FUNERAL: ACCORDING TO THE QUR'AN AND SUNNAH

PART ONE

We went with Allah's Apostle to the blacksmith Abu Sayf, and he was the husband of the wet-nurse of Ibrahim (the son of the Prophet). Allah's Apostle took Ibrahim and kissed him and smelled him and later we entered Abu Sayf's house and at that time Ibrahim was in his last breaths, and the eyes of Allah's Apostle started shedding tears. 'Abdur-Rahman bin 'Awf said, "O Allah's Apostle, even you are weeping!" He said, "O Ibn 'Awf, this is mercy."Then he wept more and said, "The eyes are shedding tears and the heart is grieved, and we will not say except what pleases our Lord, O Ibrahim! Indeed we are grieved by your separation." [Sahih Al-Bukhari]

Al-Istirja

When the news of death in the family reaches the relatives and friends, the first thing that they should say is the following Qur'anic verse (2:156):

"Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un [Truly! To Allah we belong and truly, to Him we shall return]."

This du'a is known in arabic as al-istirja.

In the case of the husband or wife, they should add "Allahumma ajirni fi musibati wakhluf li khayran minha (or minhu if it is the wife saying it)." [O Allah grant me refuge in my affliction and replace her (or him) with someone better]

Crying For Mercy at the Time of Death is Allowed

The Prophet shed tears, but did not cry out in a loud voice ...

We went with Allah's Apostle to the blacksmith Abu Sayf, and he was the husband of the wet-nurse of Ibrahim (the son of the Prophet). Allah's Apostle took Ibrahim and kissed him and smelled him and later we entered Abu Sayf's house and at that time Ibrahim was in his last breaths, and the eyes of Allah's Apostle started shedding tears. 'Abdur-Rahman bin 'Awf said, "O Allah's Apostle, even you are weeping!" He said, "O Ibn 'Awf, this is mercy." Then he wept more and said, "The eyes are shedding tears and the heart is grieved, and we will not say except what pleases our Lord, O Ibrahim! Indeed we are grieved by your separation." [Sahih Al-Bukhari]

To be continued