INTRODUCTION


A Divine Service is held over the dead body of every Muslim, young or old, even of infants who have lived only for a few minutes. A Muslim opens his eyes in the world with the words of Adhan in his ears in which he is told that he is a moral being having moral and spiritual responsibilities far more important than the physical needs. He should live in the world with a firm belief in the Creator of the Universe as his only Deity. Then he should spend his life as a sincere and devoted follower of Muhammad (may peace be upon him), for it is through him that he has received full information about the Will of God and the Divine Code of life. It Is also imprinted upon his fresh and clear mind that prayer elevates the soul of man and herein lies his success in this world and the world to come. With this sacred message he is made to start his life. Both the paths are shown to him, the path of righteousness and religious piety and the path of evil and irreligiousness, and then it is left to his discretion to choose the path he likes. After spending the allotted length of time he is called back to his Master.

When the soul leaves the body, preparations are made for bidding him the last farewell. He is washed and perfumed and is wrapped in white sheets. Then the funeral prayer is observed keeping his dead body in front of the Imam in which God to requested in congregation to grant him pardon for his minor and major sins, for all his failings and to wrap him in His Mercy.

A Muslim is received in this world with Adhan and lqama and he is given a send- off with prayer and supplication to Allah for treating him kindly in his heavenly home.

There is neither Adhan nor Iqama in the funeral prayer which has very deep significance. It implies that the Adhan and lqama for the funeral prayer had been pronounced at the time of his birth. He is thus awakened to the realisation of the fact that he should spend the whole span of his life with such single-minded devotion as is found in a worshipper waiting for the commencement of prayer after the Adhan and Iqama are pronounced.

A Divine Service is held over the dead body of every Muslim, young or old,even of infants who have lived only for a few minutes. A Muslim opens his eyesin the world with the words of Adhan in his ears in which he is told that heis a moral being having moral and spiritual responsibilities far moreimportant than the physical needs. He should live in the world with a firmbelief in the Creator of the Universe as his only Deity. Then he should spendhis life as a sincere and devoted follower of Muhammad (may peace be uponhim), for it is through him that he has received full information about theWill of God and the Divine Code of life. It Is also imprinted upon his freshand clear mind that prayer elevates the soul of man and herein lies hissuccess in this world and the world to come. With this sacred message he ismade to start his life. Both the paths are shown to him, the path ofrighteousness and religious piety and the path of evil and irreligiousness,and then it is left to his discretion to choose the path he likes. Afterspending the allotted length of time he is called back to his Master. When the soul leaves the body, preparations are made for bidding him thelast farewell. He is washed and perfumed and is wrapped in white sheets. Thenthe funeral prayer is observed keeping his dead body in front of the Imam inwhich God to requested in congregation to grant him pardon for his minor andmajor sins, for all his failings and to wrap him in His Mercy. A Muslim is received in this world with Adhan and lqama and he is given asend- off with prayer and supplication to Allah for treating him kindly in hisheavenly home. There is neither Adhan nor Iqama in the funeral prayer which has very deepsignificance. It implies that the Adhan and lqama for the funeral prayer hadbeen pronounced at the time of his birth. He is thus awakened to therealisation of the fact that he should spend the whole span of his life withsuch single-minded devotion as is found in a worshipper waiting for thecommencement of prayer after the Adhan and Iqama are pronounced.

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) assaying: Exhort to recite" There is no god but Allah" to those of you who aredying.

This hadith has been narrated by Sulaiman b. Bilal with the same chain of transmitters.

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying:Exhort to recite" There is no god but Allah" to those of you who are dying.

Umm Salama reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: If any Muslim who suffers some calamity says, what Allah has commanded him," Webelong to Allah and to Him shall we return; O Allah, reward me for myaffliction and give me something better than it in exchange for it," Allahwill give him something better than it in exchange. When Abu Salama died shesaid: What Muslim is better than Abu Salama whose family was the first toemigrate to the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him). I then said thewords, and Allah gave me God's Messenger (may peace be upon him) in exchange.She said: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) sent Hatib b. AbuBalta'a to deliver me the message of marriage with him. I said to him: I havea daughter (as my dependant) and I am of jealous temperament. He (the HolyProphet) said: So far as her daughter is concerned, we would supplicate Allah,that He may free her (of her responsibility) and I would also supplicate Allahto do away with (her) jealous (temperament).

Umm Salama, the wife of the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him),reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: If any servant(of Allah) who suffers a calamity says:" We belong to Allah and to Him shallwe return; O Allah, reward me for my affliction and give me something betterthan it in exchange for it," ' Allah will give him reward for affliction, andwould give him something better than it in exchange. She (Umm Salama) said:When Abu Salama died. I uttered (these very words) as I was commanded (to do)by the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him). So Allah gave me better inexchange than him. i. e. (I was taken as the wife of) the Messenger of Allah(may peace be upon him).

Umm Salama, the wife of the Apostle of Allah (way peace be upon him),reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) saying like the hadithtransmitted by Abu Usama, but with this addition that she said:" When AbuSalama died I said: Who is better than Abu Salama, the Companion of theMessenger of Allah (may peace be upon him), and Allah decided for me and Isaid (these words contained in the supplication mentioned above) and I wasmarried to the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him).

Umm Salama reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying:Whenever you visit the sick or the dead, supplicate for good because angelssay" Amen" to whatever you say. She added: When Abu Salama died, I went to theApostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) and said: Messenger of Allah, AbuSalama has died. He told me to recite:" O Allah! forgive me and him (AbuSalama) and give me a better substitute than he." So I said (this), and Allahgave me in exchange Muhammad, who is better for me than him (Abu Salama).

Umm Salama reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon came to AbuSalama (as he died). His eyes were fixedly open. He closed them, and thensaid: When the soul is taken away the sight follows it. Some of the people ofhis family wept and wailed. So he said: Do not supplicate for yourselvesanything but good, for angels say" Amen" to what you say. He then said: OAllah, forgive Abu Salama, raise his degree among those who are rightlyguided, grant him a successor in his descendants who remain. Forgive us andhim, O Lord of the Universe, and make his grave spacious, and grant him lightin it.

