WhatYouShouldDoJustbeforeDeathSayyidMuhammadRizvi-XKP
Published:2015Tag(s):islamdeath"islamiclaws"sadqafighobligationsxkp
1ChapterForeword
Deathisareality inwhichallhumanbeingsbelieve.However, it isalsoarealitywhichmostofusliketokeepoutofourminds.InIslam,deathisnotanendtoourexistence;itisapassage,whichtakesusfromthisworldtothe
hereafter–theactualpurposeforourcreationandtheresultofourworkinthislife.WhetherwefeardeathornotdependsonhowmuchwehavepreparedforthereckoningoftheDayJudgement.Preparingfordeathisalifetime’sjob.Itbeginsonthedayyoureachtheageofbulughandareheld
accountable for your deeds in the eyes of Almighty Allah. Imam ‘Ali bin Abu Talib (a.s.) hasbeautifullydescribedthepreparationfordeathasfollows:“Fulfillingtheobligations,refrainingfromforbidden[things,andacquiringnoblecharacter.”Inthisarticle,Ihaveattemptedtopresentsomeofthethingswhichallbelieversareeitherrequired
orstronglyurgedtodojustbeforedeathbytheShari’ah.
2ChapterInPreparationforDeath
Beforedeath,tryyourbesttofulfiltheobligations,whichareuponyouinregardtothecreaturesaswellastheCreator.Returntotheownerswhateverhasbeengiventoyouasatrustorwriteitdowninyourwillsothat
theexecutorofyourwillshallreturnthetrusttoitsrightfulowner.InIslam,youareallowedtodisposeup toone-thirdofyourestateforwhomsoeverorwhatever
causeyoulike.Asforthetwothirds,itmustbedistributedamongyourheirstothesharesallocatedforthemintheShari’ah.Makeawillinwritingorverballyaboutthosereligiousobligationswhichyoucouldnotfulfilby
yourself and which cannot be done on your behalf by others except after your death: the qadhaprayers,fastingandpilgrimage(hajj),etc.Youshouldspecifytheamountfromtheone-thirdofyourestatetobeusedtohirepeopletodosuchdeeds.Ifyoucannotaffordthis,thenyoumayrequestyourheirstodounfulfilledritualsonyourbehalfvoluntarilyorpaysomeoneelsetodoso.It is also recommended, if your financial circumstances allow you, to include your deserving
relationsintheone-thirdofyourestate.It is recommended to forgiveyourbrethren in iman forwhateverwrong theymayhavedone to
you.Ontheotherhand,youshouldaskyourbrethreninimantoforgiveyoufortheintentionalandunintentionalwrongyoumayhavedonetothem.
3ChapterAttheTimeofDeath
Whendeathapproachesyou, it iswajibonyouto liedownonyourbackinsuchawaythat thesolesofyourfeetfacetheqiblah(directionofMecca).Oryoumayturnyourbedinsuchawaythatyoursoleswillfacetheqiblah.Ifyoucannotdosoyourself, thenit iswajibonthosewhoarewithyoutohelpyou.It is recommended to say by yourself or repeat after someone else the declaration of faith and
statementoffaraj.Thedeclarationoffaith:It isadeclarationinwhichyoureconfirmyourbelief inAllah,Prophet
Muhammad(s.a.w.),thetwelveImams(a.s.),theQu’ran,andtheDayofJudgement.Thismaybedoneasfollows:Radhitbubil-lahiRabban;WabiMuhammadin(sal-laWabilIslamidinan;l-lahu‘alayhiWaalihi)nabiyyan;WabilQur ’anikitaban;WabilKa’batiqiblatan;Wabi’Aliyyanwaliyyanwaimaman;WabilHasan,walHusaynWaMuhammadbin‘Aliyyan,WaJafaribnMuhammadin;WaMusaibnJa’farin,wa‘AliyibnMusa;Waannalhisabahaqqun;waannaljannatahaqqun;WaannannarhaqqunWaannannarhaqqunI have acceptedAllah as theLord,Muhammad (s.a.w.) as the Prophet, Islam as the religion, the
Qur ’anastheBook[ofGod,theKa’bahastheqiblah.And [I accept ‘Ali as thewaliy [ofAllah and [my Imam; andHassan,Hussein, ‘Ali ibnHussein,
Muhammadibn‘Ali,Ja’faribnMuhammad,MusaibnJa’far,‘AliibnMusa,Muhammadibn‘Ali,‘AliIbnMuhammad,Hassanibn‘Ali,andal-Hujatibnal-Hassan(a.s.)asImams,leadersandguides–I
declaremyloveforthemanddeclaremydisassociationwiththeirenemies.And[IbelievethatsurelytheHour[ofDoomwillcomeinwhichthereisnodoubt;andthatAllah
willresurrectallthosewhoareintheirgraves.And[Ibelievethatthereckoning[ofourdeedsisthetruth;theParadiseisthetruthandthattheHellisthetruth.
