Etiquettes Concerning the Deceased
Etiquettes Concerning the Deceased
Summary
After death, a human being enters a new stage, and other people have the duty to accompany him in this stage according to the instructions of the religious leaders. The etiquettes of the deceased are a collection of those instructions, by observing which the pleasure of God is attained.
1- Meaning and Concept of Amwat (the Deceased)
Amwāt: plural of mayyit (dead person). The dead; the deceased. (Dehkhoda Dictionary)
2- The event of death
اَللهُ تَعالی: كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذَائِقَةُ الْمَوْتِ ثُمَّ إِلَيْنَا تُرْجَعُونَ.
Every living being shall taste death, and then you will be returned to Us.
Reference: Qur’an, Al-Ankabut 29:57
اَلصَّادِقُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: إِنَّهُ إِذَا بَلَغَتِ النَّفْسُ الْحُلْقُومَ أُرِيَ مَكَانَهُ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ فَيَقُولُ رُدُّونِي إِلَی الدُّنْيَا حَتَّی أُخْبِرَ أَهْلِي بِمَا أَرَی فَيُقَالُ لَهُ لَيْسَ إِلَی ذَلِكَ سَبِيلٌ.
When the soul of a believer reaches his throat, his station in Paradise is shown to him. He will say: ‘Return me to the world so that I may inform my family of what I have seen.’ Then it will be said to him: ‘There is no way to do that.’
Reference: Man La Yahduruhu al-Faqih, vol. 1, p. 136
3- Factors of easy death
اَلرَسُولُ صَلَّی اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ:… أَلَا وَ مَنْ أَحَبَّ عَلِيّاً هَوَّنَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ سَكَرَاتِ الْمَوْتِ وَ جَعَلَ قَبْرَهُ رَوْضَةً مِنْ رِيَاضِ الْجَنَّة…
Be aware, and know! Whoever loves Ali, Allah will make the agony of death easy for him, and will make his grave a garden from the gardens of Paradise.
Reference: Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 7, p. 222
اَلْبَاقِرُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: مَنْ قَرَأَ “يس” فِي عُمُرِهِ مَرَّةً وَاحِدَة… َ خَفَّفَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ سَكَرَاتِ الْمَوْتِ وَ أَهْوَالَهُ وَ وَلِيَ قَبْضَ رُوحِه…
Whoever recites Surah Yasin once in his lifetime… Allah makes the hardships and difficulties of death easy for him, and He Himself takes his soul…
Reference: Thawab al-A‘mal, p. 112
4- the throes of death
اَلصَّادِقُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: مَا مِنْ أَحَدٍ يَحْضُرُهُ الْمَوْتُ إِلَّا وَكَّلَ بِهِ إِبْلِيسُ مِنْ شَيَاطِينِهِ مَنْ يَأْمُرُهُ بِالْكُفْرِ وَ يُشَكِّكُهُ فِي دِينِهِ حَتَّی يَخْرُجَ نَفْسُهُ فَإِذَا حَضَرْتُمْ مَوْتَاكُمْ فَلَقِّنُوهُمْ شَهَادَةَ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً رَسُولُ اللَّهِ حَتَّی يَمُوتُوا.
No one’s death comes—when they are in the throes of death—except that Iblīs appoints one of his followers over them, to call them to disbelief, and to cast doubt in their religion, so that their soul is taken away from their body. So whenever you reach one of your (believers) whose death has come, then prompt him with the two testimonies to say: ‘I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah,’ until he leaves this world (so that the devil has no way to get to him).
Reference: Man La Yahduruhu al-Faqih, vol. 1, p. 133
وَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ (صَلَّی اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ) فِي آخِرِ خُطْبَةٍ خَطَبَهَا: مَنْ تَابَ قَبْلَ مَوْتِهِ بِسَنَةٍ تَابَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّ السَّنَةَ لَكَثِيرَةٌ مَنْ تَابَ قَبْلَ مَوْتِهِ بِشَهْرٍ تَابَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ… وَ إِنَّ السَّاعَةَ لَكَثِيرَةٌ وَ مَنْ تَابَ وَ قَدْ بَلَغَتْ نَفْسُهُ هَذِهِ وَ أَهْوَی بِيَدِهِ إِلَی حَلْقِهِ تَابَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ.