This hadith has been narrated by Khalid al Hadhdha' with the same chain oftransmitters but with this alteration that he said: (O Allah! ) let Thee bethe caretaker of what is left by him, and he said: Grant him expansion of thegrave, but he did not say: Make his grave spacious. Khalid said: Hesupplicated for the seventh (thing too) which I have forgotten.

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying:Did you not see when the man died and his eyes were fixedly open? He (AbuHuraira) said: Yes. He (the Holy Prophet) said: It is due to the fact thatwhen (the soul leaves the body) his eyesight follows the soul.

This hadith is narrated on the authority of 'Ala' with the same chain oftransmitters.

Umm Salama reported: When Abu Salama died I said: I am a stranger in astrange land; I shall weep for him in a manner that would be talked of. I madepreparation for weeping for him when a woman from the upper side of the citycame there who intended to help me (in weeping). She happened to come acrossthe Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) and he said: Do you intend tobring the devil into a house from which Allah has twice driven him out? I (UmmSalama), therefore, refrained from weeping and I did not weep.

Usama b. Zaid reported: While we were with the Apostle of Allah (may peacebe upon him), one of his daughters sent to him (the Messenger) to call him andinform him that her child or her son was dying. The Messenger of Allah (maypeace be upon him) told the messenger to go back and tell her that what Allahhad taken belonged to Him, and to him belonged what He granted; and He has anappointed time for everything. So you (the messenger) order her to showendurance and seek reward from Allah. The messenger came back and said: Sheadjures him to come to her. He got up to go accompanied by Sa'd b. 'Ubada,Mu'adh b. Jabal, and I also went along with them. The child was lifted to himand his soul was feeling as restless as if it was in an old (waterskin). His(Prophet's) eyes welled up with tears. Sa'd said: What is this, Messenger ofAllah? He replied: This is compassion which Allah has placed in the hearts ofHis servants, and God shows compassion only to those of His servants who arecompassionate.

This hadith has been narrated by another chain of transmitters on theauthority of 'Asim al-Ahwal.

'Abdullah b. 'Umar said that Sa'd b. Ubada complained of illness. TheMessenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) came to visit him accompanied by'Abd al-Rahman b. 'Auf, Sa'd b. Abi Waqqas and 'Abdullah b. Mas'ud. As heentered (his room) he found him in a swoon. Upon this he said: Has he died?They said: Messenger of Allah, it is not so. The Messenger of Allah (may peacebe upon him) wept. When the people saw Allah's Messenger (may peace be uponhim) weeping, they also began to weep. He said. Listen, Allah does not punishfor the tears that the eye sheds or the grief the heart feels, but He punishesfor this (pointing to his tongue), or He may show mercy.

'Abdullah b. 'Umar reported: While we were sitting with the Messenger ofAllah (may peace be upon him), a person, one of the Ansar, came to him andgreeted him. The Ansari then turned back. Upon this the Messenger of Allah(may peace be upon him) said: o brother of Ansar, how is my brother Sa'd be'Ubada? He said: He is better. The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him)said: Who amongst you would visit him? He (the Holy Prophet) stood up and wealso got up along with him, and we were more than ten persons. We had neithershoes with us, nor socks, nor caps, nor shirts. We walked on the barren landtill we came to him. The people around him kept away till the Messenger ofAllah (may peace be upon him) and his Companions with him came near him (Sa'db. 'Ubada).

Anas b. Malik reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying:Endurance is to be shown at the first blow.

Anas b. Malik reported that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) cameto a woman who had been weeping for her (dead) child, and said to her: FearAllah and show endurance. She (not recognising him) said: You have not beenafflicted as I have been. When he (the Holy Prophet) had departed, it was saidto her that he was the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him), she wasmortally shocked. She came to his door and she did not find doorkeepers at hisdoor. She said: Messenger of Allah. I did not recognise you. He said:Endurance is to be shown at first blow, or at the first blow.

A hadith like this is narrated with the same chain of transmitters but withthe addition of these words:" The Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him)happened to pass by a woman (who was sitting) by the side of a grave."

'Abdullah b. 'Umar reported that Hafsa wept for 'Umar (when he was about todue). He ('Umar) said: Be quiet, my daughter. Don't you know that theMessenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) had said:" The dead is punishedbecause of his family's weeping over it"?

Umar reported Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) as saying: The deadis punished in the grave because of wailing on it.

The same hadith is narrated on the authority of 'Umar through another chainof transmitters.

Ibn 'Umar reported: When 'Umar was wounded he fainted, and there was a loudlamentation over him. When he regained consciousness he said: Didn't you knowthat the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said:" The dead ispunished because of the weeping of the living"?

Abu Burda narrated on the authority of his father that when 'Umar waswounded Suhaib uttered (loudly in lamentation): O brother! Upon this 'Umarsaid: Suhaib, did you not know that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be uponhim) said:" The dead is punished because of the lamentation of the living"?

Abu Musa reported that when 'Umar was wounded, there came Suhaib from hishouse and went to 'Umar and stood by his side, and began to wail. Upon this'Umar said: What are you weeping for? Are you weeping for me? He said: ByAllah, it is for you that I weep, O Commander of the believers. He said: ByAllah, you already know that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him)had said: He who is lamented upon is punished. I made a mention of it to Musab. Talha, and he said that 'A'isha told that it concerned the Jews (only).

Anas reported that when 'Umar b. Khattab was wounded Hafsa lamented forhim. Upon this he said: O Hafsa, did you not hear the Messenger of Allah (maypeace be upon him) saying:" One who is lamented would be punished"? Suhaibalso lamented over him. 'Umar told him also: O Suhaib, didn't you know thatone who is lamented is punished?

