What is the ruling on dedicating the sermon to mentioning the virtues of the deceased?
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The questioner : Your Eminence, what is the ruling on ... some mosque preachers dedicating a sermon in which they mention the good qualities and virtues of the deceased?
The Shaykh : Huh?
The questioner : They mention the good qualities and virtues of the deceased.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : Such as a scholar or a caller to Allah, what is the ruling on this action?
The Shaykh : By Allah, my opinion is that it should not be done, because it is at the time of, or near the time of, the death of the scholar or the caller to Allah, and it is considered a eulogy. Therefore, it stirs up the people and they weep. However, if it is after a long period, and the calamity is forgotten, and his virtues are mentioned as his history, then there is nothing wrong with it, because the scholars all write about their virtues and their works. But if the intention is to stir up emotion and grieve over the loss, then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade eulogizing, and this is part of eulogizing. And if it comes with a specific wailing sound, it also becomes part of lamentation.
The questioner : O Shaykh?
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) cited as evidence that he eulogized some of the Companions in some of the battles.
The Shaykh : What, what?
The questioner : That he eulogized some of the Companions.
The Shaykh : Yes, he eulogized them for a reason. He eulogized the Negus so that the people would come out to pray over him, or rather, he eulogized him and praised him and said: And in a narration: for the sake of praying over him.
The questioner : Was there a sermon after one of the battles regarding Ja'far?
The Shaykh : No, no, this was only a report of his death. In the Battle of Mu'tah, so-and-so took it and was killed, and so-and-so took it and was killed. Yes, this is a report of his death.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : Huh?
The questioner : They mention the good qualities and virtues of the deceased.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : Such as a scholar or a caller to Allah, what is the ruling on this action?
The Shaykh : By Allah, my opinion is that it should not be done, because it is at the time of, or near the time of, the death of the scholar or the caller to Allah, and it is considered a eulogy. Therefore, it stirs up the people and they weep. However, if it is after a long period, and the calamity is forgotten, and his virtues are mentioned as his history, then there is nothing wrong with it, because the scholars all write about their virtues and their works. But if the intention is to stir up emotion and grieve over the loss, then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade eulogizing, and this is part of eulogizing. And if it comes with a specific wailing sound, it also becomes part of lamentation.
The questioner : O Shaykh?
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) cited as evidence that he eulogized some of the Companions in some of the battles.
The Shaykh : What, what?
The questioner : That he eulogized some of the Companions.
The Shaykh : Yes, he eulogized them for a reason. He eulogized the Negus so that the people would come out to pray over him, or rather, he eulogized him and praised him and said:
A righteous brother of yours
أخ لكم صالحA righteous slave
عبد صالحThe questioner : Was there a sermon after one of the battles regarding Ja'far?
The Shaykh : No, no, this was only a report of his death. In the Battle of Mu'tah, so-and-so took it and was killed, and so-and-so took it and was killed. Yes, this is a report of his death.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.