WhatYouShouldDoJustbeforeDeathSayyidMuhammadRizvi-XKP

Published:2015Tag(s):islamdeath"islamiclaws"sadqafighobligationsxkp

1ChapterForeword

Deathisareality inwhichallhumanbeingsbelieve.However, it isalsoarealitywhichmostofusliketokeepoutofourminds.InIslam,deathisnotanendtoourexistence;itisapassage,whichtakesusfromthisworldtothe

hereafter–theactualpurposeforourcreationandtheresultofourworkinthislife.WhetherwefeardeathornotdependsonhowmuchwehavepreparedforthereckoningoftheDayJudgement.Preparingfordeathisalifetime’sjob.Itbeginsonthedayyoureachtheageofbulughandareheld

accountable for your deeds in the eyes of Almighty Allah. Imam ‘Ali bin Abu Talib (a.s.) hasbeautifullydescribedthepreparationfordeathasfollows:“Fulfillingtheobligations,refrainingfromforbidden[things,andacquiringnoblecharacter.”Inthisarticle,Ihaveattemptedtopresentsomeofthethingswhichallbelieversareeitherrequired

orstronglyurgedtodojustbeforedeathbytheShari’ah.

2ChapterInPreparationforDeath

Beforedeath,tryyourbesttofulfiltheobligations,whichareuponyouinregardtothecreaturesaswellastheCreator.Returntotheownerswhateverhasbeengiventoyouasatrustorwriteitdowninyourwillsothat

theexecutorofyourwillshallreturnthetrusttoitsrightfulowner.InIslam,youareallowedtodisposeup toone-thirdofyourestateforwhomsoeverorwhatever

causeyoulike.Asforthetwothirds,itmustbedistributedamongyourheirstothesharesallocatedforthemintheShari’ah.Makeawillinwritingorverballyaboutthosereligiousobligationswhichyoucouldnotfulfilby

yourself and which cannot be done on your behalf by others except after your death: the qadhaprayers,fastingandpilgrimage(hajj),etc.Youshouldspecifytheamountfromtheone-thirdofyourestatetobeusedtohirepeopletodosuchdeeds.Ifyoucannotaffordthis,thenyoumayrequestyourheirstodounfulfilledritualsonyourbehalfvoluntarilyorpaysomeoneelsetodoso.It is also recommended, if your financial circumstances allow you, to include your deserving

relationsintheone-thirdofyourestate.It is recommended to forgiveyourbrethren in iman forwhateverwrong theymayhavedone to

you.Ontheotherhand,youshouldaskyourbrethreninimantoforgiveyoufortheintentionalandunintentionalwrongyoumayhavedonetothem.

3ChapterAttheTimeofDeath

Whendeathapproachesyou, it iswajibonyouto liedownonyourbackinsuchawaythat thesolesofyourfeetfacetheqiblah(directionofMecca).Oryoumayturnyourbedinsuchawaythatyoursoleswillfacetheqiblah.Ifyoucannotdosoyourself, thenit iswajibonthosewhoarewithyoutohelpyou.It is recommended to say by yourself or repeat after someone else the declaration of faith and

statementoffaraj.Thedeclarationoffaith:It isadeclarationinwhichyoureconfirmyourbelief inAllah,Prophet

Muhammad(s.a.w.),thetwelveImams(a.s.),theQu’ran,andtheDayofJudgement.Thismaybedoneasfollows:Radhitbubil-lahiRabban;WabiMuhammadin(sal-laWabilIslamidinan;l-lahu‘alayhiWaalihi)nabiyyan;WabilQur ’anikitaban;WabilKa’batiqiblatan;Wabi’Aliyyanwaliyyanwaimaman;WabilHasan,walHusaynWaMuhammadbin‘Aliyyan,WaJafaribnMuhammadin;WaMusaibnJa’farin,wa‘AliyibnMusa;Waannalhisabahaqqun;waannaljannatahaqqun;WaannannarhaqqunWaannannarhaqqunI have acceptedAllah as theLord,Muhammad (s.a.w.) as the Prophet, Islam as the religion, the

Qur ’anastheBook[ofGod,theKa’bahastheqiblah.And [I accept ‘Ali as thewaliy [ofAllah and [my Imam; andHassan,Hussein, ‘Ali ibnHussein,

Muhammadibn‘Ali,Ja’faribnMuhammad,MusaibnJa’far,‘AliibnMusa,Muhammadibn‘Ali,‘AliIbnMuhammad,Hassanibn‘Ali,andal-Hujatibnal-Hassan(a.s.)asImams,leadersandguides–I

declaremyloveforthemanddeclaremydisassociationwiththeirenemies.And[IbelievethatsurelytheHour[ofDoomwillcomeinwhichthereisnodoubt;andthatAllah

willresurrectallthosewhoareintheirgraves.And[Ibelievethatthereckoning[ofourdeedsisthetruth;theParadiseisthetruthandthattheHellisthetruth.

