When someone is close to death, it is a difficult time for their loved ones – in addition to feeling the pain of losing someone dear to them, they may be uncertain about what to do practically. It is natural that one wishes to do everything they can to ease their passing, and ensure that…
Burying a foetus in Islam The loss of a foetus is one of the most painful experiences a family can go through. The rulings on how to bury the foetus differ according to the stage of pregnancy and whether the baby showed signs of life after delivery. The basis for the 120-day distinction A key…
The general principle of prompt burial The starting principle in Islamic law is that the deceased should be buried without unnecessary delay. The Prophet ﷺ said: «أَسْرِعُوا بِالْجَنَازَةِ» “Hasten with the funeral.” (Agreed upon) This hadith establishes that burial should not be postponed without need. The scholars understood from this that delaying burial for emotional…
The moments following a person’s death are deeply emotional. One of the questions often asked in Muslim communities is whether it is permissible to view the face of the deceased. It is permissible to uncover the face of the deceased before burial and to kiss them as a final farewell. This is established in the…
There are multiple hadith regarding Surah Yaseen. Though there are different opinions on their levels of authenticity, the number of hadith on Surah Yaseen are evidence for its recommendation. In particular, in an authentic hadith, the Prophet (peace be on him) recommended reciting it when someone is dying. Ma’qil ibn Yasar (may Allah be pleased…
The impermissibility of suicide In the Quran, Allah tells us of the sacredness of human life and the inviolability of the soul. It is a core principle. Allah has explicitly forbidden taking life unjustly, and suicide is considered impermissible in all major religions. Indeed, the unlawful taking of any life is a major sin. Allah…
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) performed the funeral prayer on a deceased (Muslim) and then came to his grave and threw three handfuls of dirt at the direction of his head. (Ibn Majah)
He is reported to have recited these verses when his daughter Sayyidah Umm Kulthum (may Allah be pleased with her) was positioned in her grave. (Musnad Ahmad)
There is a difference of opinion among scholars regarding whether the deceased can hear the living. Some of them said that they hear the speech of the living, and some of them denied that. Here are the evidences from both camps. Scholars who say the deceased can hear the living 1. There are two Sahih…
t is not permissible for Muslims to bury a Muslim in the cemetery of non Muslim, because this is the practice of the people of Islam from the time of the Prophet, may God’s prayers and peace be upon him and the Rightly Guided Caliphs and after them continues to separate the graves of Muslims from the graves of the non Muslims , and not to bury a Muslim with a polytheist, and this was a practical consensus Ijma’.
What will reach the deceased in their graves? As per the well-known hadith, when someone dies three things continue to benefit them in their grave. These are charity given on their behalf, beneficial knowledge and the duas of their righteous children. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “When the son of Adam dies,…
Acute regret Imagine you are in a dark cave filled with stones, and your friends urge you to pick up the stones and carry them back with you to the exit. You think they are foolish. Why would you want to burden yourself with heavy stones? You don’t want to waste your time and energy…
True life is after death وَمَا هَٰذِهِ ٱلۡحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنۡيَآ إِلَّا لَهۡوٞ وَلَعِبٞۚ وَإِنَّ ٱلدَّارَ ٱلۡأٓخِرَةَ لَهِيَ ٱلۡحَيَوَانُۚ لَوۡ كَانُواْ يَعۡلَمُونَ The present life is nothing but sport and amusement. The true life is in the abode of the Hereafter, if only they knew. [29:64] The ayah is saying that true life is not this life….
The People of Allah are disconnected from dunya On the topic of remembering death, dhikr al mawt, Ghazali talks about the people of Allah – those with gnosis – their state, their connection with Allah and how they perceive death. Such people have deep knowledge of Allah, and devote their time in the remembrance of…
Remembering Death The tenth and final chapter of The Forty Principles of the Faith is about death. Imam Ghazali chose to end his book, which is a summary of the great tome, Ihya Ulum ad-Din, with this topic. He mentions that the previous nine principles are not all on the same level. Some of them…
Remembering Death The tenth and final chapter of The Forty Principles of the Faith is about death. Imam Ghazali chose to end his book, which is a summary of the great tome, Ihya Ulum ad-Din, with this topic. He mentions that the previous nine principles are not all on the same level. Some of them…