What is the ruling on eulogizing the deceased?

The questioner : Some practices in life, which they call modern life, occur when a man dies. As you know, after his death, a group or crowd of people gathers and mentions the virtues of the deceased and similar things. What is the ruling of the Shari'ah regarding such matters?

The Shaykh : Of course, this is discussed in the books of religious innovations (bid'ah) as being one of the innovations. In fact, for me, what occurs in this regard is among the forbidden things; because they exaggerate in praising the dead with what he did not possess. The miser becomes generous, and the open sinner becomes righteous, and so on.

The questioner : Is it, meaning, prohibited or forbidden by the ruling that it is a distortion of the facts, or by the ruling that it is an innovation?

The Shaykh : I told you it is an innovation; but today it is beyond being an innovation, it is forbidden, because they mention in it what is contrary to the reality of the deceased. And this is not specific to eulogizing in our region of the Levant. When the deceased is brought in his coffin to the mosque for the funeral prayer and placed to the side while they pray the obligatory prayer, then the imam stands to pray over him, he turns to those behind him and says, "O our brothers, what do you testify about him? Is he righteous?" "Righteous." "Done, he has become righteous." This is a constant answer. This is a continuous thing. If the greatest of criminals came, it would be the same method.

The questioner : The hadith that the testimony of people, if they say about him that he is righteous, then he is so, is it authentic?

The Shaykh : This is authentic. The authentic one is not forced, it is natural, meaning as some of the Sufis say, and peace be upon you, welcome...

The questioner : ... What do you say about striking with sand?

The Shaykh : Strike with the sand.

The questioner : Also, the same thing.

The Shaykh : It is the same thing.

The questioner : Is there a hadith ?

The Shaykh : Yes, meaning, is there anyone who matches the line of the Prophet? The scholars of knowledge say that in this hadith, which is in Sahih Muslim, this Arabic expression is called "suspension on the impossible." So whoever matches his line, let him match the line of the non-infallible, the ignorant, with the line of that infallible Prophet, and that is the one who is correct. How is this possible? So this is called "suspension on the impossible," meaning instead of saying this matter is invalid, he says this very beautiful phrase, "So whoever matches his line, that is he." And every person can know to say...