B.Thestatementoffarajistoberecitedasfollows:Lailahail-lallahu‘Aliyyul‘Azim;Subhana‘l-lahaRabbussamawatissab’iWaRabbulardhinassab’i;WamafeehinnawamabaynahunnaWamafawqahunnawamatahtahunna;WaRabbul‘arshil‘azim;Walhamdulil-lahiRabbis‘alameen.ThereisnoGodbutAllah,theGentle,theKind;ThereisnoGodbutAllah,theHigh,theGreat;

4ChapterAftertheDeath

•Soonafterapersondies,itisrecommendedtodothefollowingthings:•Closetheeye-lidsofthedeadperson•Closethemouthofthedeadperson•Tiethetwojawssothatthemouthdoesnotopen•Straightenhis/herarmsandplacethemonthetwosidesofhisbody•Straightenhis/herlegs•Coverthedeadbody•Switchonthelightintheroomwherethedeadbodyiskept•Arrangethefuneralassoonaspossible•Informthemu’mineentoattendthefuneral.

5ChapterAfterDeathRituals

They coverGhusl/Kafan/Dafan i.e., washing, shrouding, and burying. Basically, these areWajib(obligatory)actsforallofusbutKifai-WajibeKifai,whichmeansifoneormorepersonsundertaketodo,othersareabsolved.Elseitiswajiboneveryone.Therefore,itisessentialforallofustoknowthebasicsofburialritualsincasewearecalledupon

toperformthemwhenitbecomesobligatoryforustodosoaccordingtotheShar ’ia.

6ChapterFirstObligatoryWajibActGhusl-e-Mayyit(RitualWashoftheDeadBody)

ItisWajibtogivethreeGhuslstoaMuslimdeadbody.•FirstGhuslwithwatermixedwithSidr(berryorlotus)leaves.•SecondGhuslwithwatermixedwithcamphor.•ThirdGhuslwithpurewater.Note:Thequantityof“Sidr”leavesorcamphorshouldneitherbesomuchthatthewaterbecomes

mixed(Mudhaf),norsolittlethatitmaybesaidthat“Sidr”leavesorcamphorhasnotbeenaddedinit.Q) When Ghusl Mayyit is performed with water mixed with SIDR and with water mixed with

CAMPHOR,careshouldbetakenineachcasethatthewaterdoesnotbecomeMuzaf.WhenSIDRandespeciallyCAMPHORismixedinwaterforGhuslMayyit,eveninsmallquantity,

certainlyachangeinSMELLANDTASTEwilloccur.WouldnotthatconstitutetowaterthathasbeenmixedwithSIDRorCAMPHORhavingbecomeMuzaf?WhenSIDRandespeciallyCAMPHORismixedinwaterforGhuslMayyit,eveninsmallquantity,

certainlyachangeinSMELLANDTASTEwilloccur.WouldnotthatconstitutetowaterthathasbeenmixedwithSIDRorCAMPHORhavingbecomeMuzaf?A) Mutlaq water remains Mutlaq even with change in color, smell or taste. The Katheer (big

quantity)waterbecomesNajis if it'scolororsmellor tastechangesbecominglike theNajis item'scolor,smellortaste.WatermixedwithSidrorCamphorremainsMutlaqinspiteofthechangeofsmellortasteofit,as

farasthequantityoftheSidrorCamphorisnottoomuch.(M.M.)Q) If I am givingGhusleMayyit andwearing hand gloves.Do I have to performGhusleMase

Mayyit?A)As long as you have not touched theMeyyitwith your bare hand and no part of your body

touchedtheMeyyit,thenyoudonotneedtoperformGhuslofMasehMeyyit.Q)Ifafoetusof4monthsormoreisstill-bornitisobligatorytogiveitGhusl,andevenifithas

notcompletedfourmonths,butithasformedfeaturesofahumanchild,itmustbegivenGhusl,asaprecaution.Intheeventofbothofthesecircumstancesbeingabsent,thefoetuswillbewrappedupinaclothandburiedwithoutGhusl.AmIcorrecttounderstandthatbesidesGhusl,itwillalsobeWajibtogiveTahnitandKafan?A)WheneverGhuslisWajibthenHunutandKafanarealsorequired.(H.K.)Q) When giving Tayammum to a Meyyit, is it necessary that the palms of the person doing

Tayammum to aMeyyitmustbeplacedon the foreheadof theMeyyit in suchaway thathis rightpalmisontherightsideoftheforeheadofaMayyitandhisleftpalmisplacedontheleftsideoftheforeheadofaMayyit.Similarly, is it also necessary that he should be stroking the right handof theMeyyit (from the

wristjoint to theendof the fingers)withhis leftpalm followedbypassinghis rightpalmover thebackoftheMeyyit'slefthand.A)Thatisnotobligatory.Apersongivingtayammumtothedeadbodyshouldstrikehisownpalms

on earth and then wipe them on the face and back of the hands of the dead body. And therecommendedprecautionisthatheshould,ifpossible,usethehandsofthedeadforitsTayammum.(L.O.)

7ChapterMethodofPerformingGhusl-e-Mayyit

Ghusl for adeadbody is similar toGhuslof Janabat. It shouldbegivenbywayofTartibi.The

obligatoryprecautionisthatacorpseshouldnotbegivenGhuslIrtimase.

StepOne

BeforegivingGhusl, it is necessary to remove all dirt andoily substances from thedeadbody,

whichmaypreventwaterfromreachingtheskin.Ifthereisany‘aynNajasatonanypartofthedeadbody,it isobligatorytofirstremoveitbeforegivingGhusl.AnditisrequiredthatbeforethedeadbodyisgivenGhusl,itshouldbecleanandfreefromallotherNajasat.Itisrecommendedthatthedeadbodyshouldbelaid,withfeetfacingtheQiblah,duringtheGhusl.