'Abdullah b. Abu Mulaika reported: I was sitting by the side of Ibn 'Umar,and we were waiting for the bier of Umm Aban, daughter of 'Uthman, and therewas also 'Amr b. 'Uthman. In the meanwhile there came Ibn 'Abbas led by aguide. I conceive that he was informed of the place of Ibn 'Umar. So he cametill he sat by my side. While I was between them (Ibn 'Abbas and Ibn 'Umar)there came the noise (of wailing) from the house. Upon this Ibn 'Umar said(that is, he pointed out to 'Amr that he should stand and forbid them, for): Iheard the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) as saying: The dead ispunished because of the lamentation of his family. 'Abdullah made it general(what was said for a particular occasion). Ibn 'Abbas said: When we were withthe Commander of the believers, 'Umar b. Khattab, we reached Baida', and therewas a man under the shadow of the tree. He said to me: Go and inform me who isthat person. So I went and (found) that he was Suhaib. I returned to him andsaid: You commanded me to find out for you who that was, and he is Suhaib. He(Hadrat 'Umar) said: Command him to see us. I said: He has family along withhim. He said: (That is of no account) even if he has family along with him. Sohe (the narrator) told him to see (the Commander of the believers and hisparty). When we came (to Medina), it was before long that the Commander of thebelievers was wounded, and Suhaib came weeping and crying: Alas for thebrother, alas for the companion. Upon this 'Umar said: Didn't you know, ordidn't you hear, that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said:"The dead is punished because of the lamentation of his family"? Then 'Abdullahmade it general and 'Umar told it of certain occasions. So I ('Abdullah b. AbuMulaika) stood up and went to 'A'isha and told her what Ibn 'Umar had said.Upon this she said: I swear by Allah that Allah's Messenger (may peace be uponhim) never said that dead would be punished because of his family's lamenting(for him). What he said was that Allah would increase the punishment of theunbeliever because of his family's lamenting for him. Verily it is Allah Whohas caused laughter and weeping. No bearer of a burden will bear another'sburden. Ibn Abu Mulaika said that al-Qasim b. Muhammad said that when thewords of 'Umar and Ibn 'Umar were conveyed to 'A'Isha, she said: You havenarrated it to me from those who are neither liar nor those suspected of lyingbut (sometimes) hearing misleads.

'Abdullah b. Abu Mulaika said: The daughter of 'Uthman b. 'Affan died inMecca. We came to attend her (funeral). Ibn 'Umar and Ibn 'Abbas were alsopresent there, and I was sitting between them. He added: I (first sat) by theside of one of them, then the other one came and he sat by my side. 'Abdullahb. 'Umar said to 'Amr b. 'Uthman who was sitting opposite to him: Will you notprevent the people from lamenting, for the Messenger of Allah (may peace beupon him) had said:" The dead is punished because of the lamenting of hisfamily for him"? Ibn 'Abbas then said that Umar used to say someting of thatnature, and then narrated saying: I proceeded from Mecca along with 'Umar tillwe reached al-Baida' and there was a party of riders under the shade of atree. He said (to me): Go and find out who this party is. I cast a glance andthere was Suhaib (in that party). So I informed him ('Umar) about it. He said:Call him to me. So I went back to Suhaib and said: Go and meet the Commanderof the believers. When 'Umar was wounded, Suhaib came walling: Alas, for thebrother! alas for the companion! 'Umar said: O Suhaib, do you wail for me,whereas the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said:" The dead wouldbe punished on account of the lamentation of the (members of his family)"? Ibn'Abbas said: When 'Umar died I made a mention of it to 'A'isha. She said: MayAllah have mercy upon 'Umar! I swear by Allah that Allah's Messenger (maypeace be upon him) never said that Allah would punish the believer because ofthe weeping (of any one of the members of his family), but he said that Allahwould increase the punishment of the unbeliever because of the weeping of hisfamily over him. 'A'isha said: The Qur'an is enough for you (when it states):"No bearer of burden will bear another's burden" (vi. 164). Thereupon Ibn'Abbas said: Allah is He Who has caused laughter and weeping. Ibn Abu Mulaikasaid: By Allah, Ibn 'Umar said nothing.

'Amr reported on the authority of Ibn Abu Mulaika: We were with the bier ofUmm Aban, daughter of 'Uthman, and the rest of the hadith is the same, but hedid not narrate it as a marfu' hadith on the authority of 'Umar from theApostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) as it was narrated by Ayyub and IbnJuraij, and the hadith narrated by them (Ayyub and Ibn Juraij) is morecomplete than that of 'Amr.

'Abdullah b. 'Umar reported that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be uponhim) said: The dead is punished because of the lamentation of the living.

Hisham b. 'Urwa narrated on the authority of his father that the saying ofIbn 'Umar, viz." The dead would be punished because of the lamentation of hisfamily over him" was mentioned to 'A'isha. Upon this she said: May Allah havemercy upon Abu 'Abd al-Rahman (the kunya of Ibn 'Umar) that he heard somethingbut could not retain it (well). (The fact is) that the bier of a Jew passedbefore the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) and (the members of hisfamily) were waiting over him. Upon this he said: You are wailing and he isbeing punished.

Hisham narrated on the authority of his father that it was mentioned to'A'isha that Ibn 'Umar had narrated as marfu' hadith from the Apostle of Allah(may peace be upon him) that the dead would be punished in the grave becauseof the lamentation of his family for him. Upon this she said: He (Ibn 'Umar)missed (the point). The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) had (infact) said: He (the dead) is punished for his faults or for his sins, and themembers of his family are wailing for him now. (This misunderstanding of Ibn'Umar is similar to his saying: ) The Messenger of Allah (may peace be uponhim) stood by the well in which were lying the dead bodies of thosepolytheists who had been killed on the Day of Badr, and he said to them whathe had to say, i. e.: They hear what I say. But he (Ibn 'Umar) misunderstood.The Holy Prophet (may peace be upon him) had only said: They (the dead)understand that what I used to say to them was truth. She then recited:"Certainly, thou canst not make the dead hear the call" (xxvii. 80), nor canyou make those hear who are in the graves, nor can you inform them when theyhave taken their seats in Hell.

This hadith has been narrated by Ibn 'Urwa with the same chain oftransmitters. The hadith narrated by Abu Usama is more complete.

'Amra daughter of 'Abd al Rahman narrated that she heard (from) 'A'isha andmade a mention to her about 'Abdullah b. 'Umar as saying: The dead is punishedbecause of the lamentation of the living. Upon this 'A'isha said: May Allahhave mercy upon the father of 'Abd al-Rahman (Ibn 'Umar). He did not tell alie, but he forgot or made a mistake. The Messenger of Allah (may peace beupon him) happened to pass by a (dead) Jewess who was being lamented. Uponthis he said: They weep over her and she is being punished in the grave.