B.Thestatementoffarajistoberecitedasfollows:Lailahail-lallahu‘Aliyyul‘Azim;Subhana‘l-lahaRabbussamawatissab’iWaRabbulardhinassab’i;WamafeehinnawamabaynahunnaWamafawqahunnawamatahtahunna;WaRabbul‘arshil‘azim;Walhamdulil-lahiRabbis‘alameen.ThereisnoGodbutAllah,theGentle,theKind;ThereisnoGodbutAllah,theHigh,theGreat;
4ChapterAftertheDeath
•Soonafterapersondies,itisrecommendedtodothefollowingthings:•Closetheeye-lidsofthedeadperson•Closethemouthofthedeadperson•Tiethetwojawssothatthemouthdoesnotopen•Straightenhis/herarmsandplacethemonthetwosidesofhisbody•Straightenhis/herlegs•Coverthedeadbody•Switchonthelightintheroomwherethedeadbodyiskept•Arrangethefuneralassoonaspossible•Informthemu’mineentoattendthefuneral.
5ChapterAfterDeathRituals
They coverGhusl/Kafan/Dafan i.e., washing, shrouding, and burying. Basically, these areWajib(obligatory)actsforallofusbutKifai-WajibeKifai,whichmeansifoneormorepersonsundertaketodo,othersareabsolved.Elseitiswajiboneveryone.Therefore,itisessentialforallofustoknowthebasicsofburialritualsincasewearecalledupon
toperformthemwhenitbecomesobligatoryforustodosoaccordingtotheShar ’ia.
6ChapterFirstObligatoryWajibActGhusl-e-Mayyit(RitualWashoftheDeadBody)
ItisWajibtogivethreeGhuslstoaMuslimdeadbody.•FirstGhuslwithwatermixedwithSidr(berryorlotus)leaves.•SecondGhuslwithwatermixedwithcamphor.•ThirdGhuslwithpurewater.Note:Thequantityof“Sidr”leavesorcamphorshouldneitherbesomuchthatthewaterbecomes
mixed(Mudhaf),norsolittlethatitmaybesaidthat“Sidr”leavesorcamphorhasnotbeenaddedinit.Q) When Ghusl Mayyit is performed with water mixed with SIDR and with water mixed with
CAMPHOR,careshouldbetakenineachcasethatthewaterdoesnotbecomeMuzaf.WhenSIDRandespeciallyCAMPHORismixedinwaterforGhuslMayyit,eveninsmallquantity,
certainlyachangeinSMELLANDTASTEwilloccur.WouldnotthatconstitutetowaterthathasbeenmixedwithSIDRorCAMPHORhavingbecomeMuzaf?WhenSIDRandespeciallyCAMPHORismixedinwaterforGhuslMayyit,eveninsmallquantity,
certainlyachangeinSMELLANDTASTEwilloccur.WouldnotthatconstitutetowaterthathasbeenmixedwithSIDRorCAMPHORhavingbecomeMuzaf?A) Mutlaq water remains Mutlaq even with change in color, smell or taste. The Katheer (big
quantity)waterbecomesNajis if it'scolororsmellor tastechangesbecominglike theNajis item'scolor,smellortaste.WatermixedwithSidrorCamphorremainsMutlaqinspiteofthechangeofsmellortasteofit,as
farasthequantityoftheSidrorCamphorisnottoomuch.(M.M.)Q) If I am givingGhusleMayyit andwearing hand gloves.Do I have to performGhusleMase
Mayyit?A)As long as you have not touched theMeyyitwith your bare hand and no part of your body
touchedtheMeyyit,thenyoudonotneedtoperformGhuslofMasehMeyyit.Q)Ifafoetusof4monthsormoreisstill-bornitisobligatorytogiveitGhusl,andevenifithas
notcompletedfourmonths,butithasformedfeaturesofahumanchild,itmustbegivenGhusl,asaprecaution.Intheeventofbothofthesecircumstancesbeingabsent,thefoetuswillbewrappedupinaclothandburiedwithoutGhusl.AmIcorrecttounderstandthatbesidesGhusl,itwillalsobeWajibtogiveTahnitandKafan?A)WheneverGhuslisWajibthenHunutandKafanarealsorequired.(H.K.)Q) When giving Tayammum to a Meyyit, is it necessary that the palms of the person doing
Tayammum to aMeyyitmustbeplacedon the foreheadof theMeyyit in suchaway thathis rightpalmisontherightsideoftheforeheadofaMayyitandhisleftpalmisplacedontheleftsideoftheforeheadofaMayyit.Similarly, is it also necessary that he should be stroking the right handof theMeyyit (from the
wristjoint to theendof the fingers)withhis leftpalm followedbypassinghis rightpalmover thebackoftheMeyyit'slefthand.A)Thatisnotobligatory.Apersongivingtayammumtothedeadbodyshouldstrikehisownpalms
on earth and then wipe them on the face and back of the hands of the dead body. And therecommendedprecautionisthatheshould,ifpossible,usethehandsofthedeadforitsTayammum.(L.O.)
7ChapterMethodofPerformingGhusl-e-Mayyit
Ghusl for adeadbody is similar toGhuslof Janabat. It shouldbegivenbywayofTartibi.The
obligatoryprecautionisthatacorpseshouldnotbegivenGhuslIrtimase.
StepOne
BeforegivingGhusl, it is necessary to remove all dirt andoily substances from thedeadbody,
whichmaypreventwaterfromreachingtheskin.Ifthereisany‘aynNajasatonanypartofthedeadbody,it isobligatorytofirstremoveitbeforegivingGhusl.AnditisrequiredthatbeforethedeadbodyisgivenGhusl,itshouldbecleanandfreefromallotherNajasat.Itisrecommendedthatthedeadbodyshouldbelaid,withfeetfacingtheQiblah,duringtheGhusl.
