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What to do at the time of death?
Any Muslim who is near death is placed on their right side so that their face is turned towards Qiblah. Those present recite Kalimah Al Shahâdah and read Sûrah Yâsîn.
After death, the chin is held up with a piece of cloth tied from over the head. Then the eyes are closed and the hands are stretched out on each side. A piece of metal is put on the abdomen to prevent swelling. No one recites the Noble Qur’ân near the dead person until the Ghusl bath has been given. When the dead person is to be bathed, the body is laid on the washing bench in such a way that the feet should be turned towards Qiblah. Then the clothes are removed without uncovering the private parts and the body is bathed with lukewarm water.
If the dead (mayyit) was a person liable for performing Salâh, the person bathing the corpse cleanses the private parts with a piece of cloth, without uncovering them. The dead person should be given Wudhû without letting any water into the mouth and nostrils. However, if it is known that the dead person was in the state of Janâbah (major legal impurity), water is put into both the mouth and nostrils. If not, it is enough just to wipe the inner parts of the lips, the teeth, the nostrils and the navel.
The head and the beard is washed with soap and water. However, the hair is not combed. Then the corpse s placed on the left side and the right side is washed and then it is placed on the right side to wash the left side. Then the person bathing the corpse raises the upper body up, leaning it against himself and rubs the abdomen. If any excrement comes out, it is cleansed without any need for
renewing Wudhû. Lastly, the corpse is dried with a clean piece of cloth and wrapped in the shroud.
KAFAN (THE SHROUD)
Kafan (the shroud) is a long piece of cloth that the corpse is covered and buried within.
The shroud for males consists of three pieces: Al-Qamis, Al-Idhâr and Al-Lifafah. As for females, it has two additional pieces (i.e. in addition to those described above): A head wrapper to cover the head and the face and a cloth for wrapping the breasts.
If there is insufficient cloth for a full shroud, then merely Al-Idhâr and Al-Lifafah will be enough for males while Al-Idhâr and Al-Lifafah and the head-cover will be enough for females. If this is not available, any length of cloth may be used. White cotton cloth is preferable to other materials.
How to Shroud the body?
Qamis is a loose, sleeveless shirt, which covers the body from the base of the neck to the feet. Ithar covers the body from the head to the feet. With Lifafah, the whole body is wrapped and then the upper and the lower ends are tied.
A corpse is covered from neck to feet with Qamis, which is a loose and sleeveless shirt, and from head to feet with Ithar. Then it is wrapped in Lifafah from head to feet again and the two ends are tied. The left side of the shroud is folded over the right one.
In females, the shroud is five pieces. Apart from the abovementioned three pieces, it is the veil put over Qamis and a piece of cloth to cover the breasts.
SALAH AL-JANAZAH (FUNERAL PRAYER)
Janâzah Salâh (funeral prayer) is a dua (supplication) for the deceased Muslim, which is Fardh Al-Kifâyah (collective obligation), for the Muslims in the society.
The conditions required for the performance of Janâzah Salâh are as follows:
1- The deceased must be a Muslim. Thus, no Janâzah Salâh (funeral prayer) is performed over one who is not known to be a Muslim,
2- The deceased must be given Ghusl bath and wrapped in a clean shroud,
3- The body is to be placed before the imâm and the congregation,
4- The entire body or the major part of the corpse must be present. If the greater part of the body is missing or the greater part is present while the head is not, it is not washed, nor is the Salâh performed. The corpse should
just be wrapped in a shroud and buried.
How to Perform Funeral Prayer? HOW TO PRAY THE SALÂH AL-JANÂZAH
Janâzah Salâh (funeral prayer) is performed with four Takbîr in Qiyâm (standing position). There is no Sajdah or Rukû’ in it.
The imâm stands in line with the chest of the body and the Jamâ’ah (congregation) line up behind him. Then the congregation is informed whether the deceased is a male or female, in order that the Niyyah (intention) is made accordingly:
"I intend to perform the Janazah Salâh to make Dua (Supplication) for the deceased, male or female, and to follow the present imâm”.