'Ali b. Rabi'a reported that the first one who was lamented upon in Kufawas Qaraza b. Ka'b. Mughira b. Shu'ba said: I heard the Messenger of Allah(may peace be upon him) saying: He who is lamented upon would be punishedbecause of the lamentation for him on the Day of judgment.

A hadith like this has been narrated by Mughira b. Shu'ba from the Apostleof Allah (may peace be upon him).

This hadith has been narrated from the Apostle of Allah (may peace be uponhim) through another chain of transmitters.

Abu Malik al-Ash'ari reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) assaying: Among my people there are four characteristics belonging topre-Islamic period which they do not abandon: boasting of high rank, revilingother peoples' genealogies, seeking rain by stars, and walling. And he(further) said: If the wailing woman does not repent before she dies, she willbe made to stand on the Day of Resurrection wearing a garment of pitch and achemise of mange.

'A'isha reported that when the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him)was told that Ibn Haritha, Ja'far b. Abu Talib and Abdullah b. Rawaha werekilled, he sat down, showing signs of grief. She (further) said: I was looking(at him) through the crevice of the door. A man came to him and mentioned thatJa'far's women were lamenting. He (the Holy Prophet) commanded him to go andforbid them (to do so). So he went away but came back and told (him) that theydid not obey (him). He commanded him a second time to go and forbid them (todo so). He again went but came back to him and said: I swear by God, Messengerof Allah, that they have overpowered us. She ('A'isha) said that she thoughtthe Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) had told (her) to throw dust intheir mouths. Thereupon 'A'isha said: May Allah humble you! You did not dowhat Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) ordered you, nor did you stopannoying Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him).

This hadith has been narrated by Yahya b. Sa'id with the same chain oftransmitters like one narrated by 'Abd al-'Aziz (with the change of thesewords):" You did not spare the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) thebotheration."

Umm 'Atiyya reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) took apromise from us along with the oath of Allegiance that we would not lament.But only five among us fulfilled the promise (and they are) Umm Sulaim, andUmm al-'Ala', and the daughter of Abu Sabra the wife of Mu'adh, or daughter ofAbu Sabra and wife of Mu'adh.

Umm 'Atiyya reported that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him)took pledge from us (including this promise) that we would not lament. Onlyfive amongst us fulfilled the promise, and one of them (who fulfilled thepromise) was Umm Sulaim.

Hafsa narrated on the authority of Umm 'Atiyya that she said: When thisverse was revealed:" When believing women came to thee giving thee a pledgethat they will not associate aught with Allah, and will not disobey thee ingood" (lx. 12), she (Umm Atiyya) said: In (this pledge) was also includedwailing. I said: Messenger of Allah I except members of such a tribe whohelped me (in lamentation) during pre-Islamic days, there is left noalternative for me, but that I should also help them. Upon this the Messengerof Allah (may peace be upon him) said: (Yes) but only in case of the membersof such a tribe.

Umm 'Atiyya reported: We were forbidden to follow the bier, but it was notmade absolute on us.

Umm 'Atiyya reported: We were refrained from following the bier, but it wasnot made absolute on us.

Umm 'Atiyya reported: The Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) came tous when we were bathing his daughter, and he told us: Wash her with water and(with the leaves of) the lote tree, three or five times, or more than that ifyou think fit, and put camphor or something like camphor in the last washing;then inform me when you have finished. So when we had finished, we informedhim, and he gave to us his (own) under-garment saying:" Put it next herbody."

Umm 'Atiyya reported: We braided her hair in three plaits.

Umm 'Atiyya reported: One of the daughters of the Apostle of Allah (maypeace be upon him) died. And in the hadith transmitted by Ibn 'Ulayya (thewords are): The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) came to us and wewere washing his daughter. And in the hadith transmitted by Malik (the wordsare): There came in (our apartment) the Messenger of Allah (way peace be uponhim) when his daughter died. The rest of the hadith is the same as narrated byYazid b. Zurai' from Ayyub from Muhammad from Umm 'Atiyya.

A hadith like this has been transmitted by Hafsa on the authority of Umm'Atiyya with the exception (of these words that the Holy Prophet asked them towash her dead body):" three times, five times, seven times, or more than that,if you deem fit:" Hafsa (further) said on the authority of Umm 'Atiyya: Webraided (the hair) of her head in three plaits.

Umm 'Atiyya reported: We washed her an odd number of times, i. e. three,five or seven times; and Umm 'Atiyya (further) said: We braided her hair inthree plaits.

Umm 'Atiyya reported: When Zainab the daughter of the Messenger of Allah(may peace be upon him) died, he said to us: Wash her odd number of times, i.e. three or five times, and put camphor or something-like camphor at the fifthtime, and after you have washed her inform me. So we informed him and he gaveus his under-garment, saying:" Put it next her body."

Umm 'Atiyya reported: There came to us the Messenger of Allah (may peace beupon him) as we were washing one of his daughters. So he said: Wash her (deadbody) an odd number of times, five times or more than that, the rest of thehadith is the same. She (further) said: We braided her hair in three plaits:(two) on the sides of her head and one on her forehead.

Umm 'Atiyya reported that when the Messenger of Allah (may peace be uponhim) asked her to wash his daughter, he told her to start from the right side,and with those parts of the body over which Wudu' is performed.

Umm 'Atiyya reported that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him)said to them (the women) in regard to the washing of his daughter to startfrom the right side and with those parts of the body over which Wudu' isperformed.

Khabbab al-Aratt reported: We migrated with the Messenger of Allah (maypeace be upon him) in the path of Allah seeking Allah's pleasure alone. Thusour reward was assured with Allah. And amongst us were those who spent life(in such a state of piety and austerity) that nothing consumed their reward.Mus'ab b. 'Umair was one of them. He was killed on the Day of Uhud, andnothing but a woollen cloak was found to shroud him. When we covered his headwith it, his feet became uncovered, and when we covered his feet, his head wasuncovered. Upon this the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said:Place it (this cloak) on the side of his head and cover his feet with grass.And there is one amongst us for whom the fruit is ripened and he enjoys it.