AfterthethreeGhuslshavebeencompleted,itisbetterthatthedeadbodyislaidinthesamewayasitislaidwhenSalatulMayyitisprayed.
StepTwo–GhuslwithWaterMixedwithSidr
Makeaniyyat,"IamwashingthisdeadbodywithSIDRWATERWajibQurbatanIlal-lah"andwash
the bodywithSIDRwater inwhich small quantity of berry or lotus leaves have been added or itsessencesqueezedfromaparchmentpaper.Note:CareshouldbetakenthatthewaterdoesnotbecomeMudhaf.
StepThree–GhuslwiWaterMixedwithCamphor
MakeaNiyyat, "Iamwashing thisdeadbodywithCAMPHORWATERWajibQurbatan Ilallah".
Andwashthebodywithcamphorwaterinwhichalittlecamphorhasbeenadded.Note:CareshouldbetakenthatthewaterdoesnotbecomeMudhaf.
StepFour–GhuslwithCleanWater
MakeaNiyyat,"IamwashingthisdeadbodywithCLEANWATERWajibQurbatanIlallah"andwashthebodywithclean(tap)water.AfteralltheseGhusls,thebodyshouldbegentlydriedwithacleantowel..
SomeBasicRules
WhilegivingGhuslcoverthebody,oratleasttheprivatepartsofit,withasheetofclothorany
typeofcover.ItisHaraamtolookattheprivatepartsofaMayyit.•ThemethodofgivingGhuslisTartibi-insequence,firstheadandneck,thentherightsideand
finallytheleft,thewayweordinarilydoourGhusl.•WhileperformingGhuslitisbettertoreciteSurah/AyatoftheQur'anandDu’aforthemarhum
thankeepingquietorchatting.• The person givingGhusl should be aMuslim, preferably a Shia Ithna-Asheri, adult, sane and
shouldknowthebasic,essentialrulesofGhusl.Heshouldbelongtothesamegender.•It isHaram,asaprecaution, to takeanyremunerationforgivingGhusl.Ifanyremunerationis
paidandthepersonreceivesitasanearning,Ghuslwillbevoid(batil).ThepersonwhogivesGhuslto the dead body should keep the niyyat ofQurbatan Ilallah (obedience to and for the pleasure ofAllah).•IfbothSIDRleavesandcamphororeitherofthemisnotavailable,thenthebodyshouldbegiven
Ghusl,onthebasisofprecaution,withpurewaterinsteadoftheGhuslwhichisnotpossible.Insuchacase,afterthethreeGhusls,onetayammumshouldbeperformedontheMayyit.•Ifwaterisnotavailableorthebodyhasopenandbleedingwoundsorpartiallycrushed,orany
othervalidreasonforabstainingfromusingwater,and,asnoruleofJabirahisapplicabletoGhusleMayyit,oneTayammumshouldbegiveninsteadofGhusl.ApparentlyoneTayammumissufficient.However, therecommendedprecaution is togive three tayammums,and inoneof the tayammums,thereshouldbeaNiyyatof‘Mafi-zimmah’whichmeansthatthepersongivingTayammumresolvesthatthisTayammumisgiventoabsolvehimofhisresponsibility.•MethodofgivingTayammumtotheMayyitisthatthepersongivingTayammumstrikeshisown
palms on earth and then wipes them on the face and back of the hands of Mayyit. However, theobligatory precaution is that he should, if possible, use the hands of the Mayyit to do its ownTayammum.QuotedfromMinhaajofAyatullahAl-SistaniDama-Dhilluhu.271) If the body of the dead person becomes impure after or during Ghusl with an external
impurityorfromit,anditcanbepurifiedwithoutdifficultyordishonor,thenitisobligatoryevenifitisafterthepersonhasbeenplacedinthegrave,accordingtowhatismoreprudent.Yes,thatisnotobligatoryafterburial.272)Ifurineorsemenisdischargedfromthedeceased,itisnotnecessarytorepeathisGhusl,even
ifitispriortohisbeingplacedinthegrave.
Q)Iftherewassomesortofinsertionintothebodyofamayyit,forexampleatubeoraCather,andweknowbloodwillcomeout,canwecloseitshutwithathread/needle.A)Yes,youcan.(L.O.)Q)Whencamphororlote-berryleaves[sidr]arenotavailabletoperformghuslforadeadperson,
whatshouldbedone?A)First, it isnecessary towait if there ispossibilityofobtainingcamphorandsidr.However, if
thesearenotavailable,then,purewatershouldbeusedintheirsteadandtheintentionshouldbeusingpurewaterinplaceofcamphoricandlote-berriedwater.Afterthethreeghuslsaregiven,itisihtiyatWajib,i.e.obligatoryprecaution,togivethecorpseoneTayammum.(F.S.)