Thereafter one says Takbîr "Allâhu Akbar” after the imâm. At the saying of the first Takbîr, the hands are lifted up to the ears and then clasped below the navel. Then one recites the dua of "Subhanaka” (Thana) in which is included the expression of "wa jalla thanâ’uka” before the last phrase of “wa-la ilâha-ghairuk”.
After this, one says the second Takbîr after the imâm without raising the hands. These Takbîr are said aloud by the imâm and silently by the congregation. After the second Takbîr, the imâm and the congregation recite the Salawât of "Allâhumma salli” and "Allâhumma bârik”.
After this, a third Takbîr is said and the "Janazâh Dua” (Funeral Supplication) is recited by everyone.
Those who do not know this dua may recite the "Supplication of Qunût” or Sûrah Al-Fâtihah with an aim to supplicate for the deceased.
Lastly, a fourth Takbîr is said and Janâzah Salâh is completed by releasing the hands to the sides, and the Salâm is given.
THE JANAZÂH DUA TO READ IN THE THIRD TAKBÎR
If the deceased is a boy, the above dua is recited, after “...ala’l-îmâni...” as follows: “Allâhumma-j’alhu lanâ faratan waj’alhu lanâ ajran wa dhuhrâ. Allâhumma-j’alhu lanâ shâfi’an wa mushaffa’an”.
If the deceased is a girl, it is as follows: “Allâhumm’aj- alhâ lanâ faratan wa’j-alhâ lanâ ajran wa dhuhrâ. Allâhumma-j ‘alhâ lanâ shâfi’atan wa mushaffa’atan”.
33 If the deceased is a female, this is recited as “hâdhihil mayyita”
34 If the deceased is a female, this is recited as "wa in kânat muhsinatan fa-zid fî-ihsanihâ, wa in kânat musî'atan fa-tajâwaz an-hâ wa laq'qihal amna.."
35 Translation: "O Allâh ! Grant Your Forgiveness on our living ones, our dead ones, those of us that are present and those that are absent, our elders and our minors, our male and the female. O, Rabb (Lord)! Make the ones whom you keep alive from amongst us live on Islâm. And let the one whom you cause to die from amongst us die with Îmân (belief). Especially make this mayyit (deceased) attain contentment, comfort, forgiveness and Your Divine Pleasure. O Rabb (Lord)! If this deceased is of the pious, increase his/her goodness and if s/he is said to be of the useless, forgive him/her, and grant him/her security, good tidings, and generosity through Your Divine Mercy, Oh the Most Merciful and Compassionate!”
IMPORTANT REMINDERS
1. In the fourth Takbîr of the Janâzah Salâh, it is a wrong practise to give the Salâm either by not releasing both hands to the sides, or releasing the right hand while giving Salâm to the right and releasing the left hand while giving Salâm to the left. The correct practise is to release both hands at the recitation of the fourth Takbîr and then give the Salâm. (Durar, volume: 1, page: 53).
2. Whenever the imâm says the Takbîr, some people in the congregation raise up their heads, which is also incorrect.
3. If the place where Janâzah Salâh is performed or one’s shoes are not clean, one should take the shoes off and stand on them.
THE GRAVE AND THE BURIAL
It is a Sunnah act to carry the coffin after the Janâzah Salâh. One should carry the coffin holding from each corner, firstly on the right shoulder in the front, then the right shoulder in the rear, then the left shoulder in the front and finally the left shoulder in the rear, each time walking for ten steps. The coffin is to be carried swiftly but without shaking the corpse. It is Makrûh (disliked) to engage in dhikrullah (remembrance of Allah) while walking behind the coffin as well as to sit down before the coffin is put down.
