Some of what is done at the time of burial
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The sixth question from Fatwa number ( 18068 )
Q 6: When a death occurs, certain actions are performed, which I will list for you, hoping for your comments on them and their correctness: - Palm fronds are placed on the bier (the wooden board on which the deceased is carried), and the fronds are buried with the deceased. - After the burial is finished, a shaykh stands to preach to the people and make du'a for the deceased, and the attendees respond with "Ameen" in a loud voice. - The shaykh instructs the deceased by saying: (O so-and-so, son of Adam, or so-and-so, daughter of Eve), remember the covenant by which you left us, which is the testimony that there is no god but
Allah, and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah - May Allah make you firm (three times). - After the burial is finished, the deceased's family and relatives stand to receive condolences from the mourners by shaking hands, and they say: "May Allah magnify your reward, and may Allah thank you for your effort." - After the people leave, the deceased's family and some relatives and friends remain at the grave and recite Surat Yasin over the grave of the deceased, either individually or together, in an audible voice. - After this is finished, the deceased's family gathers in the family's majlis or in a tent set up specifically for three days, and a shaykh is brought to recite the Qur'an for a fee throughout the three days from morning until evening, and it is imposed on the deceased's relatives to prepare food during the three days. - On the third day, after the 'Isha' prayer, they do what is called: the deceased's prayer beads (subhah), where a number of shaykhs gather to recite some surahs of the Qur'an in turn, and afterwards dates or something similar are distributed to the attendees. - The male relatives of the deceased then go to offer condolences to the female relatives of the deceased, entering their homes and shaking their hands, whether they are mahram or non-mahram. Are these actions correct? Please inform us, may Allah reward you with good for us and for
the Muslims.
A 6: All that was mentioned in the question are newly invented religious innovations (bid'ah), except for what was mentioned regarding consoling the bereaved, which is prescribed (mashru') to comfort them and lighten their burden, by saying, for example: (May Allah make your consolation good, and may He mend your calamity and forgive your deceased). It is recommended (mustahabb) to prepare food for the deceased's family and provide it to them according to their need; because they are preoccupied with their calamity and unable to prepare food. In this regard, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said when the news of the death of Ja'far ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) came:Sunan ad-Daraqutni 8:37 . As for what some people do of setting up tents and making canopies for large gatherings, hiring reciters, preparing large feasts, and spending large amounts of money and long periods of time, which burdens the deceased's family and others, all of this and other things mentioned in the question are innovations for which Allah has not sent down any authority. And Jarir ibn 'Abd Allah al-Bajali (may Allah be pleased with him) said: (We used to consider gathering at the deceased's home and preparing food after the burial to be part of wailing). And if the spending on these gatherings is from the deceased's estate, it is injustice to the heirs, especially if there are minors and orphans among them, for it is consuming their money by falsehood. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and his Companions.
Q 6: When a death occurs, certain actions are performed, which I will list for you, hoping for your comments on them and their correctness: - Palm fronds are placed on the bier (the wooden board on which the deceased is carried), and the fronds are buried with the deceased. - After the burial is finished, a shaykh stands to preach to the people and make du'a for the deceased, and the attendees respond with "Ameen" in a loud voice. - The shaykh instructs the deceased by saying: (O so-and-so, son of Adam, or so-and-so, daughter of Eve), remember the covenant by which you left us, which is the testimony that there is no god but
Allah, and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah - May Allah make you firm (three times). - After the burial is finished, the deceased's family and relatives stand to receive condolences from the mourners by shaking hands, and they say: "May Allah magnify your reward, and may Allah thank you for your effort." - After the people leave, the deceased's family and some relatives and friends remain at the grave and recite Surat Yasin over the grave of the deceased, either individually or together, in an audible voice. - After this is finished, the deceased's family gathers in the family's majlis or in a tent set up specifically for three days, and a shaykh is brought to recite the Qur'an for a fee throughout the three days from morning until evening, and it is imposed on the deceased's relatives to prepare food during the three days. - On the third day, after the 'Isha' prayer, they do what is called: the deceased's prayer beads (subhah), where a number of shaykhs gather to recite some surahs of the Qur'an in turn, and afterwards dates or something similar are distributed to the attendees. - The male relatives of the deceased then go to offer condolences to the female relatives of the deceased, entering their homes and shaking their hands, whether they are mahram or non-mahram. Are these actions correct? Please inform us, may Allah reward you with good for us and for
the Muslims.
A 6: All that was mentioned in the question are newly invented religious innovations (bid'ah), except for what was mentioned regarding consoling the bereaved, which is prescribed (mashru') to comfort them and lighten their burden, by saying, for example: (May Allah make your consolation good, and may He mend your calamity and forgive your deceased). It is recommended (mustahabb) to prepare food for the deceased's family and provide it to them according to their need; because they are preoccupied with their calamity and unable to prepare food. In this regard, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said when the news of the death of Ja'far ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) came:
Prepare food for the family of Ja'far, for something has come to them that occupies them.
اصنعوا لآل جعفر طعامًا فإنه قد أتاهم ما يشغلهم
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.