AfterthethreeGhuslshavebeencompleted,itisbetterthatthedeadbodyislaidinthesamewayasitislaidwhenSalatulMayyitisprayed.

StepTwo–GhuslwithWaterMixedwithSidr

Makeaniyyat,"IamwashingthisdeadbodywithSIDRWATERWajibQurbatanIlal-lah"andwash

the bodywithSIDRwater inwhich small quantity of berry or lotus leaves have been added or itsessencesqueezedfromaparchmentpaper.Note:CareshouldbetakenthatthewaterdoesnotbecomeMudhaf.

StepThree–GhuslwiWaterMixedwithCamphor

MakeaNiyyat, "Iamwashing thisdeadbodywithCAMPHORWATERWajibQurbatan Ilallah".

Andwashthebodywithcamphorwaterinwhichalittlecamphorhasbeenadded.Note:CareshouldbetakenthatthewaterdoesnotbecomeMudhaf.

StepFour–GhuslwithCleanWater

MakeaNiyyat,"IamwashingthisdeadbodywithCLEANWATERWajibQurbatanIlallah"andwashthebodywithclean(tap)water.AfteralltheseGhusls,thebodyshouldbegentlydriedwithacleantowel..

SomeBasicRules

WhilegivingGhuslcoverthebody,oratleasttheprivatepartsofit,withasheetofclothorany

typeofcover.ItisHaraamtolookattheprivatepartsofaMayyit.•ThemethodofgivingGhuslisTartibi-insequence,firstheadandneck,thentherightsideand

finallytheleft,thewayweordinarilydoourGhusl.•WhileperformingGhuslitisbettertoreciteSurah/AyatoftheQur'anandDu’aforthemarhum

thankeepingquietorchatting.• The person givingGhusl should be aMuslim, preferably a Shia Ithna-Asheri, adult, sane and

shouldknowthebasic,essentialrulesofGhusl.Heshouldbelongtothesamegender.•It isHaram,asaprecaution, to takeanyremunerationforgivingGhusl.Ifanyremunerationis

paidandthepersonreceivesitasanearning,Ghuslwillbevoid(batil).ThepersonwhogivesGhuslto the dead body should keep the niyyat ofQurbatan Ilallah (obedience to and for the pleasure ofAllah).•IfbothSIDRleavesandcamphororeitherofthemisnotavailable,thenthebodyshouldbegiven

Ghusl,onthebasisofprecaution,withpurewaterinsteadoftheGhuslwhichisnotpossible.Insuchacase,afterthethreeGhusls,onetayammumshouldbeperformedontheMayyit.•Ifwaterisnotavailableorthebodyhasopenandbleedingwoundsorpartiallycrushed,orany

othervalidreasonforabstainingfromusingwater,and,asnoruleofJabirahisapplicabletoGhusleMayyit,oneTayammumshouldbegiveninsteadofGhusl.ApparentlyoneTayammumissufficient.However, therecommendedprecaution is togive three tayammums,and inoneof the tayammums,thereshouldbeaNiyyatof‘Mafi-zimmah’whichmeansthatthepersongivingTayammumresolvesthatthisTayammumisgiventoabsolvehimofhisresponsibility.•MethodofgivingTayammumtotheMayyitisthatthepersongivingTayammumstrikeshisown

palms on earth and then wipes them on the face and back of the hands of Mayyit. However, theobligatory precaution is that he should, if possible, use the hands of the Mayyit to do its ownTayammum.QuotedfromMinhaajofAyatullahAl-SistaniDama-Dhilluhu.271) If the body of the dead person becomes impure after or during Ghusl with an external

impurityorfromit,anditcanbepurifiedwithoutdifficultyordishonor,thenitisobligatoryevenifitisafterthepersonhasbeenplacedinthegrave,accordingtowhatismoreprudent.Yes,thatisnotobligatoryafterburial.272)Ifurineorsemenisdischargedfromthedeceased,itisnotnecessarytorepeathisGhusl,even

ifitispriortohisbeingplacedinthegrave.

Q)Iftherewassomesortofinsertionintothebodyofamayyit,forexampleatubeoraCather,andweknowbloodwillcomeout,canwecloseitshutwithathread/needle.A)Yes,youcan.(L.O.)Q)Whencamphororlote-berryleaves[sidr]arenotavailabletoperformghuslforadeadperson,

whatshouldbedone?A)First, it isnecessary towait if there ispossibilityofobtainingcamphorandsidr.However, if

thesearenotavailable,then,purewatershouldbeusedintheirsteadandtheintentionshouldbeusingpurewaterinplaceofcamphoricandlote-berriedwater.Afterthethreeghuslsaregiven,itisihtiyatWajib,i.e.obligatoryprecaution,togivethecorpseoneTayammum.(F.S.)