Whoever repents one year before he dies, Allah will accept his repentance.
Then he said, “One year is too long! Whoever repents one month before his death, Allah will accept his repentance.
Then he added, “…One hour is too long as well! Whoever repents while his soul has reached this point”—and at that moment he pointed with his blessed hand to his throat—“Allah will accept his repentance.
Reference: Man La Yahduruhu al-Faqih, vol. 1, p. 133
اَلرَسُولُ صَلَّی اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ: نَابِذُوا عِنْدَ الْمَوْتِ فَقِيلَ كَيْفَ نُنَابِذُ قَالَ قُولُوا: { قُلْ يا أَيُّهَا الْكافِرُونَ- لا أَعْبُدُ ما تَعْبُدُونَ…} إِلَی آخِرِ السُّورَةِ.
In the time of death, banish (drive away) [Satan].
They asked, “How should we banish (him)?
He said: “Say: ‘Say: O disbelievers— I do not worship what you worship…’ to the end of the surah.
Reference: Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 78, p. 241
اَلصَّادِقُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: وَ كَانَ زَيْنُ الْعَابِدِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ) يَقُولُ عِنْدَ الْمَوْتِ :”اللَّهُمَّ ارْحَمْنِي فَإِنَّكَ كَرِيمٌ، اللَّهُمَّ ارْحَمْنِي فَإِنَّكَ رَحِيمٌ .”
فَلَمْ يَزَلْ يُرَدِّدُهَا حَتَّی تُوُفِّيَ صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْه.
Imam Zayn al-‘Abidin (peace be upon him) would recite this supplication repeatedly at the time of his passing until he departed from this world.
He said:
O Allah! Have mercy on me! Indeed, You are Generous. O Lord of all creation, place me within Your mercy—indeed, You are Most Merciful.
Reference: Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 78, p. 241
وَ سُئِلَ الصَّادِقُ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ) عَنْ تَوْجِيهِ الْمَيِّتِ فَقَالَ اسْتَقْبِلْ بِبَاطِنِ قَدَمَيْهِ الْقِبْلَةَ.
The following was asked of Imam al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) regarding which direction the face of a deceased person should be placed and how it should be done. He replied:
Turn the soles of his feet toward the qiblah.
Reference: Man La Yahduruhu al-Faqih, vol. 1, p. 133
أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: وَ مَا مِنْ أَحَدٍ يَحْضُرُهُ الْمَوْتُ إِلَّا مُثِّلَ لَهُ النَّبِيُّ (صَلَّی اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ) وَ الْحُجَجُ صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِمْ أَجْمَعِينَ حَتَّی يَرَاهُمْ فَإِنْ كَانَ مُؤْمِناً يَرَاهُمْ بِحَيْثُ يُحِبُّ وَ إِنْ كَانَ غَيْرَ مُؤْمِنٍ يَرَاهُمْ بِحَيْثُ يَكْرَهُ وَ قَالَ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَی: {فَلَوْ لا إِذا بَلَغَتِ الْحُلْقُومَ وَ أَنْتُمْ حِينَئِذٍ تَنْظُرُونَ وَ نَحْنُ أَقْرَبُ إِلَيْهِ مِنْكُمْ وَ لكِنْ لا تُبْصِرُونَ.} (واقعه/۸۳-۸۵)
No one—when death comes to him—has it arrive except that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him and his Household) and the Imāms of the purified Ahl al-Bayt, upon whom be blessings, appear before him as an exemplary presence.
So if he is a believer, he sees them in the way he loves—meaning in beautiful forms—and they give him glad tidings of Paradise.
But if he is not a believer, he sees them in the way of his enemy—giving him glad tidings of the Fire.
And Allah, Great and Exalted, said:
‘So why, when [your] soul reaches the throat, and you at that moment look on, and We are nearer to him than you do, yet you do not see?’
Reference: Man La Yahduruhu al-Faqih, vol. 1, p. 136
5- recitation (at the time of death)
اَلرَسُولُ صَلَّی اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ: لَقِّنُوا مَوْتَاكُمْ «لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ» فَإِنَّ مَنْ كَانَ آخِرُ كَلَامِهِ «لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ» دَخَلَ الْجَنَّةَ.