Part1SecondObligatoryWajibAct–Tahnit
ApplicationofCamphorPowdertoSpecificPartsoftheBody
Tahnit
After first wajib act has been completed, the second Wajib act istahnit (to give Hunut). This
involves applying fresh fragrant camphor powder on seven parts of the body which rest on thegroundwhenprostrating(doingSajdah).Theseare:theforehead,boththepalmsofhands,boththeknees,andboththebigtoes.Note:ItisMustahabtoapplycamphoronthetipofthenose.Camphor must be powdered and fresh. It will not be sufficient if it is so stale that it lost its
fragrance.It is, as an obligatory precaution, to start tahnit starting with the forehead. It is not to observe
sequencewhileapplyingtootherpartsmentionedabove.Theniyyatshouldbe,beforecommencingtahnit,"IamdoingTahnit/HunutonthisdeadbodyWajibQurbatanIlallah.It is Mustahab to mix a small quantity of Turbah (soil of the land around the shrine of Imam
Husayna.s.)withcamphor,butitshouldnotbeappliedtothosepartsofthebodywhereitsuseofitmay amount to disrespect, i.e. the knees and the big toes. It is also necessary that the quantity ofTurbahshouldnotbesomuchthattheidentityofcamphordisappearsorisobscured.
Part2ThirdObligatoryWajibAct–Kafan–
ShroudingtheMayyit
RulesRelatingtoKafan
After the second Wajib act has been completed, the third wajib act is Kafan i.e., shrouding
or systematically wrapping the body with three obligatory - Wajib and several additionalrecommended-mustahabpiecesofcloth,asoutlinedbelow.As a precaution, each of the three pieces of cloth used forKafan is not so thin as to show the
body of the deceased. However, if the body is fully concealed when all the three pieces are puttogether,itwillbesufficient.
WajibPiecesofKafan
a.LoinclothIt is an apron like cloth worn around the waist. The wajib portion of the loin cloth should
completelycoverboth thefrontandbackpartof thebodyfromthenavel to theknees.However, itisrecommendedthatitshouldbelongenoughtocoverthebodyfromthechestuptothefeet.b.Tunic(shirt)
It is a piece of cloth similar to a long shirt that covers the body from the shoulders to belowtheknees,preferablytotheankles.c.InnerWrapper(SheetCover)A large sheet of cloth that covers the entire body. As a precaution, it should be long and
wideenoughsothatthefrontandthebackpartoverlapeachother,andthetopandthebottomendscanbetiedwithastring.
8ChapterMustahabPiecesofKafan
a.OuterWrapper-asecondlargesheetlikethefirstsheet(forbothmalesandfemales)b.Scarftocovertheheadandtheneck(forfemalesonly)c.Turbantocoverthehead(formalesonly)d.Apieceofclothingtocoverthecompleteareaof theprivatepartsandshouldbelongenough
tosecurearoundthehips.(forbothmaleandfemale)e.Astripofclothtocoverthewholeareaofthebreast(forfemaleonly).ItisMustahab(recommended)•Theclothfor“Kafan”shouldbewhite.•ThebodyshouldbekeptinsuchapositionsothattherightshoulderfacesQiblaasitisdonefor
SalatulMayyit.• Two fresh green twigs of a tree inscribed with Shahadah (Kalma),called Jareedatain, should
bekeptintheKafanwiththedeadbody.•Recitesurahs/ayatsfromtheQur'anandIstaghfarwhileshroudingthebody.QuotedfromMinhaajofAyatullahAl-SistaniDama-Dhilluhu.289)IftheKafanbecomesimpurewithanimpurityfromthedeceasedperson–oranythingelse–
theimpuritymustberemoved,evenifhehasbeenplacedinthegrave,bywashingorcuttingitoutina way that does not affect his being covered. If that cannot be done, then it should be changed,ifpossible.Q) I have a point that I am seeking clarification on— in using cottonwool, other padding and
plastictocovertheprivatepartsofthedeadbodyafterGhusleMayyit(especiallywhenthedeadbodyis discharging waste matter from his private body part), the kafan may be well preserved fromcomingintocontactwiththenajasat.Butwhataboutthebodyitself?Itmaybenajisfromtheexcretionbutthiswillnotbeevidentbecauseoftheprecautionarymeasurestaken.IsitobligatorytocheckthebodybeforeburialforitsTaharat?A)Thereisnoneedtocheckbody
beforeburial.However,ifthenajaasatisevidentthenitwouldbecleanedbeforeburial.Allahknowsthebest.(H.K.)
Follow-upQuestions
If the Najasat becomes evident on the Kafanwhichwouldmean that the body has also become
Najis.Inthegraveyard(orafterthedeadbodyhasbeenplacedinthegrave)wherethereisnowaterfacilityformakingthebodyandtheKafanPaak,thepartofthenajaasatontheKafancanbecut,butwhatabouttheNajasatonthebody?Undertheabovecircumstances,whatisthedictateoftheShari’ah?A: If there isHaraj (difficulty) to clean the najaasat on the body then there is no need toworry
aboutitandthedeceasedcanbeburiedaftertakingcareoftheKafan.(H.K.)Q) As I understand the wajib portion of the Kafan should not have been stitched. If it
becomesnecessaryforthepiecestobejoinedtogetherbecauseofinsufficientlengththenthethreadtobeusedshouldbedrawnfromthekafan.Ismyunderstandingcorrect?DoesthesameruleapplytothemustahabportionoftheKafanaswell?A)StitchingtheKafanisnotforbidden,althoughitisMakroohtostitchitusingthesaliva.(M.M.)Q)Toprotectthekafanfrombecomingnajis,intheeventthereisdischargeofwastematterfrom
his private body part, sometimes diaper is used as underwear to absorb bodily waste.Normallyreadymadediapersareusedwhichhavestitcheson.IsthisallowedinourShariah?A) Using diapers is allowed for dead body, and it does not matter if it is stitched as stitching
theKafanisallowed.(M.M.)Q) During the time of putting kafan on the deceased, it is recommended to place branches
under both arm pits. I do not recall the name but as this may not be easily available, someoneagainsuggestedtoplaceleaves.Ifthisisso,anyparticularleaves?A) It isMustahab to place two fresh green twigs (called Jareedatain)with the dead person. The
mostappropriatemethodistoplaceoneofthemontherightsidenearhiscollarboneincontactwithhis body, and the other on the left side from the collarbone between the shirt and the wrappingcloth(izar).Itisbetterthatthetwotwigsarefromthedatepalm.Ifthatisnotavailable,thenfromtheSidrorpomegranate tree, and if these twoarenot available then fromothers,otherwiseany freshstems. It is also recommended that theJareedatain be inscribed with Shahadah and the names oftheinfallibleImams(a.s.)Note:ThereisnomentionofleavesasareplacementforJareedatain.