A hadith like this has been narrated by 'Uyaina on the authority of A'mashwith the same chain of transmitters.

'A'isha reported that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) wasshrouded in three cotton garments of white Yamani stuff from Sahul, amongwhich was neither a shirt nor a turban; and so far as Hullah is concernedthere was some doubt about it in the minds of people, that it was brought forhim in order to shroud him with it, but it was abandoned, and he was shroudedin three cotton garments of white Yamani stuff from Sahul. Then 'Abdullah b.Abu Bakr got it and said: I would keep it in order to shroud myself in it. Hethen said: If Allah, the Exalted and Majestic, would have desired it for HisApostle, he would have been shrouded with it. So he sold it and gave its pricein charity.

'A'isha reported that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) waswrapped in a Yamani wrapper which belonged to 'Abdullah b Abu Bakr; then itwas removed from him, and he was shrouded in three cotton sheets of whiteYamani stuff from Sahul among which was neither a shirt nor a turban.'Abdullah took up the Hullah and said: I would be shrouded in it, but thensaid: How is it that I should be shrouded in it in which the Messenger ofAllah (may peace be upon him) was not shrouded! So he gave it in charity.

This hadith is narrated on the authority of Hisham with the same chain oftransmitters, but in the hadith narrated by him there is no mention of thestory of 'Abdullah b. Abu Bakr.

Abu Salama said: I asked 'A'isha with how many garments the Messenger ofAllah (may peace be upon him) was shourded. She said: With three garments ofSahul.

'A'isha reported: When the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upom him) died,he was covered with a Yamani wrapper.

This hadith has been narrated by Zuhri with the same chain oftransmitters.

Jabir b. 'Abdullah reported: Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) oneday in the course of his sermon made mention of a person among his Companionswho had died and had been wrapped in a shroud not long (enough to cover hiswhole body) and was buried during the night. The Apostle of Allah (may peacebe upon him) reprimanded (the audience) that a person was buried during thenight (in a state that) funeral prayer could not be offered (over him by theMessenger of Allah). (And this is permissible only) when it becomes a direnecessity for a man. The Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) also said:When any one of you shrouds his brother, he should shroud him well.

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) as saying:Make haste at a funeral; if the dead person was good, it is a good state towhich you are sending him on; but if he was otherwise it is an evil of whichyou are ridding yourselves.

This hadith has been narrated by another chain of transmitters except withthis variation (of words) that in the hadith narrated by Ma'mar (the wordsare):" I do not know whether the hadith is marfu'."

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger as saying: Hasten at a funeral, forif (the dead person) is good, you would (soon) bring him close to the good.And if it is otherwise, it is an evil of which you are ridding yourselves.

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying:He who attends the funeral till the prayer is offered for (the dead), for himis the reward of one qirat, and he who attends (and stays) till he is buried,for him is the reward of two qirats. It was said: What are the qirats? Hesaid: They are equivalent to two huge mountains. Two other narrators added:Ibn 'Umar used to pray and then depart (without waiting for the burial of thedead). When the tradition of Abu Huraira reached him, he said:" We have lostmany qirats."

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira throughanother chain of narrators up to these words:" two great mountains." Nomention is made of what followed (these words) ; and in the hadith transmittedby 'Abd al- A'la (the words are):" till (the burial) is complete." In thehadith transmitted by 'Abd ar-Razzaq (the words are):" till he is placed inthe grave."

This hadith is narrated on thp authority of Abu Huraira through anotherchain of transmitters (with these words):" He who followed it (the bier) tillhe (the dead) is buried."

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) as saying: Hewho offered prayer over the dead, but did not follow the bier, for him is thereward of one qirat, and he who followed it, for him is the reward of twoqirats. It was asked what the qirats were. He said: The smaller amongst thetwo is equivalent to Uhud.

Nafi' narrated that it was said to Ibn 'Umar that Abu Huraira reported tohave heard Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: He who followsthe bier, for him is the reward of one qirat. Ibn 'Umar said: Abu Hurairanarrated it too often. So he sent (a messenger to) 'A'isha to ascertain (thefact). She ('A'isha) testified Abu Huraira. Ibn 'Umar said: We missed so manyqirats.

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying:He who offers prayer for the dead, for him is (the reward of) one qirat; andhe who follows the bier till it is placed in the grave, for him (is the rewardof) two qirats. I (Abu Hazim, one of the narrators) raid: Abu Huraira, what isthis qirat? He said: It is like the hill of Uhud.

Dawud b. 'Amir b. Sa'd b. Abu Waqqas reported on the authority of hisfather that while he was sitting along with 'Abdullah b. 'Umar, Khabbab, theowner of Maqsura, said: Ibn 'Umar, do you hear what Abu Huraira says that heheard the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) say:" He who goes outwith the bier when taken out from its residence and offers prayer for it andhe then follows it till it is buried, he would have two qirats of reward, eachqirat being equivalent to Uhud; and he who, after having offered prayer,(directly) came back would have his reward (as great) as Uhud"? Ibn 'Umar sentKhabbab to 'A'isha in order to ask her about the words of Abu Huraira (andalso told him) to come back to him (Ibn 'Umar) and inform him what 'A'ishasaid. (In the meanwhile) Ibn 'Umar took up a handful of pebbles and turnedthem over in his hand till the messenger (Khabbab) came back to him and told(him) that 'A'isha testified (the statement of) Abu Huraira. Ibn 'Umar threwthe pebbles he had in his hand on the ground and then said: We missed a largenumber of qirats.

Thauban, the freed slave of the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him)reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: He who offeredprayer for the dead, for him is the reward of one qirat, and he who attendedits burial, he would have two qirats as his reward. And qirat is equivalent toUhud.

This hadith has been narrated by Qatada with the same chain oftransmitters. And in the hadith transmitted by Sa'id and Hisham, (the wordsare):" The Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) was asked about qirat, andhe said: It is equivalent to Uhud."

'A'isha reported Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) saying: If acompany of Muslims numbering one hundred pray over a dead person, all of theminterceding for him, their intercession for him will be accepted.

