In Islamic perspective trials and tribulations are an inevitable part of life. They serve as a means of spiritual purification, growth, and earning nearness to Allah. One always thinks what happens to our souls after we die and when we are ready to face Allah? Death is the only thing promised in life. The concept of death in Islam calls upon believers to live with an awareness of impermanence. Instead of ignoring death, we are asked to live with the knowledge that our lives in dunya are fleeting: only our good deeds remain. Holy Quran says, “O my people, this worldly life is only [temporary] enjoyment, and indeed, the Hereafter – that is the home of [permanent] settlement.” – Quran 40:39 There is comfort in knowing we will return to Allah in the time he prescribes for us, and that it is our job to live with as much purity and submission as possible. Quran says, “It is Allah Who takes away the souls of people at the hour of their death, and takes away at the time of sleep the souls of those that have not died. Then He retains the souls of those against whom He had decreed death and returns the souls of others till an appointed time. Surely there are Signs in this for a people who reflect.” (Quran, Aya 39:42 of Az-Zamar) Islam presents a refreshing stance on death, both in theory and the rituals surrounding death. Whereas we may be culturally persuaded to prolong thinking of death in the West, Islam requires us to ponder our death to better live our existence. Additionally, Islamic rituals around death contrast those of traditional Western burial. If one knows they are close to death, it is important to offer Shahada, the recitation that “lā ʾilāha ʾillallāh, Muḥammad rasūlu-llāh,” “there is no god but God and Mohammed is his messenger.” This is meant to offer solace and peace for the dying and solidify one’s commitment to Islam. When the deceased passes, it is custom to say, “Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un,” translated as “verily we belong to Allah, and truly to Him shall we return.” Then the eyes are closed and the body is covered by a sheet. The body of the deceased must be handled with the utmost respect and gentleness. The body must be washed three times by Muslims of the same gender. The washing of the body should be done with warm water, and the performers of the washing should not touch the body directly (instead they can wear gloves to do so). The bodies of martyrs or those killed in a traumatic way do not require washing, although shrouding is still required. After the body has been properly washed, the corpse is then wrapped in a simple material. Generally, white cloth is preferred, however, the cloth may differ depending on region and country. The material should not have any stitching, nor should it be made of silk. The aim is modesty, and inexpensive fabric is preferred over fancy material. Male deceased requires 3 wraps, while female deceased require 5 wraps to cover the “aurat”. The funeral prayers are different than other prayers with four Takbirs but no bowing or Ruku. The body is placed in front of the imam who leads the congregation through Janazah. The prayer opens with Al-Fatiha and is followed by the Takbir, and then a dua for the deceased is made. The burial should be done as soon as possible — usually within 24 hours of the death, if not sooner. The body is buried with the head towards Mecca, directly into the earth. The body is lowered into the ground on the right side and those in attendance throw three handfuls of dirt into the grave, saying, “We created you from it, and return you into it, and from it, we will raise you a second time.” There is also a specific part of the ritual focused on condolences called ‘Azza. This is a time for members of the community to visit the family of the bereaved. Usually, positive stories of the deceased are shared and the event is meant as much to strengthen and support those who are grieving as it is to honor the one who passed. When we lose someone close to us, it is a heartbreaking time – as we attach ourselves to all the memories we shared, facing the reality that we will never see them again in this world. But our faith is a religion of hope. It is important to know how to enter a Muslim graveyard. A Muslim is not allowed to laugh, make jokes, speak loudly, etc. in graveyard. Muslim should face the graves and say “Salam.” Then say a prayer for the deceased and yourself. One has the option to recite the supplication the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) used to recite when visiting graves. Assalaamu ‘alaykum ‘ahlad-diyaari, minal-mu’mineena wal muslimeena, wa ‘innaa ‘in shaa’ Allaahu bikum laahiqoona ‘as’alullaaha lanaa wa lakumul- ‘aafiyata. Translation: Oh, Muslims residing here, salaams on you, by the will of Allah we will also be coming to you. We seek safety for us and you. There are multiple benefits to visiting the grave for both the visitor and the deceased. Visiting the grave is a recommended act by the Prophet (S) in order to remind the visitor of death and the afterlife. The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: “Visit the graves, for they will remind you of the Hereafter.” We pray Allah (swt) allows us to reunite with our loved ones in the Gardens of Paradise. While you may dream of reunion in Heaven, there are ways you can help yourself through the grief and benefit both yourself and your loved one in this world. So, trust in Allah (swt) and follow religious guidelines/ advises as given below:
(1). Make Du’a For Them: One of the greatest gifts we have as believers is the gift of du’a (supplication). Alhamdulillah, we have the opportunity to make du’a for our loved ones and benefit them in the grave, by seeking forgiveness for them. It is our continuous prayer, remembrance and du’a that will help them in the Barzakh, the interspace between this world and the next. Just as we would want our loved ones to remember us after we pass, we should honour our deceased, as they are in need of our du’as. These don’t necessarily have to be offered in a gathering or at the graveyard. They can be part of your daily routine. The best du’a is that which is in accordance with the Sunnah of our beloved Prophet (saw) and the Qur’an. There are many verses in the Qur’an where prayers are made for those who have passed away: ‘Our Lord, You have encompassed all things in mercy and knowledge, so forgive those who have repented and followed Your way and protect them from the punishment of Hellfire. Our Lord, and admit them to gardens of perpetual residence which You have promised them and whoever was righteous among their forefathers, their spouses and their offspring. Indeed, it is You who is the Exalted in Might, the Wise’ [The Noble Qur’an, 40:7-8].
“There is no exact timeline for healing, but patience, hope, and trust in Allah should bring ease. Islam allows us to benefit our loved ones without losing our own reward. Death is not the end but the start of our eternal existence in the hereafter.”
(2) Give Sadaqah Jariyah On Their Behalf: Allah (swt) has also blessed us with the chance to give Sadaqah Jariyah on behalf of our loved ones. This is a continuous, ongoing charity, which will benefit them for years and years to come and comes directly from the Qur’an and Sunnah. Allah (swt) tells us in the Qur’an: One of the major misconceptions about giving Sadaqah Jariyah is that our own reward will be decreased, and if we give it on behalf of both parents, that reward will be split into two. However, the truth is, when a person makes a donation or executes a charitable act in the name of one or more deceased or living people (no maximum limit), it will benefit them all with full reward, without decreasing our own rewards! On the authority of Sa‘d bin ’Ubadah (RA)that he said, ‘O Messenger of Allah! Umm (mother of) Sa‘d has died, so which charity is best?’ He [saw] replied, “Water (is best).” He said, ‘So he [ra] dug a well and said, “This (well) is for Umm Sa‘d”’. [Abu Dawud] You can donate a tube-well in the name of a loved one from just £190, providing the gift of clean water to deprived communities. We also find from the Hadith, that our charity directly reaches our loved ones in the Barzakh, giving them joy: The Prophet (saw) said, ’There is no household of whom one person dies and they give charity on his behalf after his death, but Jibreel (as) will present it to him on a platter of light. He will stand at the edge of the grave and say: ‘O occupant of the deep grave, this is a gift given to you by your family, so accept it.’ Then he will enter upon him, and he will be delighted thereafter and rejoice, and his neighbours (in the graveyard) who were not given anything will be sad’. [Tabarani] Let us remember and honour our loved ones with Sadaqah Jariyah just as we would wish for our loved ones to honour us with beneficial, ongoing charity. You can illuminate the Dome of the Rock in the name of your loved one, ensuring their legacy for generations to come. There are plenty of ways to give Sadaqah Jariyah, but some of our recommended projects include donating a water well, illuminating the Dome of the Rock and housing a Syrian family. We should make the effort to invest in our own Hereafter by planting the seeds of Sadaqah Jariyah in our lifetime so that they may continue to flower when we are beyond this world!