Part3FourthObligatoryWajibAct–SalatulMayyit
RulesRelatingToSalatulMayyit
The next wajib act is Salatul Mayyit - (Namaz-e-Janaza) for every Muslim. The Salat isalso obligatory for aMuslim child who has completed six years. As an obligatory precaution, itshould also be prayed for an under six year old child, if the child is Mumayyiz, a religiousterminologywhichmeansthatthechildknowswhatSalatisandcanalsodistinguishgoodfrombadorrightfromwrong.IfthechildisnotMumayyiz,thentheSalatcouldstillbeprayedwiththeNiyyatofRaja’.
PositioningtheCoffin
Thebody, inacoffin, is laidon itsbackbefore theperson(s)praying incongregation,headonthe right side of the congregation, and the right shoulder facing towards Qibla. Those praying,standclosetothecoffininarow(s)stretchingalongbothsidesfromthemiddleofthecoffin.Imamstands in front reciting loudlyandM’amumeen shouldnot remainquiet and just listenbut actuallyfollow the recitation. It is recommended that they all be in (wudhu). For amalemayyit the ImamstandsneartheabdomenoftheMayyitwhileforafemalemayyit,ImamstandsnearthechestoftheMayyit.NB. If theSalaat isnotprayed incongregation thenoneshouldnotbedistant fromthebody. i.e.
thecoffinshouldbeclosetohimandheshouldbedirectlyfacingthecoffin.The Salat has no Ruku or Sujuud. It is prayed in a standing position. There are five Takbirs
withrecitationsaftereachTakbir.The details of the normal and shortermethods of praying SalatulMayyit can be obtained from
theIslamicLawsbookofAyatullahAl-SistaniDama-Dhilluhu.Q)Where should the imamof the salaatulmayyit stand in reference towhere thepeople should
be. Since there are no ruku/sajda, everyone is shoulder to shoulder. So if the imam stands at thecoffin,canthepeoplebenexttohimorshouldhebeatthecoffinandtherestshouldbebehindhim?A) If Namaz-e-Mayyit being offered in Jama'at, thema’momeenwould stand behind the Imam.
(L.O.)Q)1]CanapersonpraySalatulMayyitwearingshoes?2]CanamanandawomanstandinthesamerowinSalatulMayyitprayedincongregation?3]CanawomanstandinfrontofamaninSalatulMayyitprayedincongregation?A)1]Yes,hecan2&3)Itismustahabtostandbehindthem(L.O.)Q)WhatistheminimumheightatwhichaMayyitshouldbekeptforSalaatulJanazah?A)Urf(convention,custom,commonunderstanding)determinesiftheheightatwhichtheJanazah
is kept is considered to be in front of the person praying or above him. It has to be in front ofthepersonprayingSalatulJanazah.(F.S.)
Part4FifthObligatoryWajibAct–Dafan(Burial)
PlaceofBurial
AfterSalatulMayyit,thebodyshouldbeburiedinaMuslimgraveyard.ItcannotbeburiedinnonMuslimcementeryunlessaportionofthatcementaryhasbeenspecificallyallocatedandreservedtoMuslims.
Method
TheMayyitshouldbelaidinthegraveonitsrightsidesothatthefaceremainstowardstheQibla.Note: It is recommended that the personswho lower the dead body in the grave should be pak,
bare-headedandbare-footed.ItisMustahab,thatthecoffin,afterarrivalinthegraveyard,isplacedashortdistanceawayfrom
the dug up grave andmoved slowly to the grave by pausing and putting back on the ground andliftingupagain,threetimes.Atthefourthtime,itisfinallyloweredintothegrave.Ifthedeadbodyisof amale, it should put on the ground at the third time in such amanner that its head should betowardsthelowersideofthegraveandatthefourthtimeitshouldbeloweredintothegravefromthesideofitshead.Inthecaseofafemale,itshouldbeplacedonthegroundatthethirdtimetowardstheQiblaandthebodyshouldbeloweredintothegravesideways.Also, a piece of cloth should be spread over the gravewhile lowering the bodyof a female so
that the bystanders should not be able to see. In the absence of mahram, close relatives shouldlowerthebodyinthegrave. Q) Does the above mustahab act make any difference whether it is done before or after the
SalaatulMeyyit because sometime SalatulMayyit is prayed in the grave yard after theMeyyit hasbeenplacednearthegrave?A)Itisafterprayer.(L.O.)Afterthebodyhasbeenlaidinthegrave,thetiesatbothends,andinthe
middle,oftheKafanshouldbeunfastenedandsomeearthshouldbeputundertherightcheekoftheMayyit.Apillowofearthshouldbemadeunderthehead.BeforeclosingthegraveTalqinisthenrecited.
