The Book of Funerals

Abu al-Hayyāj al-Asadi reported: 'Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said to me: "Shall I not send you with the same instructions as the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) sent me with? Do not leave any statue without blotting it out or any raised grave without leveling it."

Sa‘īd ibn al-Musayyab reported that his father said: When Abu Tālib was about to die, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) came to him and found Abu Jahl and 'Abdullah ibn Abi' Umayyah ibn al-Mughīrah with him. He said: "O uncle, say: La ilāha illallāh (there is no god but Allah), a word with which I can defend you before Allah." Abu Jahl and 'Abdullah ibn Abi' Umayyah said: Would you abandon the religion of 'Abdul-Muttalib? The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) kept repeating his request, and they also kept repeating their words to him. The last thing Abu Tālib said to them was: On the religion of 'Abdul-Muttalib, refusing to say: There is no god but Allah. He said: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "By Allah, I shall continue seeking forgiveness for you unless I am forbidden from doing so." So Allah revealed: {It is not fitting for the Prophet and those who believe in seeking forgiveness for the polytheists.} [Surat at-Tawbah: 113]. Allah also revealed regarding Abu Tālib and addressing the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him): {You cannot guide whoever you like, but Allah guides whom He wills.} [Surat al-Qasas: 56]

‘Ā'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: "Should I not tell you about me and the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him)?" We said: 'Yes.' She said that when it was my turn and the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was to spend the night with me, he turned, took off his mantle and his shoes and placed them near his feet. Then, he spread the end of his lower garment on his bed and lay down until he thought that I had gone to sleep. He took hold of his mantle slowly and put on his shoes slowly, and opened the door and went out and then closed it gently. I put on my head cover and my veil and tightened my lower garment, and then went out following his steps until he reached Al-Baqī‘. He stood there for a long time. He then lifted his hands three times, and then returned and I also returned. He hastened his steps and I also hastened my steps. He ran and I ran too. He came (to the house) and I also came (to the house). I, however, preceded him and I entered (the house), and as I lay down in bed, he entered and said: "Why is it, O ‘Ā'ish, that you are out of breath?" I said: 'Nothing.' He said: "Tell me or the Subtle and the Aware will inform me." I said: "O Messenger of Allah, may my father and mother be sacrificed for you." Then I told him everything. He said: "So, you were the darkness that I saw in front of me?" I said: 'Yes.' He struck me on the chest and it was painful, and then said: "Did you think that Allah and His Messenger would be unfair to you?" I said: "Whatever people conceal, Allah knows it. Yes." He said: "Jibrīl came to me when you saw me. He called me and he concealed it from you. I responded to his call, but I too concealed it from you, as he would never enter upon you while you are undressed. I thought that you had gone to sleep, and I did not like to awaken you, fearing that you might be afraid of being left alone. Jibrīl said to me: 'Your Lord commands you to go to the inhabitants of Al-Baqī‘ and seek forgiveness for them."' I said: "O Messenger of Allah, what should I say to them?" He said: "Say: Peace be upon the inhabitants of this place among the believers and Muslims. May Allah have mercy upon those who have gone on ahead of us and those who come later on, and we will join you, if Allah wills."

‘Ā’ishah, Mother of the Believers, (may Allah be pleased with her) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said during his illness from which he did not recover: "May the curse of Allah be upon the Jews and Christians; they took the graves of their prophets as mosques." She said: If it were not for that, his grave would be made prominent; yet, it was feared that it might be taken as a mosque.

‘Ā’ishah, Mother of the Believers, (may Allah be pleased with her) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said during his illness from which he did not recover: "May the curse of Allah be upon the Jews and Christians; they took the graves of their prophets as mosques." She said: If it were not for that, his grave would be made prominent; yet, it was feared that it might be taken as a mosque.

Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "This is the one at whose death the Throne shook; the gates of heaven were opened for him; and seventy thousand angles attended his funeral. He was squeezed once then was released."