Prompt your dying/near-dead ones, before death, with ‘Lā ilāha illa’Llāh (There is no god but Allah).’ Whoever makes ‘Lā ilāha illa’Llāh’ his last utterance in life will enter Paradise.
Reference: Man La Yahduruhu al-Faqih, vol. 1, p. 132
اَلصَّادِقُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ (صَلَّی اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ) دَخَلَ عَلَی رَجُلٍ مِنْ بَنِي هَاشِمٍ- وَ هُوَ فِي النَّزْعِ فَقَالَ لَهُ قُلْ: «لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ الْحَلِيمُ الْكَرِيمُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ الْعَلِيُّ الْعَظِيمُ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ رَبِّ السَّمَاوَاتِ السَّبْعِ وَ رَبِّ الْأَرَضِينَ السَّبْعِ وَ مَا فِيهِنَّ وَ مَا بَيْنَهُنَّ وَ مَا تَحْتَهُنَّ وَ رَبِّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ وَ سَلامٌ عَلَی الْمُرْسَلِينَ وَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعالَمِينَ » فَقَالَهَا فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ (صَلَّی اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ): الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَنْقَذَهُ مِنَ النَّارِ. وَ هَذِهِ الْكَلِمَاتُ هِيَ كَلِمَاتُ الْفَرَجِ.
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him and his Household) entered a man from Banī Hāshim who was in the throes of death (at the point of dying). He said to him: ‘Recite this supplication:
There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah—the Forbearing, the Gentle, the Generous. There is no deity except the One God, the Most High and the Great. Glorified and Transcendent am I—[I declare] the Lord of the seven heavens and whatever is in them, and whatever is between them and beneath them. And He is the Lord of the /Great Throne. And blessings upon the divine messengers. And praise and glorification are for the Lord of all worlds.
The man, who was in the throes of death, recited it. Then the Prophet of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him and his Household) said: ‘All praise is for Allah—who saved him from the Fire of Hell.’ And these words are the very words of relief and opening (i.e., deliverance and ease).
Reference: Man La Yahduruhu al-Faqih, vol. 1, p. 132
6- Ghusl of the deceased (ritual washing of the dead)
اَلصَّادِقُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: إِذَا مَاتَ لِأَحَدِكُمْ مَيِّتٌ فَسَجُّوهُ تُجَاهَ الْقِبْلَةِ وَ كَذَلِكَ إِذَا غُسِّلَ يُحْفَرُ لَهُ مَوْضِعُ الْمُغْتَسَلِ تُجَاهَ الْقِبْلَةِ فَيَكُونَ مُسْتَقْبِلُ بَاطِنِ قَدَمَيْهِ وَ وَجْهُهُ إِلَی الْقِبْلَةِ.
When one of you dies, lay him facing the qiblah. Likewise, when he is washed, dig a place for washing him facing the qiblah, so that the soles of his feet are toward the qiblah.
Reference: Wasa’il al-Shi‘a, vol. 2, p. 452
سُئِلَ الصَّادِقُ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ): لِأَيِّ عِلَّةٍ يُغْسَلُ الْمَيِّتُ؟ قَالَ: تَخْرُجُ مِنْهُ النُّطْفَةُ الَّتِي خُلِقَ مِنْهَا تَخْرُجُ مِنْ عَيْنَيْهِ أَوْ مِنْ فِيهِ وَ مَا يَخْرُجُ أَحَدٌ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا حَتَّی يَرَی مَكَانَهُ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ أَوْ مِنَ النَّارِ.
Imam al-Ṣādiq (peace be upon him) was asked: ‘For what reason must the deceased be given a ghusl (ritual washing)?’ He said: ‘Because that drop—out of which he was created—will exit from his eyes or from his mouth. And no one leaves this world until he sees his place in Paradise or in Hell.’
Reference: Man La Yahduruhu al-Faqih, vol. 1, p. 138
اَلصَّادِقُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: مَا مِنْ عَبْدٍ مُؤْمِنٍ يَغْسِلُ مَيِّتاً مُؤْمِناً وَ يَقُولُ وَ هُوَ يَغْسِلُهُ «رَبِّ عَفْوَكَ عَفْوَكَ» إِلَّا عَفَا اللَّهُ عَنْه.
