What is the ruling on saying the closing salam twice in the funeral prayer and giving a sermon afterward?
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The Shaykh : Yes
The questioner : May Allah reward you, O Shaykh. I saw in one of the Islamic countries that in the funeral prayer, the imam says the closing salam twice, and after the salam he stands up and preaches to the worshippers about the fact that death will come to each one of them, reminding them of this. Does this have a basis?
The Shaykh : Yes. As for saying the closing salam twice in the funeral prayer, some scholars have held this view, and there is no blame on a person for saying the salam twice.
As for the sermon afterward, or the sermon in the cemetery by way of encouragement or warning, this is not a recommended practice, and it is not established that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), when he finished praying over the deceased, would stand up and remind the people, nor that he would stand in the cemetery and remind the people. The most that is reported is that he (peace and blessings be upon him) came to al-Baqi' where a group of people were waiting for the grave to be dug so they could bury their dead, and he sat down and the people sat around him, and he (peace and blessings be upon him) would remind them while sitting, not in the manner of a sermon. Likewise, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did one day in the cemetery as well, and he said:.
Then he recited the words of the Exalted:[Al-Layl 92:5-9].
As for standing up and preaching to the people, this is not established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), nor have we heard it from the Rightly Guided Caliphs or from any of the Companions. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you, O Shaykh. I saw in one of the Islamic countries that in the funeral prayer, the imam says the closing salam twice, and after the salam he stands up and preaches to the worshippers about the fact that death will come to each one of them, reminding them of this. Does this have a basis?
The Shaykh : Yes. As for saying the closing salam twice in the funeral prayer, some scholars have held this view, and there is no blame on a person for saying the salam twice.
As for the sermon afterward, or the sermon in the cemetery by way of encouragement or warning, this is not a recommended practice, and it is not established that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), when he finished praying over the deceased, would stand up and remind the people, nor that he would stand in the cemetery and remind the people. The most that is reported is that he (peace and blessings be upon him) came to al-Baqi' where a group of people were waiting for the grave to be dug so they could bury their dead, and he sat down and the people sat around him, and he (peace and blessings be upon him) would remind them while sitting, not in the manner of a sermon. Likewise, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did one day in the cemetery as well, and he said:
None of you is there but that his place in Paradise and his place in the Fire has been written for him. They said, O Messenger of Allah, should we not then leave off our deeds and rely on the record? He said, No, work, for every person is facilitated for what he was created for. As for the people of happiness, they are facilitated for the deeds of the people of happiness, and as for the people of misery, they are facilitated for the deeds of the people of misery.
ما منكم من أحد إلا وقد كتب مقعده من الجنة ومقعده من النار فقالوا يا رسول الله أفلا ندع العمل ونتكل على الكتاب قال لا اعملوا فكل ميسر لما خلق له أما أهل السعادة فييسرون لعمل أهل السعادة وأما أهل الشقاوة فييسرون لعمل أهل الشقاوةThen he recited the words of the Exalted:
(5) As for he who gives and fears Allah (6) And believes in the best [reward], (7) We will ease him toward ease. (8) But as for he who withholds and considers himself free of need (9) And denies the best [reward],
فأما من أعطى واتقى وصدق بالحسنى فسنيسره لليسرى وأما من بخل واستغنى وكذب بالحسنى فسنيسره للعسرىAs for standing up and preaching to the people, this is not established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), nor have we heard it from the Rightly Guided Caliphs or from any of the Companions. Yes.