Al-Barā’ ibn ‘Āzib (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "When a Muslim is questioned in the grave, he testifies that no deity is worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah," this is His saying: {Allah keeps those who believe steadfast with the firm Word [of faith] in the life of this world and in the Hereafter.} [Surat Ibrāhīm: 27]

Abu Ayyūb (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) went out after the sun had set. He heard a sound and then said: "The Jews are being tormented in their graves."

Asmā' bint Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with her) reported that once the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) stood up and mentioned the trial with which a person will be tested in his grave. When he mentioned this, the people made a loud noise in a way that prevented me from understanding what the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) was saying. When they calmed down, I said to a man who was near me: "May Allah bless you, what did the Messenger say at the end?" He said: "It has been revealed to me that you will be tested in your graves with a trial close to that of the Anti-Christ."

‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported: There came to me two old women from the old Jewesses of Madīnah and said: "The grave dwellers are tormented in their graves." I did not believe them and I did not deem it proper to believe them. They went away and the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) came to me and I said to him: "O Messenger of Allah, there came to me two old women", and I mentioned to him what they had said. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "They spoke the truth. They are tormented, and their torment can be heard by all animals." Never did I see him afterwards in prayer except that he would seek refuge (in Allah) from the torment of the grave.

‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported: There came to me two old women from the old Jewesses of Madīnah and said: "The grave dwellers are tormented in their graves." I did not believe them and I did not deem it proper to believe them. They went away and the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) came to me and I said to him: "O Messenger of Allah, there came to me two old women", and I mentioned to him what they had said. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "They spoke the truth. They are tormented, and their torment can be heard by all animals." Never did I see him afterwards in prayer except that he would seek refuge (in Allah) from the torment of the grave.

Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported: The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) passed by two graves and said: "They are being tormented, but they are not tormented for a major sin. One of them would not save himself from being soiled with his urine, while the other used to walk about spreading malicious gossip." He then took a green leaf of a date palm, split it into two, and planted one on each grave. They said: O Messenger of Allah, why did you do that? He replied: "Their torment might be alleviated until they become dry."

Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported: The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) passed by two graves and said: "They are being tormented, but they are not tormented for a major sin. One of them would not save himself from being soiled with his urine, while the other used to walk about spreading malicious gossip." He then took a green leaf of a date palm, split it into two, and planted one on each grave. They said: O Messenger of Allah, why did you do that? He replied: "Their torment might be alleviated until they become dry."

‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Indeed, when one of you dies, he is shown his place in the morning and the evening. If he is among the people of Paradise, he is shown his place in Paradise, and if he is among the people of Hellfire, he is shown his place in Hellfire. It will be said to him: This is your place until Allah resurrects you on the Day of Judgment."

‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Indeed, when one of you dies, he is shown his place in the morning and the evening. If he is among the people of Paradise, he is shown his place in Paradise, and if he is among the people of Hellfire, he is shown his place in Hellfire. It will be said to him: This is your place until Allah resurrects you on the Day of Judgment."

‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Indeed, when one of you dies, he is shown his place in the morning and the evening. If he is among the people of Paradise, he is shown his place in Paradise, and if he is among the people of Hellfire, he is shown his place in Hellfire. It will be said to him: This is your place until Allah resurrects you on the Day of Judgment."

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Allah said: The son of Adam tells a lie against Me and he has no right to do so; and he insults Me and has no right to do so. His lying against Me is his saying: He will not resurrect me as He created me for the first time,' although the first creation was not easier for Me than resurrecting him. His insulting Me is his saying: 'Allah has begotten a son,' while I am The One, The Eternal Refuge, Who begets not nor was He begotten, and there is none like unto Me."

‘Ā’ishah, the Mother of the Believers (may Allah be pleased with her) reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) say: "People will be gathered on the Day of Judgment barefooted, naked, and uncircumcised." I said: O Messenger of Allah, men and women together, looking at each other?! He replied: "O ‘Ā’ishah, the situation will be too grave for them to be looking at each other."