There is no believer who washes the body of a believer—while washing him—who says: ‘Rabb, forgive me; forgive me’ (Rabb ʿafwaka, ʿafwaka)—except that Allah grants forgiveness to him and/or to the deceased.
Reference: Man La Yahduruhu al-Faqih, vol. 1, p. 141
اَلصَّادِقُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: مَنْ غَسَّلَ مَيِّتاً فَسَتَرَ وَ كَتَمَ خَرَجَ مِنَ الذُّنُوبِ كَيَوْمَ وَلَدَتْهُ أُمُّه.
Whoever washes a deceased person, covers his ‘awrah (private parts), and, if there is any defect in his body, conceals it from others—will leave (and be free of) his own sins, as on the day his mother bore him.
Reference: Man La Yahduruhu al-Faqih, vol. 1, p. 141
اِبنِ مُسکانَ عَن اَبی عَبدِاللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ): سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ غُسْلِ الْمَيِّتِ فَقَالَ اغْسِلْهُ بِمَاءٍ وَ سِدْرٍ ثُمَّ اغْسِلْهُ عَلَی أَثَرِ ذَلِكَ غَسْلَةً أُخْرَی بِمَاءٍ وَ كَافُورٍ وَ ذَرِيرَةٍ إِنْ كَانَتْ وَ اغْسِلْهُ الثَّالِثَةَ بِمَاءٍ قَرَاحٍ قُلْتُ ثَلَاثَ غَسَلَاتٍ لِجَسَدِهِ كُلِّهِ قَالَ نَعَمْ…
Ibn said: ‘I asked Imam al-Ṣādiq (peace be upon him) about washing the deceased. He said: ‘Wash him with water and sidr (lotus leaves). Then, if possible, wash him again with water, camphor (kāfūr), and perfume. And wash him a third time with pure water.’ I said: ‘So they wash his entire body all three times?’ He said: ‘Yes…’
Reference: Al-Kafi, vol. 3, p. 139
اَلصَّادِقُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: إِذَا غَسَّلْتُمُ الْمَيِّتَ مِنْكُمْ فَارْفُقُوا بِهِ وَ لَا تَعْصِرُوهُ وَ لَا تَغْمِزُوا لَهُ مَفْصِلًا.
Whenever you wash a deceased person from among your own, be gentle and show kindness toward him, do not exert pressure on him, and move/handle his joints with care (gently), with your hand.
Reference: Wasa’il al-Shi‘a, vol. 2, p. 497
7- Speed in burial
اَلرَسُولُ صَلَّی اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ: كَرَامَةُ الْمَيِّتِ تَعْجِيلُهُ.
The honoring of the deceased is to prepare him as quickly as possible, take him to the grave, and complete his affairs.
Reference: Man La Yahduruhu al-Faqih, vol. 1, p. 140
8- Accompanying the deceased
اَلصَّادِقُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: لَا تَدَعَنَّ مَيِّتَكَ وَحْدَهُ فَإِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ يَعْبَثُ بِهِ فِي جَوْفِه.
Never leave your deceased unattended, for the devil plays with him and causes harm to his inner (i.e., inside) [body].
(It may be that the intent is: the devil stirs up creatures such as insects or animals—like cats, mice, cockroaches, ants, and the like—so that they enter the body of the deceased.)
Reference: Man La Yahduruhu al-Faqih, vol. 1, p. 142
9- Fearlessness
اَلمَعصُومُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: يَنْبَغِي فِي حَالَةِ الْمَرَضِ خُصُوصاً مَرَضَ الْمَوْتِ أَنْ يَزِيدَ الرَّجَاءَ عَلَی الْخَوْفِ.
Regarding illness—especially the illness of death—hope must overcome fear.