Talqin
Beforeclosingthegrave,thepersonrecitingtheTalqinshouldholdtherightshoulderofthedeadbodywithhisrighthandandshouldplacehislefthandtightlyonitsleftshoulderanddrawhisfaceclosetotheearofthedeadbody.Then,shakingshouldersofthedeadbody,heshouldsaythrice:“Isma'ifhamya…(Listenandunderstand,O’)…….mentionthenameofthedeceasedasthesonofhisfather.Forexample,ifthenameofthedeceasedisMuhammadandhisfather'sname'Ali,sayMuhammadibn‘Alithrice.ThefulltextofTalqin,forbothamalemayyitandafemalemayyitcanbeobtainedfromtheIslamicLawsofAyatullahAl-SistaniDama-Dhilluhu.AftertheTalqin,andclosingthegraveitisMustahabthatthosewhoparticipatedintheburial,exceptthenearrelatives,throwsmallquantityofsoilintothegrave,usingthebacksideoftheirrighthand.Thegravethenisfilledwithearth,usingshovelsorbymechanicalmeans.Afterthegravehasbeenshaped,closemembersofthefamilythensprinklewateroverthegrave,followedbyTanzil,therecitation,seventimes,ofSurahal-QadrandanyshortDu’aforMaghfiratofthedeceased.Note:ItisMustahabthatthegraveberectangularinshapeanditsheightequaltofourfingers’span.Q)Achildof3yearsexpired.Besides,Ghusl,HunootandKafan,isitalsorecommendedtoreciteTalqeenandrequestfortheprayersofWahshat?A)AsforTalqeenforMayyitwhoserecitationisMustahab,Icheckedanumberofbooksandthereisnomentionaboutitbeingrecommendedforchildren.SalaatofMayyitisnotwajibforchildrenundersixyearssoitissafetosaythatthereisnotalqeenforchildrenundersix.Rather,MaulanaRizivibelievesthatthereisnotalqeenforamayyitwhoisnotabaligh.Allahknowsthebest.(H.K.)Q)AquestioncameupduringthesehriprogramonGhuslandKafan.Atthetimeoftalqeen,someonementionedthatthenameofdeceasedshouldnotbementioned.Thetalqeendoessay:Isma'eIfham,Yafulanibnfulanwherethisissubstitutedforthenameofthedeceased.A)Mentioningofthenameinthetalqinisnotnecessary;itcanbereplacedbyhadhalmayyitorhadhihilmayyit.However,mentioningthenameisnotaproblematall.(M.R.)Q)Iunderstand,itisrecommendedtorecitetwoTALQINSafterdeath.1]Immediatelyafterthecorpsehasbeenlaidinthegrave.2]Afterallthepeoplehavedepartedafterburial.ThereisatendencyincertainIslamicCentersofrecitingTALQINafterthecorpsehasbeenclothedwithKAFANandTAHNIT.IsthisactprovidedintheShariahandisitMustahabtodoso?A)ItisMustahab(recommended)tosayTalqeenbeforedeath(Ehtidhaar),sothatthepersonrepeatstheTruthbeforedeath.Afterdeath,therearenoTalqeensbuttwo;oneafterputtingthedeadpersoninthegravebeforeburial,andsecondTalqeenwhendeadisburiedandpeoplehaveleftthegrave.
AftertheBurial
ItisMustahabthat,afterburialandafterthepersonswhoattendedthefuneralhavegone,theguardianoftheMarhum/aorthepersonwhomtheguardiangrantspermissionshouldrecitetheTalqinandtheDu’aonceagainfortheMayyit.Note:1]ItisMustahabthataftertheburial,thebereavedfamilyisconsoled.2]ItisMustahabthatfoodbesenttothemembersofthefamilyofthedeceasedfor3days.Itis,however,Makroohtoeatwiththemintheirhomes.
9ChapterGhuslMaseMayyit(GhuslforTouchingaDeadBody)
IfapersontouchesaMayyitwhichhasbecomecompletelycoldandhasnotyetbeengivenallthreeGhusl-e-Mayyit, with any part of his body including nail, he should do Ghusl Mase Mayyit.The method is the same as that of other prescribed Ghusls, i.e. Janabat. After performing Ghuslfortouchingadeadbody,therecommendedprecautionisthatheshouldalsoperformWudhuwhenhehastopray.Note: Ghusl of Mase-Mayyit will not be Wajib if a person touches a dead body which has
not become entirely cold even if he touches a part which has become cold. Q) Is taking a bathmandatoryforamedicalstudentwhohastotouchskeletonsandcorpses?A)Bathbecomesobligatoryuponapersonwhotouchesadeadbodycontainingfleshandbones.