'Abdullah b. 'Abbas reported that his son died in Qudaid or 'Usfan. He saidto Kuraib to see as to how many people had gathered there for his (funeral).He (Kuraib) said: So I went out and I informed him about the people who hadgathered there. He (Ibn 'Abbas) said: Do you think they are forty? He (Kuraib)said: Yes. Ibn 'Abbas then said to them: Bring him (the dead body) out for Ihave heard Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: If any Muslimdies and forty men who associate nothing with Allah stand over his prayer(they offer prayer over him), Allah will accept them as intercessors forhim.

Anas b. Malik reported: There passed a bier (being carried by people) andit was lauded in good terms. Upon this the Apostle of Allah (may peace be uponhim) said: It has become certain, it has become certain, it has becomecertain. And there passed a bier and it was condemned in bad words. Upon thisthe Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: It has become certain, ithas become certain, it has become certain. 'Umar said: May my father andmother be ransom for you! There passed a bier and it was praised in goodterms, and you said: It has become certain, it has become certain, it hasbecome certain. And there passed a bier and it was condemned in bad words, andyou said: It has become certain, it has become certain, it has become certain.Upon this the Messenger of Allah (way peace be upon him) said: He whom youpraised in good terms, Paradise has become certain for him, and he whom youcondemned in bad words, Hell has become certain for him. You are Allah'switnesses in the earth, you are Allah's witnesses in the earth, you areAllah's witnesses in the earth.

This hadith has been narrated through another chain of transmitters.

Qatada b. Rib'i reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) assaying: Whenever a bier passed before him, he said: He is the one to findrelief and the one with (the departure of him) other will find relief. Theysaid: Apostle of Allah, who is al-Mustarih and al-Mustarah? Upon this he said:The believing servant finds relief from the troubles of the world, and in thedeath of a wicked person, the people, towns, trees and animals find rellef.

In the hadith transmitted by Yahya b. Sa'id on the authority of Qatada (thewords are): (The believing servant) finds relief from the troubles of theworld and its hardships and (gets into) the Mercy of Allah.

Abu Huraira reported that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him)gave the people news of the death of Negus on the day he died, and he tookthem out to the place of prayer and observed four takbirs.

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) gaveus the news of the death of Negus, the ruler of Abyssinia, on the day when hedied, and he said (to us): Beg pardon for your brother. Ibn Shihab said thatSa'id b. Musayyib had told that Abu Huraira had narrated to him that theMessenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) drew them up in a row in a place ofprayer, and offered prayer and recited four takbirs for him.

This hadith is narrated through another chain of transmitters.

Jabir b. 'Abdullah reported that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be uponhim) offered prayer for Ashama, the Negus, and recited four takbirs.

Jabir b. 'Abdullah reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) assaying: There died today the pious servant of Allah, Ashama. So he stood upand led us in (funeral prayer) over him.

Jabir b. 'Abdullah reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) assaying: A brother of yours has died, so stand up and offer prayer over him. Sowe stood up and drew ourselves up into two rows.

'Imran b. Husain reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) assaying: A brother of yours has died; so stand up and offer prayer for him, i.e. Negus. And in the hadith transmitted by Zubair (the words are):" Yourbrother."

Sha'bi reported that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him)observed prayer over a grave after the dead was buried and he recited fourtakbirs over him. Shaibani said: I said to Sha'bi: Who narrated it to you? Hesaid: An authentic one, 'Abdullah b. 'Abbas. This is the word of a hasanhadith. In the narration of Ibn Numair (the words are): The Messenger of Allah(may peace be upon him) went to the grave which had been newly prepared andprayed over it, and they also prayed who were behind him and he recited fourtakbirs. I said to 'Amir: Who narrated it to you? He said: An authentic onewho saw him, i e. Ibn 'Abbas.

This hadith has been narrated through another chain of transmitters, but inone of them (these words are found):" The Apostle of Allah (may peace be uponhim) recited four takbirs."

The hadith as narrated by Shaibani has been narrated through another chainof transmitters.

Anas reported that the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) observedprayer on the grave.

It is narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira that a dark-complexionedwoman (or a youth) used to sweep the mosque. The Messenger of Allah (may peacebe upon him) missed her (or him) and inquired about her (or him). The peopletold him that she (or he) had died. He asked why they did not inform him, andit appears as if they had treated her (or him) or her (or his) affairs as oflittle account. He (the Holy Prophet) said: Lead me to her (or his) gtave.They led him to that place and he said prayer over her (or him) and thenremarked: Verily, these graves are full of darkness for their dwellers.Verily, the Mighty and Glorious Allah illuminates them for their occupants byreason of my prayer over them.

It is narrated on the authority of 'Abd al-Rahman b. Abu Laila that Zaidused to recite four takbirs on our funerals and he recited five takbirs on onefuneral. I asked him the reason (for this variation), to which he replied: TheMessenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) recited thus.

It is narrated on the authority of 'Amir Ibn Rabi'a (may Allah be pleasedwith him) that the Prophet (may peace be upon him) said: Whenever you see afuneral procession, stand up for that until it moves away or is lowered on theground.

It is narrated on the authority of 'Amir ibn Rabi'a (may Allah be pleasedwith him) that the Holy Prophet (may peace be upon him) said: Should any oneof you come across a funeral procession, and if he does not intend toaccompany it, he must stand up until it passes by him or is placed upon theground before it passes him.

It is reported on the authority of Ibn Juraij that the Holy Prophet (maypeace be upon him) said: Should anyone amongst you see a bier he must stand upso long as it is within sight in case he does not intend to follow it.

It is narrated on the authority of Abu Sa'id al-Khudri that the HolyProphet (may peace be upon him) said: When you follow a bier, do not sit untilit is placed on the (ground).

It is narrated on the authority of Abu Sa'id al-Khudri that the HolyProphet (may peace be upon him) said: Whenever you come across a bier youshould stand up, and he who follows it should not sit down till it is placedon the ground.

It is narrated on the authority of Jabir ibn 'Abdullah: There passed a bierand the Holy Prophet (may peace be upon him) stood up for it and we also stoodup along with him. We said: Messenger of Allah, that was the bier of a Jewess.Upon this he remarked: Verily, death is a matter of consternation, so wheneveryou come across a bier stand up.