Reference: Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 78, p. 242
10- Prayers for the deceased
وَ رُوِيَ أَنَّهُ تَقْرَأُ عِنْدَ الْمَرِيضِ وَ الْمَيِّتِ آيَةَ الْكُرْسِيِّ وَ تَقُولُ: « اللَّهُمَّ أَخْرِجْهُ إِلَی رِضًی مِنْكَ وَ رِضْوَانٍ» «اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لَهُ ذَنْبَهُ، جَلَّ ثَنَاءُ وَجْهِكَ» ثُمَّ تَقْرَأُ آيَةَ السُّخْرَةِ {إِنَّ رَبَّكُمُ اللَّهُ الَّذِي خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ فِي سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ ثُمَّ اسْتَوَیٰ عَلَی الْعَرْشِ يُغْشِي اللَّيْلَ النَّهَارَ يَطْلُبُهُ حَثِيثًا وَالشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ وَالنُّجُومَ مُسَخَّرَاتٍ بِأَمْرِهِ أَلَا لَهُ الْخَلْقُ وَالْأَمْرُ تَبَارَكَ اللَّهُ رَبُّ الْعَالَمِينَ » (اعراف/۵۴) ثُمَّ تَقْرَأُ ثَلَاثَ آيَاتٍ مِنْ آخِرِ الْبَقَرَةِ-« لِلَّهِ ما فِي السَّماواتِ وَ ما فِي الْأَرْضِ » ثُمَّ يَقْرَأُ سُورَةَ الْأَحْزَابِ.
It is reported that for a sick person or a deceased person, you recite Ayat al-Kursi and say: “O God, take him out toward Your pleasure and approval.” “O God, forgive his sins; great and majestic is the praise of Your Face.” Then recite the Ayat al-Sukhrah: {Indeed, your Lord is God, who created the heavens and the earth in six days, then rose over the Throne [of authority and governance over creation]; He covers the night with the day, which pursues it swiftly; and [He created] the sun, the moon, and the stars, subjected by His command. Unquestionably, creation and command belong to Him alone. Blessed is God, Lord of all worlds.}
Then recite the last three verses of Surah al-Baqarah: “To God belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth,” and then recite Surah al-Ahzab.
Reference: Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 78, p. 241
11- words of condolence
اَلرَسُولُ صَلَّی اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ: الْمَوْتُ صَرْعٌ فَإِذَا بَلَغَ أَحَدَكُمْ وَفَاةُ أَخِيهِ فَلْيَقُلْ:{إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَ إِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ} (بقره/۱۵۷) وَ إِنَّا إِلَی رَبِّنَا لَمُنْقَلِبُونَ اللَّهُمَّ اكْتُبْهُ عِنْدَكَ فِي الْمُخِفِّينَ وَ اجْعَلْ كِتَابَهُ فِي عِلِّيِّينَ وَ اخْلُفْهُ عَلَی عَقِبِهِ فِي الْآخِرِينَ وَ لَا تَحْرِمْنَا أَجْرَهُ وَ لَا تَفْتِنَّا بَعْدَهُ.
Death is sudden, so when the news of the death of one of you reaches his brother, he should say: “Indeed, we belong to Allah, and indeed, to Him we will return, and indeed, to our Lord we will return.
O Allah! Write him down among Your absent ones, and place his record in ‘Illiyyīn, and make him a successor among his future generations, and do not deprive us of his reward, and do not test us after him.
Reference: Mustadrak al-Wasa’il, vol. 2, p. 487
اَلرَسُولُ صَلَّی اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ: مَا مِنْ أَحَدٍ مِنْ أُمَّتِي تَبْلُغُهُ وَفَاةُ أَحَدٍ بَيْنَهُ وَ بَيْنَهُ قَرَابَةٌ أَوْ غَيْرُ ذَلِكَ وَ يَسْتَرْجِعُ ثُمَّ يَقُولُ: « اللَّهُمَّ اخْلُفْهُ عَلَی تَرِكَتِهِ فِي الْغَابِرِينَ وَ اغْفِرْ لَهُ وَ لَنَا يَا رَبَّ الْعَالَمِينَ» ثُمَّ يَقُولُ: « اللَّهُمَّ نَوِّرْ لَهُ فِي قَبْرِهِ وَ افْسَحْ لَهُ فِي لَحْدِهِ وَ لَقِّنْهُ حُجَّتَهُ » إِلَّا شَفَّعَهُ اللَّهُ فِيهِ وَ كَانَ لَهُ مِثْلُ أَجْرِ مَنْ صَبَرَ.
No one from my Ummah is there who hears the news of the death of one of his relatives or non-relatives, and seeks help from Allah, and then says: ‘O Allah! Place his successor among the generations to come, and forgive him and us. O Lord of the worlds!’