Part1SecondObligatoryWajibAct–Tahnit

ApplicationofCamphorPowdertoSpecificPartsoftheBody

Tahnit

After first wajib act has been completed, the second Wajib act istahnit (to give Hunut). This

involves applying fresh fragrant camphor powder on seven parts of the body which rest on thegroundwhenprostrating(doingSajdah).Theseare:theforehead,boththepalmsofhands,boththeknees,andboththebigtoes.Note:ItisMustahabtoapplycamphoronthetipofthenose.Camphor must be powdered and fresh. It will not be sufficient if it is so stale that it lost its

fragrance.It is, as an obligatory precaution, to start tahnit starting with the forehead. It is not to observe

sequencewhileapplyingtootherpartsmentionedabove.Theniyyatshouldbe,beforecommencingtahnit,"IamdoingTahnit/HunutonthisdeadbodyWajibQurbatanIlallah.It is Mustahab to mix a small quantity of Turbah (soil of the land around the shrine of Imam

Husayna.s.)withcamphor,butitshouldnotbeappliedtothosepartsofthebodywhereitsuseofitmay amount to disrespect, i.e. the knees and the big toes. It is also necessary that the quantity ofTurbahshouldnotbesomuchthattheidentityofcamphordisappearsorisobscured.

Part2ThirdObligatoryWajibAct–Kafan–

ShroudingtheMayyit

RulesRelatingtoKafan

After the second Wajib act has been completed, the third wajib act is Kafan i.e., shrouding

or systematically wrapping the body with three obligatory - Wajib and several additionalrecommended-mustahabpiecesofcloth,asoutlinedbelow.As a precaution, each of the three pieces of cloth used forKafan is not so thin as to show the

body of the deceased. However, if the body is fully concealed when all the three pieces are puttogether,itwillbesufficient.

WajibPiecesofKafan

a.LoinclothIt is an apron like cloth worn around the waist. The wajib portion of the loin cloth should

completelycoverboth thefrontandbackpartof thebodyfromthenavel to theknees.However, itisrecommendedthatitshouldbelongenoughtocoverthebodyfromthechestuptothefeet.b.Tunic(shirt)

It is a piece of cloth similar to a long shirt that covers the body from the shoulders to belowtheknees,preferablytotheankles.c.InnerWrapper(SheetCover)A large sheet of cloth that covers the entire body. As a precaution, it should be long and

wideenoughsothatthefrontandthebackpartoverlapeachother,andthetopandthebottomendscanbetiedwithastring.

8ChapterMustahabPiecesofKafan

a.OuterWrapper-asecondlargesheetlikethefirstsheet(forbothmalesandfemales)b.Scarftocovertheheadandtheneck(forfemalesonly)c.Turbantocoverthehead(formalesonly)d.Apieceofclothingtocoverthecompleteareaof theprivatepartsandshouldbelongenough

tosecurearoundthehips.(forbothmaleandfemale)e.Astripofclothtocoverthewholeareaofthebreast(forfemaleonly).ItisMustahab(recommended)•Theclothfor“Kafan”shouldbewhite.•ThebodyshouldbekeptinsuchapositionsothattherightshoulderfacesQiblaasitisdonefor

SalatulMayyit.• Two fresh green twigs of a tree inscribed with Shahadah (Kalma),called Jareedatain, should

bekeptintheKafanwiththedeadbody.•Recitesurahs/ayatsfromtheQur'anandIstaghfarwhileshroudingthebody.QuotedfromMinhaajofAyatullahAl-SistaniDama-Dhilluhu.289)IftheKafanbecomesimpurewithanimpurityfromthedeceasedperson–oranythingelse–

theimpuritymustberemoved,evenifhehasbeenplacedinthegrave,bywashingorcuttingitoutina way that does not affect his being covered. If that cannot be done, then it should be changed,ifpossible.Q) I have a point that I am seeking clarification on— in using cottonwool, other padding and

plastictocovertheprivatepartsofthedeadbodyafterGhusleMayyit(especiallywhenthedeadbodyis discharging waste matter from his private body part), the kafan may be well preserved fromcomingintocontactwiththenajasat.Butwhataboutthebodyitself?Itmaybenajisfromtheexcretionbutthiswillnotbeevidentbecauseoftheprecautionarymeasurestaken.IsitobligatorytocheckthebodybeforeburialforitsTaharat?A)Thereisnoneedtocheckbody

beforeburial.However,ifthenajaasatisevidentthenitwouldbecleanedbeforeburial.Allahknowsthebest.(H.K.)

Follow-upQuestions

If the Najasat becomes evident on the Kafanwhichwouldmean that the body has also become

Najis.Inthegraveyard(orafterthedeadbodyhasbeenplacedinthegrave)wherethereisnowaterfacilityformakingthebodyandtheKafanPaak,thepartofthenajaasatontheKafancanbecut,butwhatabouttheNajasatonthebody?Undertheabovecircumstances,whatisthedictateoftheShari’ah?A: If there isHaraj (difficulty) to clean the najaasat on the body then there is no need toworry

aboutitandthedeceasedcanbeburiedaftertakingcareoftheKafan.(H.K.)Q) As I understand the wajib portion of the Kafan should not have been stitched. If it

becomesnecessaryforthepiecestobejoinedtogetherbecauseofinsufficientlengththenthethreadtobeusedshouldbedrawnfromthekafan.Ismyunderstandingcorrect?DoesthesameruleapplytothemustahabportionoftheKafanaswell?A)StitchingtheKafanisnotforbidden,althoughitisMakroohtostitchitusingthesaliva.(M.M.)Q)Toprotectthekafanfrombecomingnajis,intheeventthereisdischargeofwastematterfrom