The grave is to be dug to the depth of half the height of a person and wide and long enough for the corpse to fit in. It is better to dig the grave even deeper. At the completion of the digging process, a "Lahd” is made if the soil is hard; that means a niche is made at the bottom of the grave on that side of the grave that is towards the direction of the Qiblah in which the body is placed. The dead body is lowered into the grave from the direction of the Qiblah. The person placing the body in the grave places it on its right shoulder making it face the Qiblah. Meanwhile he recites the following: “Bismillâhi wa alâ millati Rasûlillâhi”.
Then the knots of the shroud on the head and the feet are untied. Mud bricks or wooden planks are placed over the lahd so that no soil will spill over the body. Thereafter, the grave is filled with soil. The outer side of the grave is shaped like a camelback at the height of a span, provided that it is from the soil of the grave. A grave cannot be long or square-shaped.
It is not objectionable to inscribe a piece of stone to put on the grave in case the trace of the gravesite should disappear. It is Makrûh to bury a corpse inside a house, for this practice is particular to the prophets عليهــم الســام only. It is not permissible to bury a corpse in a place taken by force from the landowner.
The duration of condolences to the family and relatives of a dead person is three days. Thereafter, it is Makrûh (disliked).
Khatim of Kalimah Al-Tawhîd and Khatim of Qur’ân Al-Karîm should be made and presented to the soul of the dead person. These kinds of khatims have a great reward and benefit for the deceased. Similarly, the family members should give some Sadaqah (charity) and treat the poor on behalf of the deceased.
QUESTIONS IN THE GRAVE AND THEIR ANSWERS
When a dead person is buried, two angels approach them and ask questions about their Rabb (Lord), Din (religion), Prophet and book. Allâh تعالــى enables the one who has Îman (faith), obedience and good deeds to reply easily to the questions of the angels. In this way, they are capable of replying to the angel’s questions. But, unbelievers and rebellious people shall be paralyzed at
the sight of the Al-Munkar and Al-Nakîr (two questioning angels) and will fail to reply to the questions.
Thereafter, these angels convey the good tidings of Jannah (Paradise) to the Muslims who are able to answer the questions and from that on their grave is made one of the gardens of Paradise.
As for the unbelievers and major sinners who fail to reply to the angels, they will be said: "Disgrace on you”, and immediately their grave is made a pit from the Hell.
QUESTIONS IN THE GRAVE AND THEIR ANSWERS
-Who is your Rabb (Lord)?
- My Rabb is Allâh تعالى.
- What is your Dîn (religion)?
- My Dîn is Islâm.
- Who is your Nabî (Prophet)?
- My Nabî is Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم
- What is your kitâb (book)?
- My kitâb is the Glorious Qur’ân.
- What is your qiblah?
- My qiblah is the Holy Ka’bah.
Visiting the Graves
It is Mandûb (recommended) for both men and women to visit the graves. During a visit to a grave, one recites Sûrah Al-Fâtihah once and Sûrah Al-lkhlas eleven times as a gift to the deceased. It is recommended to read Sûrah Yâsîn Al-Sharîf and Sûrah Al-Takathur ("Alhaku- muttakâthur”).
It is not Makrûh (disliked) to sit on a grave to recite the Noble Qur’ân. However, it is Makrûh to sit on it for any reason other than reciting the Noble Qur’ân, such as to sleep on it or to dirty it. If there be a dire necessity to walk upon the graves, one may do so after one has recited Sûrah Al-Fâtihah once and Sûrah Al-lkhlas eleven times as a gift to the souls of the Muslims resting in the cemetery.
It is Makrûh (disliked) to uproot grass or cut down trees in a cemetery, for they are means of amends (Kaffarah) for the sins of the deceased Muslims as long as they are green. There is no harm in uprooting dry grass or cutting the dry branches of trees yet it is best to avoid this as well. Especially, one should strictly avoid from taking them home to use as fuel.
Collection of the deceased, preparation, official procedures, transportation vehicle, religious obligations, funeral prayer and burial accompanied by Imam or repatriation of the decased to their hometown Turkey, Northern Cyprus, Bulgaria. We try to organise all funerals in the fastest and safest way with our 22 years of experience.
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