Then he says: ‘O Allah! Light up his grave for him; make his grave spacious for him, and teach him his proof (argument).’
Except that Allah accepts his intercession on his behalf, and he will have a reward like the reward of the patient (those who persevere).
Reference: Mustadrak al-Wasa’il, vol. 2, p. 488
12- Testimony for the deceased
اَلصَّادِقُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: إِذَا مَاتَ الْمُؤْمِنُ فَحَضَرَ جَنَازَتَهُ أَرْبَعُونَ رَجُلًا مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ قَالُوا: « اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا لَا نَعْلَمُ مِنْهُ إِلَّا خَيْراً وَ أَنْتَ أَعْلَمُ بِهِ مِنَّا»- قَالَ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَی قَدْ أَجَزْتُ شَهَادَاتِكُمْ وَ غَفَرْتُ لَهُ مَا عَلِمْتُ مِمَّا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ.
Whenever a believer passes away, and forty believers attend his funeral, and say: ‘O Allah! We know nothing about him except good, and You know about him better than we do.’
Allah, exalted is He, will say: ‘I have accepted your testimony for his goodness, and I have forgiven him for what I know, and for what you do not know.’
Reference: Man La Yahduruhu al-Faqih, vol. 1, p. 165
13- Reward for attending/proceeding with the funeral procession
وَ رُوِيَ أَنَّ دَاوُدَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ) قَالَ: إِلَهِي مَا جَزَاءُ مَنْ يُعَزِّي الْحَزِينَ وَ الْمُصَابَ ابْتِغَاءَ مَرْضَاتِكَ قَالَ: جَزَاؤُهُ أَنْ أَكْسُوَهُ رِدَاءً مِنْ أَرْدِيَةِ الْإِيمَانِ أَسْتُرُهُ مِنَ النَّارِ وَ أُدْخِلُهُ بِهِ الْجَنَّةَ قَالَ: يَا إِلَهِي فَمَا جَزَاءُ مَنْ شَيَّعَ الْجَنَائِزَ ابْتِغَاءَ مَرْضَاتِكَ قَالَ: جَزَاؤُهُ أَنْ تُشَيِّعَهُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ يَوْمَ يَمُوتُ إِلَی قَبْرِهِ وَ أَنْ أُصَلِّيَ عَلَی رُوحِهِ فِي الْأَرْوَاحِ.
It is narrated that Prophet David (peace be upon him) said in his supplication to his Lord:
O Lord! What is the reward for the one who consoles a grieving and afflicted person for Your sake?
It was said to him: “His reward is that I will clothe him with the garment of safety and security, protect him from the fire of Hell, and admit him into Paradise.
Then David (peace be upon him) said: “O Lord! What is the reward for the one who escorts the funeral of the believers for Your sake?
The reply came: “His reward is that on the day he dies, the angels will escort him to the side of his grave and will place his soul among the souls of the pure.
Reference: Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 79, p. 95
14- Funeral procession
أَبِي بَرْدَةَ: مَرُّوا بِجِنَازَةٍ تُمْخَضُ كَمَا يُمْخَضُ الزِّقُّ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ (صَلَّی اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ): عَلَيْكُمْ بِالسَّكِينَةِ عَلَيْكُمْ بِالْقَصْدِ فِي الْمَشْيِ بِجَنَائِزِكُم.
Abī Burda said:
A (corpse) was being carried while it was shaking as if a waterskin were being shaken. The Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said:
Observe calmness and tranquility! Observe moderation in walking and in carrying funerals.
Reference: Mustadrak al-Wasa’il, vol. 2, p. 378
مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ عَنْ أَحَدِهِمَا (الباقر او الصادق(عَلَيْهِمَا السَّلَامُ) قَالَ: سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الْمَشْيِ مَعَ الْجَنَازَةِ فَقَالَ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهَا وَ عَنْ يَمِينِهَا وَ عَنْ شِمَالِهَا وَ خَلْفِهَا.
Muhammad ibn Muslim reported:
He asked Imam al-Baqir or Imam al-Sadiq (peace be upon them) about the proper manner of walking with a funeral. The Imam said:
Walking in front of the funeral, on its right, on its left, or behind it are all the same.