his private body part, sometimes diaper is used as underwear to absorb bodily waste.Normallyreadymadediapersareusedwhichhavestitcheson.IsthisallowedinourShariah?A) Using diapers is allowed for dead body, and it does not matter if it is stitched as stitching

theKafanisallowed.(M.M.)Q) During the time of putting kafan on the deceased, it is recommended to place branches

under both arm pits. I do not recall the name but as this may not be easily available, someoneagainsuggestedtoplaceleaves.Ifthisisso,anyparticularleaves?A) It isMustahab to place two fresh green twigs (called Jareedatain)with the dead person. The

mostappropriatemethodistoplaceoneofthemontherightsidenearhiscollarboneincontactwithhis body, and the other on the left side from the collarbone between the shirt and the wrappingcloth(izar).Itisbetterthatthetwotwigsarefromthedatepalm.Ifthatisnotavailable,thenfromtheSidrorpomegranate tree, and if these twoarenot available then fromothers,otherwiseany freshstems. It is also recommended that theJareedatain be inscribed with Shahadah and the names oftheinfallibleImams(a.s.)Note:ThereisnomentionofleavesasareplacementforJareedatain.

Part3FourthObligatoryWajibAct–SalatulMayyit

RulesRelatingToSalatulMayyit

The next wajib act is Salatul Mayyit - (Namaz-e-Janaza) for every Muslim. The Salat isalso obligatory for aMuslim child who has completed six years. As an obligatory precaution, itshould also be prayed for an under six year old child, if the child is Mumayyiz, a religiousterminologywhichmeansthatthechildknowswhatSalatisandcanalsodistinguishgoodfrombadorrightfromwrong.IfthechildisnotMumayyiz,thentheSalatcouldstillbeprayedwiththeNiyyatofRaja’.

PositioningtheCoffin

Thebody, inacoffin, is laidon itsbackbefore theperson(s)praying incongregation,headonthe right side of the congregation, and the right shoulder facing towards Qibla. Those praying,standclosetothecoffininarow(s)stretchingalongbothsidesfromthemiddleofthecoffin.Imamstands in front reciting loudlyandM’amumeen shouldnot remainquiet and just listenbut actuallyfollow the recitation. It is recommended that they all be in (wudhu). For amalemayyit the ImamstandsneartheabdomenoftheMayyitwhileforafemalemayyit,ImamstandsnearthechestoftheMayyit.NB. If theSalaat isnotprayed incongregation thenoneshouldnotbedistant fromthebody. i.e.

thecoffinshouldbeclosetohimandheshouldbedirectlyfacingthecoffin.The Salat has no Ruku or Sujuud. It is prayed in a standing position. There are five Takbirs

withrecitationsaftereachTakbir.The details of the normal and shortermethods of praying SalatulMayyit can be obtained from

theIslamicLawsbookofAyatullahAl-SistaniDama-Dhilluhu.Q)Where should the imamof the salaatulmayyit stand in reference towhere thepeople should

be. Since there are no ruku/sajda, everyone is shoulder to shoulder. So if the imam stands at thecoffin,canthepeoplebenexttohimorshouldhebeatthecoffinandtherestshouldbebehindhim?A) If Namaz-e-Mayyit being offered in Jama'at, thema’momeenwould stand behind the Imam.

(L.O.)Q)1]CanapersonpraySalatulMayyitwearingshoes?2]CanamanandawomanstandinthesamerowinSalatulMayyitprayedincongregation?3]CanawomanstandinfrontofamaninSalatulMayyitprayedincongregation?A)1]Yes,hecan2&3)Itismustahabtostandbehindthem(L.O.)Q)WhatistheminimumheightatwhichaMayyitshouldbekeptforSalaatulJanazah?A)Urf(convention,custom,commonunderstanding)determinesiftheheightatwhichtheJanazah

is kept is considered to be in front of the person praying or above him. It has to be in front ofthepersonprayingSalatulJanazah.(F.S.)

Part4FifthObligatoryWajibAct–Dafan(Burial)

PlaceofBurial

AfterSalatulMayyit,thebodyshouldbeburiedinaMuslimgraveyard.ItcannotbeburiedinnonMuslimcementeryunlessaportionofthatcementaryhasbeenspecificallyallocatedandreservedtoMuslims.

Method

TheMayyitshouldbelaidinthegraveonitsrightsidesothatthefaceremainstowardstheQibla.Note: It is recommended that the personswho lower the dead body in the grave should be pak,

bare-headedandbare-footed.ItisMustahab,thatthecoffin,afterarrivalinthegraveyard,isplacedashortdistanceawayfrom

the dug up grave andmoved slowly to the grave by pausing and putting back on the ground andliftingupagain,threetimes.Atthefourthtime,itisfinallyloweredintothegrave.Ifthedeadbodyisof amale, it should put on the ground at the third time in such amanner that its head should betowardsthelowersideofthegraveandatthefourthtimeitshouldbeloweredintothegravefromthesideofitshead.Inthecaseofafemale,itshouldbeplacedonthegroundatthethirdtimetowardstheQiblaandthebodyshouldbeloweredintothegravesideways.Also, a piece of cloth should be spread over the gravewhile lowering the bodyof a female so

that the bystanders should not be able to see. In the absence of mahram, close relatives shouldlowerthebodyinthegrave. Q) Does the above mustahab act make any difference whether it is done before or after the

SalaatulMeyyit because sometime SalatulMayyit is prayed in the grave yard after theMeyyit hasbeenplacednearthegrave?A)Itisafterprayer.(L.O.)Afterthebodyhasbeenlaidinthegrave,thetiesatbothends,andinthe

middle,oftheKafanshouldbeunfastenedandsomeearthshouldbeputundertherightcheekoftheMayyit.Apillowofearthshouldbemadeunderthehead.BeforeclosingthegraveTalqinisthenrecited.

