The ruling on the phrase "Tawhiduh" (Declare the Oneness of Allah) at funerals and the like
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Question:
It is observed that after the funeral procession leaves the Makkah Haram and is on its way to the cemetery, several things occur:
First, some people shout, saying: "Tawhiduh" (Declare the Oneness of Allah).
Second, the bearers of the bier stop at an area called "Maqrat al-Fatihah" and recite Surat al-Fatihah there.
Third, the funeral procession continues its way toward the cemetery, and again some people shout: "Tawhiduh" (Declare the Oneness of Allah).
Fourth, when the funeral reaches the gate of the cemetery, the bearers stop it and lower it to the ground, and one of them shouts: "What do you testify about him?" Then they carry it again to the cemetery.
Fifth, in the cemetery, when the deceased is lowered and some people descend with him to level the grave, and after the grave is leveled, one of them performs the adhan (call to prayer) in the grave and the iqamah (second call).
Is any of this part of the Shari'ah?
Answer:
All of these are religious innovations (bid'ah). Raising the voice with "Tawhiduh" has no basis. Rather, the Sunnah with the funeral is to lower the voice, and a person should examine himself, remember the state of the deceased, and what will be said to him? And what will he answer? He should not say "Tawhiduh" or "Remember Allah," for all of this has no basis.
So a person should examine himself between himself and Allah while walking with the funeral, remembering death, the fate of the dead, and what is said to the deceased, and he should have fear and humility. He should not stop at any place and say, "Recite al-Fatihah," neither in Makkah nor elsewhere, for this is a religious innovation (bid'ah).
Likewise, placing the bier down and saying, "What do you testify about him?" has no basis. They want to expose him, saying, "He is an open sinner (fasiq)." Otherwise, this is a mistake. If people testify about him without being asked, there is no harm. If they say, "Yes, may Allah reward him with good, and he did a good deed, so may Allah reward them with good, and praise be to AllahJami` at-Tirmidhi 1058Sahih (Darussalam), that is fine. But placing it down or saying, "What do you testify about him?" to all the people, no, this is a religious innovation (bid'ah) with no basis. This is also one of the causes of exposure, for people will expose him if he is an open sinner (fasiq).
Likewise, the adhan and iqamah in the grave, or at a grave, have no basis; rather, they are a religious innovation (bid'ah)—we ask Allah for guidance for everyone.
It is observed that after the funeral procession leaves the Makkah Haram and is on its way to the cemetery, several things occur:
First, some people shout, saying: "Tawhiduh" (Declare the Oneness of Allah).
Second, the bearers of the bier stop at an area called "Maqrat al-Fatihah" and recite Surat al-Fatihah there.
Third, the funeral procession continues its way toward the cemetery, and again some people shout: "Tawhiduh" (Declare the Oneness of Allah).
Fourth, when the funeral reaches the gate of the cemetery, the bearers stop it and lower it to the ground, and one of them shouts: "What do you testify about him?" Then they carry it again to the cemetery.
Fifth, in the cemetery, when the deceased is lowered and some people descend with him to level the grave, and after the grave is leveled, one of them performs the adhan (call to prayer) in the grave and the iqamah (second call).
Is any of this part of the Shari'ah?
Answer:
All of these are religious innovations (bid'ah). Raising the voice with "Tawhiduh" has no basis. Rather, the Sunnah with the funeral is to lower the voice, and a person should examine himself, remember the state of the deceased, and what will be said to him? And what will he answer? He should not say "Tawhiduh" or "Remember Allah," for all of this has no basis.
So a person should examine himself between himself and Allah while walking with the funeral, remembering death, the fate of the dead, and what is said to the deceased, and he should have fear and humility. He should not stop at any place and say, "Recite al-Fatihah," neither in Makkah nor elsewhere, for this is a religious innovation (bid'ah).
Likewise, placing the bier down and saying, "What do you testify about him?" has no basis. They want to expose him, saying, "He is an open sinner (fasiq)." Otherwise, this is a mistake. If people testify about him without being asked, there is no harm. If they say, "Yes, may Allah reward him with good, and he did a good deed, so may Allah reward them with good, and praise be to Allah
You are Allah's witnesses on the earth.
أنتم شهداء الله في أرضهLikewise, the adhan and iqamah in the grave, or at a grave, have no basis; rather, they are a religious innovation (bid'ah)—we ask Allah for guidance for everyone.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.