What is the ruling on collective supplication when burying the deceased, and saying one of them when going to the cemetery, "Wahdahu" (He is One), and the rest repeating "La ilaha illa Allah"?
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The questioner : May Allah reward you with good. A questioner asks: What is the ruling on collective supplication when burying the deceased, and their saying the word "Wahdahu" (He is One), and then the others repeating "La ilaha illa Allah" on their way to the cemetery?
The Shaykh : As for their saying: "Wahdahu" (He is One), "Wahdahu" (He is One), or "Wahdahu" (He is One) with a pronoun or without a pronoun?
The questioner : With the pronoun.
The Shaykh : With the haa? Is it "Wahdahu" (He is One) referring to Allah, or the deceased?
The questioner : Allah.
The Shaykh : "Wahdahu" (He is One). Well, this is a religious innovation (bid'ah). This is a religious innovation (bid'ah). Why? Did the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) bury any funerals during his time?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : And did the Companions follow these funerals? Yes? Funerals were buried during his time and the Companions followed them because the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) encouraged them to do so. He said:Sahih Muslim 945a Did they say "Wahdahu" (He is One) or "Wahdahu" (He is One)? Never. Are we more knowledgeable about the Shari'ah of Allah than they were? Are we more eager for the oneness of Allah (tawhid) than they were? So why do we choose, or why do we innovate in the Shari'ah of Allah what is not from the law of Allah?
The student: Ignorance is present.
The Shaykh : Ignorance is present, O Abu 'Abd al-'Aziz. Yes, and also those who, when they stand at the grave after the burial, make a collective supplication. We say this is also a religious innovation (bid'ah). For the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) used to stand at the grave and say: He did not chant a song with them. He would say, "Seek forgiveness from Allah," and they would say, "We seek forgiveness from Allah." He would say, "O Allah, forgive him," and they would say, "O Allah, forgive him." He used to do this. And we are not more knowledgeable about the Shari'ah of Allah than the Messenger of Allah, nor than the Companions of the Messenger of Allah. And by Allah, what harmed us was nothing but falling behind in following the tracks of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him and his family and his Companions). This is what harmed the Muslims. Now everyone has something in their mind, saying, "This is recommended (mustahabb)," as if they made the Shari'ah a matter of taste, not a law. If the Shari'ah followed tastes, the matter would be as Allah the Exalted said: [Al-Mu'minun 23:71] Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good. A questioner asks: He makes calendars, O Shaykh.
The Shaykh : Well, if these people who supplicate for the deceased after his burial, what do we say? We say each person says for himself: "O Allah, forgive him. O Allah, forgive him. O Allah, forgive him. O Allah, make him firm. O Allah, make him firm. O Allah, make him firm." And then he leaves. Yes.
The Shaykh : As for their saying: "Wahdahu" (He is One), "Wahdahu" (He is One), or "Wahdahu" (He is One) with a pronoun or without a pronoun?
The questioner : With the pronoun.
The Shaykh : With the haa? Is it "Wahdahu" (He is One) referring to Allah, or the deceased?
The questioner : Allah.
The Shaykh : "Wahdahu" (He is One). Well, this is a religious innovation (bid'ah). This is a religious innovation (bid'ah). Why? Did the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) bury any funerals during his time?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : And did the Companions follow these funerals? Yes? Funerals were buried during his time and the Companions followed them because the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) encouraged them to do so. He said:
He who attends the funeral till the prayer is offered for (the dead), for him is the reward of one qirat, and he who attends (and stays) till he is buried, for him is the reward of two qirats.
من شهد الجنازة حتى يصلى عليها فله قيراط ومن شهدها حتى تدفن فله قيراطانThe student: Ignorance is present.
The Shaykh : Ignorance is present, O Abu 'Abd al-'Aziz. Yes, and also those who, when they stand at the grave after the burial, make a collective supplication. We say this is also a religious innovation (bid'ah). For the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) used to stand at the grave and say:
Ask for your brother’s forgiveness.
استغفروا لأخيكمBut if the Truth had followed their inclinations, the heavens and the earth and whoever is in them would have been ruined
ولو اتبع الحق أهوائهم لفسدت السماوات والأرض ومن فيهنThe questioner : May Allah reward you with good. A questioner asks: He makes calendars, O Shaykh.
The Shaykh : Well, if these people who supplicate for the deceased after his burial, what do we say? We say each person says for himself: "O Allah, forgive him. O Allah, forgive him. O Allah, forgive him. O Allah, make him firm. O Allah, make him firm. O Allah, make him firm." And then he leaves. Yes.