Talqin

Beforeclosingthegrave,thepersonrecitingtheTalqinshouldholdtherightshoulderofthedeadbodywithhisrighthandandshouldplacehislefthandtightlyonitsleftshoulderanddrawhisfaceclosetotheearofthedeadbody.Then,shakingshouldersofthedeadbody,heshouldsaythrice:“Isma'ifhamya…(Listenandunderstand,O’)…….mentionthenameofthedeceasedasthesonofhisfather.Forexample,ifthenameofthedeceasedisMuhammadandhisfather'sname'Ali,sayMuhammadibn‘Alithrice.ThefulltextofTalqin,forbothamalemayyitandafemalemayyitcanbeobtainedfromtheIslamicLawsofAyatullahAl-SistaniDama-Dhilluhu.AftertheTalqin,andclosingthegraveitisMustahabthatthosewhoparticipatedintheburial,exceptthenearrelatives,throwsmallquantityofsoilintothegrave,usingthebacksideoftheirrighthand.Thegravethenisfilledwithearth,usingshovelsorbymechanicalmeans.Afterthegravehasbeenshaped,closemembersofthefamilythensprinklewateroverthegrave,followedbyTanzil,therecitation,seventimes,ofSurahal-QadrandanyshortDu’aforMaghfiratofthedeceased.Note:ItisMustahabthatthegraveberectangularinshapeanditsheightequaltofourfingers’span.Q)Achildof3yearsexpired.Besides,Ghusl,HunootandKafan,isitalsorecommendedtoreciteTalqeenandrequestfortheprayersofWahshat?A)AsforTalqeenforMayyitwhoserecitationisMustahab,Icheckedanumberofbooksandthereisnomentionaboutitbeingrecommendedforchildren.SalaatofMayyitisnotwajibforchildrenundersixyearssoitissafetosaythatthereisnotalqeenforchildrenundersix.Rather,MaulanaRizivibelievesthatthereisnotalqeenforamayyitwhoisnotabaligh.Allahknowsthebest.(H.K.)Q)AquestioncameupduringthesehriprogramonGhuslandKafan.Atthetimeoftalqeen,someonementionedthatthenameofdeceasedshouldnotbementioned.Thetalqeendoessay:Isma'eIfham,Yafulanibnfulanwherethisissubstitutedforthenameofthedeceased.A)Mentioningofthenameinthetalqinisnotnecessary;itcanbereplacedbyhadhalmayyitorhadhihilmayyit.However,mentioningthenameisnotaproblematall.(M.R.)Q)Iunderstand,itisrecommendedtorecitetwoTALQINSafterdeath.1]Immediatelyafterthecorpsehasbeenlaidinthegrave.2]Afterallthepeoplehavedepartedafterburial.ThereisatendencyincertainIslamicCentersofrecitingTALQINafterthecorpsehasbeenclothedwithKAFANandTAHNIT.IsthisactprovidedintheShariahandisitMustahabtodoso?A)ItisMustahab(recommended)tosayTalqeenbeforedeath(Ehtidhaar),sothatthepersonrepeatstheTruthbeforedeath.Afterdeath,therearenoTalqeensbuttwo;oneafterputtingthedeadpersoninthegravebeforeburial,andsecondTalqeenwhendeadisburiedandpeoplehaveleftthegrave.

AftertheBurial

ItisMustahabthat,afterburialandafterthepersonswhoattendedthefuneralhavegone,theguardianoftheMarhum/aorthepersonwhomtheguardiangrantspermissionshouldrecitetheTalqinandtheDu’aonceagainfortheMayyit.Note:1]ItisMustahabthataftertheburial,thebereavedfamilyisconsoled.2]ItisMustahabthatfoodbesenttothemembersofthefamilyofthedeceasedfor3days.Itis,however,Makroohtoeatwiththemintheirhomes.

9ChapterGhuslMaseMayyit(GhuslforTouchingaDeadBody)

IfapersontouchesaMayyitwhichhasbecomecompletelycoldandhasnotyetbeengivenallthreeGhusl-e-Mayyit, with any part of his body including nail, he should do Ghusl Mase Mayyit.The method is the same as that of other prescribed Ghusls, i.e. Janabat. After performing Ghuslfortouchingadeadbody,therecommendedprecautionisthatheshouldalsoperformWudhuwhenhehastopray.Note: Ghusl of Mase-Mayyit will not be Wajib if a person touches a dead body which has

not become entirely cold even if he touches a part which has become cold. Q) Is taking a bathmandatoryforamedicalstudentwhohastotouchskeletonsandcorpses?A)Bathbecomesobligatoryuponapersonwhotouchesadeadbodycontainingfleshandbones.