(3) Practise Patience: If we’ve been taught anything over the last year, it is sabr. You need to give yourself time to heal and to process all of your emotions. Patience is often misunderstood as blocking out our feelings and not allowing ourselves to experience the grief which naturally follows loss. In truth, patience is channelling those emotions without letting them overcome you, keeping trust in Allah and His decree. Allah reminds us of the virtue of patience during various times within the Qur’an: We also see this beautiful patience in the Sunnah of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (saw) when he lost his infant son Ibrahim (RA): Anas ibn Malik (RA)reported: We entered the house of Abu Saif along with the Prophet (saw) who was the husband of Ibrahim’s wet-nurse, upon him be peace. The Prophet (saw) took hold of Ibrahim (ra), kissed him and smelled him. Then, we entered after that as Ibrahim (RA)was breathing his last breaths. It made the eyes of the Prophet (saw) shed tears. Abdur Rahman ibn Awf (RA)said, “Even you, O Messenger of Allah?” The Prophet (saw) said, “O Ibn Awf, this is mercy”. Then, the Prophet (saw) wept some more and he said, “Verily, the eyes shed tears and the heart is grieved, but we will not say anything except what is pleasing to our Lord. We are saddened by your departure, O Ibrahim”. [Bukhari]
(4) Death Is A Time Of Reflection: Death is a reminder for us all that our time in this Dunya is only temporary, allowing us to ponder about how we can invest in our hereafter. The deeds we do today will truly benefit us tomorrow. The loss of a loved one reminds us to strive to be better believers and better people, to practise kindness and mercy, to spread love so others may remember us after we pass. When we use the death of a loved one to spark a change in our lives, they will get the reward of our good deeds too.
Conclusion: Let’s make the intention to work on ourselves spiritually, to pray our daily prayers, and increase our recitation of the Qur’an, our good deeds and our charity. The Prophet Muhammad (saw) said, ‘I prohibited you from visiting graves, but visit them now. Verily, they will weaken your attachment to the world and remind you of the Hereafter’. [Ibn Majah] Visiting the graveyard is a connection to those we have lost, as it brings many of us comfort when we visit our loved ones. This is the Du’a the Prophet (saw) used to say when visiting the grave: There is no exact timeline for healing, but the recipe of patience, hope and trust in Allah should bring ease to your heart. Alhamdulillah, Islam gives us the option to continue benefiting our loved ones, without decreasing our own reward. How merciful is our Lord? Our faith reminds us that death is indeed not the end, but the beginning of our next chapter, of our inevitable return to our creator an eternal existence in the hereafter. Let us take the death of a loved one, the hearing of someone close or distant passing away as a lesson that our time soon will come too. It’s up to us to plant those seeds of Paradise in this world through our actions, our speech, our character & faith. We leave you with one final Ayah of Qur’an that will bring ease to your heart: ’And those who believed and whose descendants followed them in faith – We will join with them their descendants, and We will not deprive them of anything of their deeds’. [The Noble Qur’an, 52:21] Simple, sacred, and time-worn, the views of death in Islam and the rituals surrounding death, call upon us to remember Allah in all we do. It is written in Surah Al-Ankabut 57: “Every soul will taste death, then to Us, you will all be returned.” We pray Allah (swt) to grant our dear ones who left this world highest ranks of Jannah, may He illuminate their graves, reunites us with our loved ones in His Eternal Gardens of Paradise and grant beautiful patience ‘Sabr Jameel’ to loved ones. Aameen!
(The authors write regularly on Islamic Topics exclusively for the opinion pages of “Kashmir Horizon”. The views, opinions and conclusions expressed in this article are those of the authors and aren’t necessarily in accord with the views of “Kashmir Horizon”)
Dr. Bilal Ahmad & Intizar Ahmad
