reward because it involves the fulfillment of the rights of one's fellow Muslims, supplication for them, a reminder of death and the Hereafter, giving solace and comfort to the relatives of the deceased, as well as other benefits.

تيسير العلام، للبسام، الناشر: مكتبة الصحابة، الإمارات - مكتبة التابعين، القاهرة، الطبعة العاشرة، 1426 هـ - 2006 م. تنبيه الأفهام، للعثيمين، طبعة مكتبة الصحابة، الإمارات، مكتبة التابعين، القاهرة، الطبعة الأولى 1426هـ. صحيح البخاري، لأبي عبد الله محمد بن إسماعيل البخاري، تحقيق: محمد زهير بن ناصر الناصر، الناشر: دار طوق النجاة، الطبعة الأولى 1422هـ. صحيح مسلم، المحقق: محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي، الناشر: دار إحياء التراث العربي – بيروت. تأسيس الأحكام، لأحمد بن يحيى النجمي- دار المنهاج- القاهرة- مصر -الطبعة الأولى. عمدة الأحكام من كلام خير الأنام صلى الله عليه وسلم، لعبد الغني المقدسي، دراسة وتحقيق: محمود الأرناؤوط، مراجعة وتقديم: عبد القادر الأرناؤوط، (ط2).