If only bones or a piece of flesh is touched, there is no necessity of taking a bath. The studentmaytouchacorpsewhilstwearingglovesandavoidthenecessityoftakingabath.(M.M.)Q)Doesitmakeanydifferenceifthedeadbodyonetouches,isthatofanon-Muslim?A)Itdoesnotmakeanydifference.Ifapersonphysicallycomesincontactwiththedeadbodyof

anon-Muslim,hewillhavetotakebath.(M.M.)Q)Ana-balighchild touchesadeadbodywhichhasbecomecoldandbeforehavingbeengiven

thethreeghusls.Thequestionis:IsitWajibforhimtoperformGhuslMaseMeyyitwhileheisstillna-baligh?A)Yestheghusliswajib.(H.K.)Q)WillitbecomeWajibforhimonattainingbulughifhedidnotperformit?A)Yes,he/sheshouldperformtheghusluponbecomingbaligh.(H.K.)Q)Sinceheisna-baligh,shari'i implicationisnotapplicable tohimandwillhestillberequired

toperformGhuslMaseMeyyitnownoronattainingbulugh?A)HereageorbulughisnotacriterionaccordingtoAytSayyidSeestani(dz).(H.K.)Q) I vaguely remember, I am not sure if my memory is not deceiving me, may be some 40

yearsback,amas'alahadarisenwhenamotherdiedhavingalivingchildinherwomb.Whenaliving

childwasbroughtout,naturallyhehadaphysicalcontactwith thebodyofherdeadmother.Whena question was asked, probably at the time of Agha Burujardi, or AghaMuhsin Hakim or AghaKhoei, I cannot remember, the reply then obtained was that it will be wajib for the said child toperformGhuslMaseMeyyitonattainingbulugh.A)All answers to the above three questions apply if the childwas removed from themother ’s

wombaftershehadbecomecold.PleasecheckwithalocalMuslimdoctoronthis.Istronglypresumethatthechildisdeliveredwhenthebodyisstillwarm.(H.K.)

10ChapterExhumation

It is Haraam to open the grave of a Muslim even if it belongs to a child or an insane

person.However,thereisnoobjectionindoingsoifthedeadbodyhasdecayedandturnedintodust.Digging up or destroying the graves of the descendants of Imams, themartyrs, the Ulama and

thepiouspersonsisHaraam,eveniftheyareveryold,becauseitamountstodesecration. Note: There are certain cases where digging up the grave is allowed. Details can be obtained

fromtheIslamicLawsofAyatullahAl-SistaniDama-Dhilluhu.

11ChapterCondolences

Itisrecommended(Sunnah),infact,areligious,moralandsocialdutyofMu’mineenthatcondolencesshouldbeconveyedtothefamilyofthedeceasedaftertheburialandexpressionofsorrowandsympathyshouldbeshowntothemembersofthebereavedfamily.

12ChapterBereavedFamily

With regard to the bereaved family, it is important that they should bear the loss with patiencebyoftenreciting“Innalil-LlahwainnailahiRaji’oon”,reciteQur ’an,praySalat,paySadaqatothepoorandrememberMarhum/MarhumawithDu’aandIstighfar,organizerecitationoftheQur ’anandMajalis of Imam Husayn (a.s.) all forIthale Sawab for the departed soul. These are a few waysofbenefitingthedepartedsoul.

13ChapterDisciplineofVisitingCemetery

Thereareseveraldisciplinesyouneedtoobservewhenvisitingthecemetery:• You should remember death and visualize yourself as lying in the grave and facing the

consequencesofyoursinsandactsofdisobediencetoAllah(swt).•Worldly talks, jokes and laughs shouldbe avoidedand, instead, recitationof theSurahsof the

Qur ’anandDu’asforthedeadburiedinthecemeteryshouldbeconstantlyrecited.• Eating and drinking in the cemetery should be avoided. Apparently, Tabarruk in respect of

recitationoftheQur ’anorMajlisofourAemmah(a.s.)isanexception.•ItisrecommendedtovisiteitheronThursdayorFriday.Aperson,onenteringacemetery,should

say,(Ibegin)inthenameofAllah,theBeneficent,theMerciful. لا هللا اهان،م لا الـهل لا ماسب لا لله حر لا من میحر میرك ای مهجرف لجعو دمحم لاو دمحم ىلع لص مهللا

ا لا الـها لا هللا قح،ب هللا الهاا،ي لا الـه لا هللا اح،ب لا الـهق لا لا ملاس اهىالع لا الـهلانمل لا ل اق الـه لا الـه لا هللا ، هللا يك جفو، تد اقـوم لا الـهل لا هللا ان،م لا الـه لا هللا ،يىال لله ا لا هللا ،و حا رش انمةرمزىافن لا ل اق الـه لا هللا رح،م دم س هللا لو لع فغ رىا“وPeace,Salambeonthepeoplewhoareworthyofbeingamongthosewhodeclarethatthereisno

GodbutAllah.O’thosewhoare(buriedhere)andworthyofbeingamongthepeoplewhodeclarethatthereisnoGodbutAllah,forthesakeoftherebeingnoGodbutAllah,(tellus)howhaveyoufoundthedeclarationthatthereisnoGodbutAllah?O’Allah,thereisnoGodbut(You)Allah.ByYourabsoluteandsoleAttributeofYoualonebeing

God,Allah,forgivethosewhodeclarethatthereisnoGodbut(You)Allahandraiseus(ontheDayofJudgment)amongthegroupofpeoplewhodeclared(duringtheirlives)thatthereisnoGodbutAllah,Muhammad(s.a.w.a.)istheProphetofAllah,‘Ali(a.s.)istheRepresentativeofAllah.’”