Reference: Al-Kafi, vol. 3, p. 169
15- Condemnation of fleeing from death
اَللهُ تَعالی: قُلْ لَنْ يَنْفَعَكُمُ الْفِرارُ إِنْ فَرَرْتُمْ مِنَ الْمَوْتِ أَوِ الْقَتْلِ وَ إِذاً لا تُمَتَّعُونَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا.
Say: If you flee from death or being killed, your flight will never benefit you, and in that case you will enjoy only a little.
Reference: Qur’an, Al-Ahzab 33:16
16- The inevitability of death
اَللهُ تَعالی: أَيْنَما تَكُونُوا يُدْرِكْكُمُ الْمَوْتُ وَ لَوْ كُنْتُمْ فِي بُرُوجٍ مُشَيَّدَةٍ.
Wherever you may be, even in lofty and well-fortified castles, death will overtake you!
Reference: Qur’an, Al-Nisa 4:78
17- The messenger of death
أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: الْمَشِيبُ رَسُولُ الْمَوْتِ.
Gray hair is the harbinger of death; therefore, delaying preparation for the journey to the Hereafter after it appears is the height of foolishness and ignorance.
Reference: Tasnif Ghurar al-Hikam, p. 160
18- Hope in divine mercy at the time of death
أَنَسٍ: مَرِضَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْأَنْصَارِ فَأَتَاهُ النَّبِيُ (صَلَّی اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ) يَعُودُهُ فَوَافَقَهُ وَ هُوَ فِي الْمَوْتِ فَقَالَ كَيْفَ تَجِدُكَ قَالَ أَجِدُنِي أَرْجُو رَحْمَةَ رَبِّي وَ أَتَخَوَّفُ مِنْ ذُنُوبِي فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ (صَلَّی اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ) مَا اجْتَمَعَتَا فِي قَلْبِ عَبْدٍ فِي مِثْلِ هَذَا الْمَوْطِنِ إِلَّا أَعْطَاهُ اللَّهُ رَجَاءَهُ وَ آمَنَهُ مِمَّا يَخَافُهُ.
Anas reported: A man from the Ansar became ill. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) went to visit him, and his arrival coincided with the man’s state of ihtidar (the moments of passing/death agony). The Prophet asked, “How do you find yourself?” He replied, “I find myself hoping for the mercy of my Lord and fearful of my sins!” The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said, “These two states do not combine in the heart of any servant in such a situation, except that God grants him what he hopes for and keeps him safe from what he fears.
Reference: Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 78, p. 239
19- Fīshār al-qabr (also spelled Qabr pressure)
pressure in the grave—the hardship/questioning that some narrations describe as occurring to the deceased in the grave
أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ:… يَا عِبَادَ اللَّهِ مَا بَعْدَ الْمَوْتِ لِمَنْ لَمْ يُغْفَرْ لَهُ أَشَدُّ مِنَ الْمَوْتِ الْقَبْرَ فَاحْذَرُوا ضِيقَهُ وَ ضَنْكَهُ وَ ظُلْمَتَهُ وَ غُرْبَتَه إِنَّ الْقَبْرَ يَقُولُ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ أَنَا بَيْتُ الْغُرْبَةِ أَنَا بَيْتُ التُّرَابِ أَنَا بَيْتُ الْوَحْشَةِ أَنَا بَيْتُ الدُّودِ وَ الْهَوَامِّ وَ الْقَبْرُ رَوْضَةٌ مِنْ رِيَاضِ الْجَنَّةِ أَوْ حُفْرَةٌ مِنْ حُفَرِ النَّارِ إِنَّ الْعَبْدَ الْمُؤْمِنَ إِذَا دُفِنَ قَالَتِ الْأَرْضُ لَهُ مَرْحَباً وَ أَهْلًا قَدْ كُنْتَ مِمَّنْ أُحِبُّ أَنْ يَمْشِيَ عَلَی ظَهْرِي فَإِذَا تَوَلَّيْتُكَ فَسَتَعْلَمُ كَيْفَ صُنْعِي بِكَ فَتَتَّسِعُ لَهُ مَدَّ الْبَصَرِ وَ إِنَّ الْكَافِرَ إِذَا دُفِنَ قَالَتِ الْأَرْضُ لَهُ لَا مَرْحَباً وَ لَا أَهْلًا قَدْ كُنْتَ مِنْ أَبْغَضِ مَنْ يَمْشِي عَلَی ظَهْرِي فَإِذَا تَوَلَّيْتُكَ فَسَتَعْلَمُ كَيْفَ صُنْعِي بِكَ فَتَضُمُّهُ حَتَّی تَلْتَقِيَ أَضْلَاعُهُ وَ إِنَّ الْمَعِيشَةَ الضَّنْكَ الَّتِي حَذَّرَ اللَّهُ مِنْهَا عَدُوَّهُ عَذَابُ الْقَبْرِ…
Servants of God! Whoever is not forgiven after death faces something even more difficult ahead: the grave. So fear its narrowness, pressure, darkness, and loneliness. Every day the grave says: “I am the house of loneliness. I am the house of dust. I am the house of terror. I am the house of worms and creeping creatures.” The grave is either a garden from the gardens of Paradise or a pit from the pits of Hell.