Ibn Juraij told me that Abu Zubair heard Jabir say that the Holy Prophet(may peace be upon him) kept standing for a bier until it disappeared.

Again Abu Zubair heard Jabir say that the Holy Prophet (may peace be uponhim) and his Companions kept standing for a bier of a Jew until it disappearedfrom sight.

It is narrated on the authority of Ibn Abu Laila that while Qais b. Sa'dand Sahl b. Hunaif were both in Qadislyya a bier passed by them and they bothstood up. They were told that it was the bier of one of the people of the land(non-Muslim). They said that a bier passed before the Holy Prophet (may peacebe upon him) and he stood up. He was told that he (the dead man) was a Jew.Upon this he remarked: Was he not a human being or did he not have a soul? Andin the hadith narrated by 'Amr b. Murra with the same chain of transmitters,(the words) are:" There passed a bier before us."

It is narrated on the authority of Waqid: Nafi' b. Jubair saw me and wewere standing for a bier, while he was sitting and waiting for the bier to beplaced on the ground. He said to me: What makes you keep standing? I said: Iam waiting that the bier may be placed on the ground (and I am doing that) onthe hadith narrated to me by Abu Sa'id al-Khudri. Upon this Nafi' said:Verily, Mas'ud b. Hakam reported to me on the authority of Hadrat 'Ali b. AbuTalib that the Holy Prophet (may peace be upon him) stood up first (for abier) and then sat down.

Mas'ud b. al-Hakam al-Ansari informed Nafi' that he had heard Hadrat 'Ali(may Allah be pleased with him), son of Abu Talib, say about the biers:Verily, the Holy Prophet (may peace be upon him) used to stand first but lateron kept sitting; but it is also narrated that Nafi' ibn Jubair saw Waqid b.'Amr standing for a bier till it was placed down.

This hadith has been narrated by Yahya b. Sa'id with the same chain oftransmitters.

It is narrated on the authority of Muhammad b. Munkadir that he said: Iheard from Mas'ud b. al-Hakam who narrated it on the authority of Hadrat 'Alithat he said: We saw the Holy Prophet (may peace be upon him) stood up for a(bier) and we also stood up; he sat down and we too sat down.

This hadith has been narrated by Shu'ba with the same chain oftransmitters.

Jubair b. Nufair says: I heard it from 'Auf b. Malik that the Holy Prophet(may peace be upon him) said prayer on the dead body, and I remembered hisprayer:" O Allah! forgive him, have mercy upon him, give him peace and absolvehim. Receive him with honour and make his grave spacious; wash him with water,snow and hail. Cleanse him from faults as Thou wouldst cleanse a white garmentfrom impurity. Requite him with an abode more excellent than his abode, with afamily better than his family, and with a mate better than his mate. Admit himto the Garden, and protect him from the torment of the grave and the tormentof the Fire." ('Auf bin Malik) said: I earnestly desired that I were this deadbody.

A hadith like this has been narrated through another chain oftransmitters.

'Anas b. Malik said: I heard the Holy Prophet (may peace be upon him) say(while offering prayer on a dead body): O Allah! forgive him, have mercy uponhim. Give him peace and absolve him. Receive him with honour and make hisgrave spacious. Wash him with water, snow and hail, cleanse him from faults asis cleaned a white garment from impurity. Requite him with an abode moreexcellent than his abode, with a family better than his family, and with amate better than his mate, and save him from the trial of the grave andtorment of Hell. 'Auf b. Malik said: I earnestly desired that I were the deadperson to receive the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him)as this dead body had (received).

Samura b. Jundub said: I prayed behind the Messenger of Allah (may peace beupon him) and he prayed for a woman who had died in the state of delivery. Hestood in front of her waist.

This hadith has been narrated by Husain with the same chain oftransmitters, but no mention is made of Umm Ka'b.

Samura b. Jundub said: I was a young boy during the time of the HolyProphet (may peace be upon him) and I retained in my mind (what I learnt fromhim), and nothing restrained me from speaking except the fact that there werepersons far more advanced in age than I. Verily, I said prayer behind theMessenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) over a woman who had died in thestate of delivery, and the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) stood upto say prayer in front of the middle part of her body. And in the traditionnarrated on the authority of Ibn Muthanna the words are:" (The Holy Prophet)stood in the middle part of her body for offering prayer for her."

It is reported on the authority of Jabir ibn Samura that an unsaddled horsewas brought to the Holy Prophet (may peace be upon him) and he rode on it whenhe returned after having offered the funeral prayer of Ibn Dahdah and wewalked on foot around him.

Jabir ibn Samura reported that the Holy Prophet (may peace be upon him)said (funeral) prayer on Ibn Dahdah: then an unsaddled horse was brought tohim and a person hobbled it, and he (the Messenger of Allah) rode upon it andit bounded and we followed it and ran after it. One of the people said thatthe Holy Prophet (may peace be upon him) remarked: How many among hangingbunches in the Paradise are meant for Ibn Dahdah?

'Amir b. Sa'd b. Abu Waqqas told that Sa'd b. Abu Waqqas said during hisillness of which he died:" Make a niche for me in the side of the grave andset up bricks over me as was done in case of Allah's Messenger (may peace beupon him).

Ibn 'Abbas said that a piece of red stuff was put in the grave of Allah'sMessenger (may peace be upon him).

Thumama b. Shafayy reported: When we were with Fadala b. 'Ubaid in thecountry of the Romans at a place (known as) Rudis, a friend of ours died.Fadala b. 'Ubaid ordered to prepare a grave for him and then it was levelled;and then he said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him)commanding (us) to level the grave.

Abu'l-Hayyaj al-Asadi told that 'Ali (b. Abu Talib) said to him: Should Inot send you on the same mission as Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him)sent me? Do not leave an image without obliterating it, or a high gravewithout levelling It. This hadith has been reported by Habib with the samechain of transmitters and he said: (Do not leave) a picture withoutobliterating it.

Jabir said: Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) forbade that thegraves should be plastered or they be used as sitting places (for the people),or a building should be built over them.

A hadith like this has been transmitted on the authority of Jabir b.'Abdullah.

Jabir said that he was forbidden to build pucca graves.