14ChapterGeneralMasaels

•Ifafoetusof4monthsormoreisstill-bornitisobligatorytogiveitGhusl,HunutandKafan.• If ithasnotcompleted4months,but ithas formedfeaturesofahumanchild, itmustbegiven

Ghusl,HunutandKafanasaprecaution.• In the event both the above circumstances being absent, the foetus will be wrapped up in a

clothandburiedwithoutGhusl,HunutorKafan.•ItisobligatorytoofferSalatulMayyitforeveryMuslimaswellasforaMuslimchildifhe/she

hascompleted6yearsofage.• If a child had not completed 6 years, but he/she was a Mumayyiz (a discerning child) who

knewwhatSalatwas,thenasanobligatoryprecaution,SalatulMayyitforhim/hershouldbeoffered.Ifhe/shedidnotknowofSalat,thentheprayersmaybeofferedwiththeNiyyahof‘Raja’.•AsforTalqeenforMayyitwhoserecitationisMustahab,Icheckedanumberofbooksandthere

isnomentionabout itbeing recommended forchildren.SalaatofMayyit isnotwajib forchildrenunder sixyears so it is safe to say that there is no talqeen for childrenunder six.Rather,MaulanaRizivibelievesthatthereisnotalqeenforaMayyitwhoisnotabaligh.Allahknowsthebest.(H.K.)Q) I seek your advice if there is any relevance in the Shari'ah pertaining to the following

issueproposedforimplementation:"‘Miniature Graves’ – There is a suggestion that based on the hadith that should

somebody’sparents/relativesbeburiedfar[distant lands],oneshouldmakeamarkat thekabrastanand recite fatehaon themarhum[een]–miniaturegraves [12”x18”]withaplasticmarker]canbemadeandplacedwithinourboundaries.Suchgravestobeallocatedataminimumhadiyaofbetween$50and100."A)Tomake a permanentmarker asminiature gravesof parents is really goingover theboard.

TheProphet (s.a.w.w.) had asked aperson togo and symbolicallymake amarkingof a grave andpray at that grave. But it was never intended that a person should buy a plot and erect apermanent symbolicgrave, and thenperiodicallyvisit that 'grave'!Thispractice shouldbe stoppedbefore itgetsoutofhand.Ask thosewhoare interested topay that sameamounthascharity in thenameoftheirparent(s)andtheresurelywillbemorerewardforthem.(M.R.)Q) Based on what I have been informed is that it is makrooh to light fire on the grave. The

questionis:IsitMakroohtoplacealighted"agarbathi"(aperfumedsortofstickwhenlightedgivesgoodsmell)onthegrave?A)Thereisnoprobleminthat.In this particular case, while it was not a Muslim graveyard.The family of the deceased had

purchasedasmallportiontoaccommodateabout6-8Kabr.ForfamilymemberswhichwhenburriedfacingQiblahwhouldaccommodatehardly3-9Kabr.Thequestion is,will thisverysmalland insignificantportionofa largecemeterybeconsidered

anacceptableportionandthataMuslimbodycanbeburiedinthisportion.A)Theexample thatyouhavewrittencannotbeclassifiedas"aMuslimcemetery"andtherefore

itwouldnotberighttoburyinthatcemetery.Q)IsaMu'minwhocommittedsuicideentitledtoreceivethesameburialritualsnormallygivento

thedeadbodyofaMuslim?A2) Yes, even in case of a person condemned to death in an Islamic court, ghusl, Kafan and

namaze-Mayyithavetobedone.Andthereisnoprobleminsayingthelastzikrinnamaz-ejanaza—theeventualJudgeisAllah.Asfortalqin,itisalsookay;however,youshouldknowthatrecitingthetalqinisnotWajibanyway,itisrecommended(Mustahab).(M.R.)Q) Kafan is donated to our Islamic Center for use for shrouding a dead body whenever any

persondies.TheKafandonatedismorethannormallyrequired.Therefore,therearesmallpiecesofKafanleftover.TheleftoverpiecesareverysmallandcannotbeusedforKafan.Wehavemanyofsuch very small pieceswhich cannot be used forKafan.Will it be appropriate to sell these smallpiecesfromtheleft-overofKafanclothesandusethemoneyobtainedfromthesaleofthesesmallpiecesleftoverexclusivelyforMEYYITasandwhenneeded?A) Based on the situation that you have mentioned, there is no problem in selling the extra

piecesandusingthemoneyforthesamepurpose.(M.R.)Q)When there is no heir for a deceasedMuslim person in the foreign land, who should take

chargeofhisburial?A) If it isnotpossible to contacthisheir andaskhis consent inhandling theburialprocedures,

the requirement of consent is lifted and it becomes obligatory, on basis of wajib kifã’i, on theMuslimstohandletheburial.(S.Org)Q)AChristianwomanconvertedtoIslamuponhermarriagewithaMu’min.Themarriageended

indivorce.ShethenconvertedbacktoChristianity.Shedies.Shari’i,cantheIslamicCenterarrangeMajlisfor“isaleSawaabofthesaidMarhuma”?

www.IslamicMobility.com"WisdomisthelostpropertyoftheBeliever,lethimclaimitwhereverhefindsit"-ImamAli(as)"