If only bones or a piece of flesh is touched, there is no necessity of taking a bath. The studentmaytouchacorpsewhilstwearingglovesandavoidthenecessityoftakingabath.(M.M.)Q)Doesitmakeanydifferenceifthedeadbodyonetouches,isthatofanon-Muslim?A)Itdoesnotmakeanydifference.Ifapersonphysicallycomesincontactwiththedeadbodyof
anon-Muslim,hewillhavetotakebath.(M.M.)Q)Ana-balighchild touchesadeadbodywhichhasbecomecoldandbeforehavingbeengiven
thethreeghusls.Thequestionis:IsitWajibforhimtoperformGhuslMaseMeyyitwhileheisstillna-baligh?A)Yestheghusliswajib.(H.K.)Q)WillitbecomeWajibforhimonattainingbulughifhedidnotperformit?A)Yes,he/sheshouldperformtheghusluponbecomingbaligh.(H.K.)Q)Sinceheisna-baligh,shari'i implicationisnotapplicable tohimandwillhestillberequired
toperformGhuslMaseMeyyitnownoronattainingbulugh?A)HereageorbulughisnotacriterionaccordingtoAytSayyidSeestani(dz).(H.K.)Q) I vaguely remember, I am not sure if my memory is not deceiving me, may be some 40
yearsback,amas'alahadarisenwhenamotherdiedhavingalivingchildinherwomb.Whenaliving
childwasbroughtout,naturallyhehadaphysicalcontactwith thebodyofherdeadmother.Whena question was asked, probably at the time of Agha Burujardi, or AghaMuhsin Hakim or AghaKhoei, I cannot remember, the reply then obtained was that it will be wajib for the said child toperformGhuslMaseMeyyitonattainingbulugh.A)All answers to the above three questions apply if the childwas removed from themother ’s
wombaftershehadbecomecold.PleasecheckwithalocalMuslimdoctoronthis.Istronglypresumethatthechildisdeliveredwhenthebodyisstillwarm.(H.K.)
10ChapterExhumation
It is Haraam to open the grave of a Muslim even if it belongs to a child or an insane
person.However,thereisnoobjectionindoingsoifthedeadbodyhasdecayedandturnedintodust.Digging up or destroying the graves of the descendants of Imams, themartyrs, the Ulama and
thepiouspersonsisHaraam,eveniftheyareveryold,becauseitamountstodesecration. Note: There are certain cases where digging up the grave is allowed. Details can be obtained
fromtheIslamicLawsofAyatullahAl-SistaniDama-Dhilluhu.
11ChapterCondolences
Itisrecommended(Sunnah),infact,areligious,moralandsocialdutyofMu’mineenthatcondolencesshouldbeconveyedtothefamilyofthedeceasedaftertheburialandexpressionofsorrowandsympathyshouldbeshowntothemembersofthebereavedfamily.
12ChapterBereavedFamily
With regard to the bereaved family, it is important that they should bear the loss with patiencebyoftenreciting“Innalil-LlahwainnailahiRaji’oon”,reciteQur ’an,praySalat,paySadaqatothepoorandrememberMarhum/MarhumawithDu’aandIstighfar,organizerecitationoftheQur ’anandMajalis of Imam Husayn (a.s.) all forIthale Sawab for the departed soul. These are a few waysofbenefitingthedepartedsoul.
13ChapterDisciplineofVisitingCemetery
Thereareseveraldisciplinesyouneedtoobservewhenvisitingthecemetery:• You should remember death and visualize yourself as lying in the grave and facing the
consequencesofyoursinsandactsofdisobediencetoAllah(swt).•Worldly talks, jokes and laughs shouldbe avoidedand, instead, recitationof theSurahsof the
Qur ’anandDu’asforthedeadburiedinthecemeteryshouldbeconstantlyrecited.• Eating and drinking in the cemetery should be avoided. Apparently, Tabarruk in respect of
recitationoftheQur ’anorMajlisofourAemmah(a.s.)isanexception.•ItisrecommendedtovisiteitheronThursdayorFriday.Aperson,onenteringacemetery,should
say,(Ibegin)inthenameofAllah,theBeneficent,theMerciful. لا هللا اهان،م لا الـهل لا ماسب لا لله حر لا من میحر میرك ای مهجرف لجعو دمحم لاو دمحم ىلع لص مهللا
ا لا الـها لا هللا قح،ب هللا الهاا،ي لا الـه لا هللا اح،ب لا الـهق لا لا ملاس اهىالع لا الـهلانمل لا ل اق الـه لا الـه لا هللا ، هللا يك جفو، تد اقـوم لا الـهل لا هللا ان،م لا الـه لا هللا ،يىال لله ا لا هللا ،و حا رش انمةرمزىافن لا ل اق الـه لا هللا رح،م دم س هللا لو لع فغ رىا“وPeace,Salambeonthepeoplewhoareworthyofbeingamongthosewhodeclarethatthereisno
GodbutAllah.O’thosewhoare(buriedhere)andworthyofbeingamongthepeoplewhodeclarethatthereisnoGodbutAllah,forthesakeoftherebeingnoGodbutAllah,(tellus)howhaveyoufoundthedeclarationthatthereisnoGodbutAllah?O’Allah,thereisnoGodbut(You)Allah.ByYourabsoluteandsoleAttributeofYoualonebeing
God,Allah,forgivethosewhodeclarethatthereisnoGodbut(You)Allahandraiseus(ontheDayofJudgment)amongthegroupofpeoplewhodeclared(duringtheirlives)thatthereisnoGodbutAllah,Muhammad(s.a.w.a.)istheProphetofAllah,‘Ali(a.s.)istheRepresentativeofAllah.’”