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying:It is better that one of you should sit on live coats which would burn hisclothing and come in contact with his skin than that he should sit on agrave.

A hadith like this has been narrated by Suhail with the same chain oftransmitters.

Abu Marthad al-Ghanawi reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him)as saying: Do not sit on the graves and do not pray facing towards them.

Abu Marthad al-Ghanawi reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him)as saying: Do not pray facing towards the graves, and do not sit on them.

'Abbad b. 'Abdullah b. Zubair reported that 'A'isha ordered the bier ofSa'd b. Abu Waqqas to be brought into the mosque so that she should pray forhim. The people disapproved this (act) of hers. She said: How soon the peoplehave forgotten that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) offered notthe funeral prayer of Suhail b al-Baida' but in a mosque.

'Abbad b. 'Abdullah b. Zubair reported on the authority of 'A'isha thatwhen Sa'd b. Abu Waqqas died, the wives of the Apostle of Allah (may peace beupon him) sent message to bring his bier into the mosque so that they shouldoffer prayer for him. They (the participants of the funeral) did accordingly,and it was placed in front of their apartments and they offered prayer forhim. It was brought out of the door (known as) Bab al-Jana'iz which wastowards the side of Maqa'id, and the news reached them (the wives of the HolyProphet) that the people bad criticised this (i. e. offering of funeral prayerin the mosque) saying that it was not desirable to take the bier inside themosque. This was conveyed to 'A'isha. She said: How hastily the peoplecriticise that about which they know little. They criticise us for carryingthe bier in the mosque. The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) offerednot the funeral prayer of Suhail b. Baida' but in the innermost part of themosque.

Abu Salama b. 'Abd al-Rahman reported on the authority ot 'A'isha that whenSa'd b. Abu Waqqas died she said: Bring it (the bier) into the mosque so that I offer prayer for him. But, this act of hers was disapproved. She said: By Allah, the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) offered prayer in the mosque for the two sons of Baida', viz, for Suhail and his brother.

'A'isha reported (that whenever it was her turn for Allah's Messenger [maypeace be upon him] to spend the night with her) he would go out towards theend of the night to al-Baqi' and say: Peace be upon you, abode of a people whoare believers. What you were promised would come to you tomorrow, youreceiving it after some delay; and God willing we shall join you. O Allah,grant forgiveness to the inhabitants of Baqi' al-Gharqad. Qutaiba did notmention his words:" would come to you".

Muhammad b. Qais said (to the people): Should I not narrate to you (ahadith of the Holy Prophet) on my authority and on the authority of my mother?We thought that he meant the mother who had given him birth. He (Muhammad b.Qais) then reported that it was 'A'isha who had narrated this: Should I notnarrate to you about myself and about the Messenger of Allah (may peace beupon him)? We said: Yes. She said: When it was my turn for Allah's Messenger(may peace be upon him) to spend the night with me, he turned his side, put onhis mantle and took off his shoes and placed them near his feet, and spreadthe corner of his shawl on his bed and then lay down till he thought that Ihad gone to sleep. He took hold of his mantle slowly and put on the shoesslowly, and opened the door and went out and then closed it lightly. I coveredmy head, put on my veil and tightened my waist wrapper, and then went outfollowing his steps till he reached Baqi'. He stood there and he stood for along time. He then lifted his hands three times, and then returned and I alsoreturned. He hastened his steps and I also hastened my steps. He ran and I tooran. 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 the bed, he (theHoly Prophet) entered the (house), and said: Why is it, O 'A'isha, that youare out of breath? I said: There is nothing. He said: Tell me or the Subtleand the Aware would inform me. I said: Messenger of Allah, may my father andmother be ransom for you, and then I told him (the whole story). He said: Wasit the darkness (of your shadow) that I saw in front of me? I said: Yes. Hestruck me on the chest which caused me pain, and then said: Did you think thatAllah and His Apostle would deal unjustly with you? She said: Whatsoever thepeople conceal, Allah will know it. He said: Gabriel came to me when you sawme. He called me and he concealed it from you. I responded to his call, but Itoo concealed it from you (for he did not come to you), as you were not fullydressed. I thought that you had gone to sleep, and I did not like to awakenyou, fearing that you may be frightened. He (Gabriel) said: Your Lord hascommanded you to go to the inhabitants of Baqi' (to those lying in the graves)and beg pardon for them. I said: Messenger of Allah, how should I pray forthem (How should I beg forgiveness for them)? He said: Say, Peace be upon theinhabitants of this city (graveyard) from among the Believers and the Muslims,and may Allah have mercy on those who have gone ahead of us, and those whocome later on, and we shall, God willing, join you.

Sulaiman b. Buraida narrated on the authority of his father that theMessenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) used to teach them when they wentout to the graveyard. One of the narrators used to say this in the narrationtransmitted on the authority of Abu Bakr:" Peace be upon the inhabitants ofthe city (i. e. graveyard)." In the hadith transmitted by Zuhair (the wordsare):" Peace be upon you, the inhabitants of the city, among the believers,and Muslims, and God willing we shall join you. I beg of Allah peace for usand for you."

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger, (may peace be upon him) as saying:I sought permission to beg forgiveness for my mother, but He did not grant itto me. I sought permission from Him to visit her grave, and He granted it(permission) to me.

Abu Huraira reported: The Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) visitedthe grave of his mother and he wept, and moved others around him to tears, andsaid: I sought permission from my Lord to beg forgiveness for her but it wasnot granted to me, and I sought permission to visit her grave and it wasgranted to motel So visit the graves, for that makes you mindful of death.

Ibn Buraida reported on the authority of his father that the Messenger ofAllah (may peace be upon him) said: I forbade you to visit graves, but you maynow visit them; I forbade you to eat the flesh of sacrificial animals afterthree days, but you way now keep it as along as you feel inclined; and Iforbade you nabidh except in a water-skin, you may drink it from all kinds ofwater-skins, but you must not drink anything intoxicating.

This hadith has been narrated through another chain of transmitters.

Jabir b. Samura reported: (The dead body) of a person who had killedhimself with a broad-headed arrow was brought before the Apostle of Allah (maypeace be upon him), but he did not offer prayers for him.