When a believing servant is buried, the earth says to him: “Welcome and greetings to you! You were among those whom I loved to walk upon my back. Now that I have embraced you, you shall see how I will treat you.” Then his grave is expanded for him as far as the eye can see.
But when the disbeliever is buried, the earth says to him: “Neither greetings nor welcome to you! You were among the most hateful of those whom I disliked to walk upon my back. Now that I have embraced you, you shall see how I will treat you.” Then it presses him so tightly that his ribs interlock.
Indeed, that hard and difficult life with which God has warned His enemy is the punishment of the grave.
Reference: Amali al-Mufid, p. 265
20- Funeral prayer; prayer for the deceased
اَلصَّادِقُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: فَرَضَ اللَّهُ الصَّلَاةَ وَ سَنَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ (صَلَّی اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ) عَلَی عَشَرَةِ أَوْجُهٍ صَلَاةَ الْحَضَرِ وَ السَّفَرِ إِلَی أَنْ قَالَ وَ الصَّلَاةَ عَلَی الْمَيِّتِ.
God made prayer obligatory, and the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) established ten types of obligatory prayers, among them prayer at home and during travel—until he said: and the prayer over the dead.
Reference: Mustadrak al-Wasa’il, vol. 2, p. 286
اَلرَسُولُ صَلَّی اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ: فَرْضٌ عَلَی أُمَّتِي غُسْلُ مَوْتَاهَا وَ الصَّلَاةُ عَلَيْهَا.
It is obligatory upon my nation to perform ghusl (ritual washing) for their dead and to perform the funeral prayer (salat al-janazah) over them.
Reference: Mustadrak al-Wasa’il, vol. 2, p. 286
أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: إِذَا اجْتَمَعَتِ الْجَنَائِزُ صُلِّيَ عَلَيْهَا مَعاً صَلَاةٌ وَاحِدَةٌ وَ يُجْعَلُ الرِّجَالُ مِمَّا يَلِيهِ وَ النِّسَاءُ مِمَّا يَلِي الْقِبْلَةَ.
If several bodies (funerals) are gathered together, a single prayer must be performed over all of them. The men should be placed in the position closest to the one leading the prayer, and the women in the position closest to the qiblah.
Reference: Mustadrak al-Wasa’il, vol. 2, p. 285
أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ (صَلَّی اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ) كَانَ إِذَا وَقَفَ عَلَی جِنَازَةِ الرَّجُلِ لِلصَّلَاةِ عَلَيْهِ قَامَ بِحِذَاءِ صَدْرِهِ فَإِذَا كَانَتِ امْرَأَةً قَامَ بِحِذَاءِ رَأْسِهَا.
When the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) stood by the body of a deceased person to perform the funeral prayer, he would stand level with the chest if the deceased was a man, and level with the head if the deceased was a woman.
Reference: Mustadrak al-Wasa’il, vol. 2, p. 282
اَلْبَاقِرُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: أَحَقُّ النَّاسِ بِالصَّلَاةِ عَلَيْهَا إِذَا مَاتَتْ زَوْجُهَا.
The most deserving person to perform the funeral prayer over her at the time of her death is her husband.
Reference: Mustadrak al-Wasa’il, vol. 2, p. 281