14ChapterGeneralMasaels
•Ifafoetusof4monthsormoreisstill-bornitisobligatorytogiveitGhusl,HunutandKafan.• If ithasnotcompleted4months,but ithas formedfeaturesofahumanchild, itmustbegiven
Ghusl,HunutandKafanasaprecaution.• In the event both the above circumstances being absent, the foetus will be wrapped up in a
clothandburiedwithoutGhusl,HunutorKafan.•ItisobligatorytoofferSalatulMayyitforeveryMuslimaswellasforaMuslimchildifhe/she
hascompleted6yearsofage.• If a child had not completed 6 years, but he/she was a Mumayyiz (a discerning child) who
knewwhatSalatwas,thenasanobligatoryprecaution,SalatulMayyitforhim/hershouldbeoffered.Ifhe/shedidnotknowofSalat,thentheprayersmaybeofferedwiththeNiyyahof‘Raja’.•AsforTalqeenforMayyitwhoserecitationisMustahab,Icheckedanumberofbooksandthere
isnomentionabout itbeing recommended forchildren.SalaatofMayyit isnotwajib forchildrenunder sixyears so it is safe to say that there is no talqeen for childrenunder six.Rather,MaulanaRizivibelievesthatthereisnotalqeenforaMayyitwhoisnotabaligh.Allahknowsthebest.(H.K.)Q) I seek your advice if there is any relevance in the Shari'ah pertaining to the following
issueproposedforimplementation:"‘Miniature Graves’ – There is a suggestion that based on the hadith that should
somebody’sparents/relativesbeburiedfar[distant lands],oneshouldmakeamarkat thekabrastanand recite fatehaon themarhum[een]–miniaturegraves [12”x18”]withaplasticmarker]canbemadeandplacedwithinourboundaries.Suchgravestobeallocatedataminimumhadiyaofbetween$50and100."A)Tomake a permanentmarker asminiature gravesof parents is really goingover theboard.
TheProphet (s.a.w.w.) had asked aperson togo and symbolicallymake amarkingof a grave andpray at that grave. But it was never intended that a person should buy a plot and erect apermanent symbolicgrave, and thenperiodicallyvisit that 'grave'!Thispractice shouldbe stoppedbefore itgetsoutofhand.Ask thosewhoare interested topay that sameamounthascharity in thenameoftheirparent(s)andtheresurelywillbemorerewardforthem.(M.R.)Q) Based on what I have been informed is that it is makrooh to light fire on the grave. The
questionis:IsitMakroohtoplacealighted"agarbathi"(aperfumedsortofstickwhenlightedgivesgoodsmell)onthegrave?A)Thereisnoprobleminthat.In this particular case, while it was not a Muslim graveyard.The family of the deceased had
purchasedasmallportiontoaccommodateabout6-8Kabr.ForfamilymemberswhichwhenburriedfacingQiblahwhouldaccommodatehardly3-9Kabr.Thequestion is,will thisverysmalland insignificantportionofa largecemeterybeconsidered
anacceptableportionandthataMuslimbodycanbeburiedinthisportion.A)Theexample thatyouhavewrittencannotbeclassifiedas"aMuslimcemetery"andtherefore
itwouldnotberighttoburyinthatcemetery.Q)IsaMu'minwhocommittedsuicideentitledtoreceivethesameburialritualsnormallygivento
thedeadbodyofaMuslim?A2) Yes, even in case of a person condemned to death in an Islamic court, ghusl, Kafan and
namaze-Mayyithavetobedone.Andthereisnoprobleminsayingthelastzikrinnamaz-ejanaza—theeventualJudgeisAllah.Asfortalqin,itisalsookay;however,youshouldknowthatrecitingthetalqinisnotWajibanyway,itisrecommended(Mustahab).(M.R.)Q) Kafan is donated to our Islamic Center for use for shrouding a dead body whenever any
persondies.TheKafandonatedismorethannormallyrequired.Therefore,therearesmallpiecesofKafanleftover.TheleftoverpiecesareverysmallandcannotbeusedforKafan.Wehavemanyofsuch very small pieceswhich cannot be used forKafan.Will it be appropriate to sell these smallpiecesfromtheleft-overofKafanclothesandusethemoneyobtainedfromthesaleofthesesmallpiecesleftoverexclusivelyforMEYYITasandwhenneeded?A) Based on the situation that you have mentioned, there is no problem in selling the extra
piecesandusingthemoneyforthesamepurpose.(M.R.)Q)When there is no heir for a deceasedMuslim person in the foreign land, who should take
chargeofhisburial?A) If it isnotpossible to contacthisheir andaskhis consent inhandling theburialprocedures,
the requirement of consent is lifted and it becomes obligatory, on basis of wajib kifã’i, on theMuslimstohandletheburial.(S.Org)Q)AChristianwomanconvertedtoIslamuponhermarriagewithaMu’min.Themarriageended
indivorce.ShethenconvertedbacktoChristianity.Shedies.Shari’i,cantheIslamicCenterarrangeMajlisfor“isaleSawaabofthesaidMarhuma”?
www.IslamicMobility.com"WisdomisthelostpropertyoftheBeliever,lethimclaimitwhereverhefindsit"-ImamAli(as)"
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