Speaking about the Deceased

Insha'Allah, there is punishment to the deceased when you speak ill off them at the time of the funeral. This does not mean that the deceased person hears you speaking ill or well of them.

Bukhari 2.449, Narrated Abu Al Aswad, r.a.
I came to Medina when an epidemic had broken out. While I was sitting with 'Umar bin Al-Khattab a funeral procession passed by and the people praised the deceased. 'Umar said, "It has been affirmed to him." And another funeral procession passed by and the people praised the deceased. 'Umar said, "It has been affirmed to him." A third (funeral procession) passed by and the people spoke badly of the deceased. He said, "It has been affirmed to him." I (Abu Al-Aswad) asked, "O chief of the believers! What has been affirmed?" He replied, "I said the same as the Prophet had said, that is: if four persons testify the piety of a Muslim, Allah will grant him Paradise." We asked, "If three persons testify his piety?" He (the Prophet) replied, "Even three." Then we asked, "If two?" He replied, "Even two." We did not ask him regarding one witness.

Bukhari 2.448, Narrated Anas bin Malik, r.a.
A funeral procession passed and the people praised the deceased. The Prophet saaws said, "It has been affirmed to him." Then another funeral procession passed and the people spoke badly of the deceased. The Prophet said, "It has been affirmed to him". 'Umar bin Al-Khattab asked (Allah's Apostle (p.b.u.h) ), "What has been affirmed?" He replied, "You praised this, so Paradise has been affirmed to him; and you spoke badly of this, so Hell has been affirmed to him. You people are Allah's witnesses on earth."

Quoted in Nayl al-Awtaar,vol.4, pp.134-5

"Every innovation is misguidance, even if people consider it to be good."

• Do not perform any of the common funeral-related innovations listed below:

  • Turning the dying person's body to face the qiblah.

  • The removal of menustrating women from a dead or dying person's presence.

  • Leaving dying men among the women and only coming to collect their bodiesafter they have died.

  • Recital of the Qur'aan for money at the time of the person's death.

  • Placing candles near the dead body until morning.

  • Putting cotton in the throat, nostrils, and anus of the dead person.

  • Clipping the fingernails of the dead body and shaving it's pubic hair.

  • Recital of Surah Al-Faatihah, Al-Baqarah and the last two verses of SoorahAl-Baqarah, based on a fabricated narration falsely attributed to Ibn'Umar.

  • "Whoever recites Soorah al-Ikhlaas 1000 times will be safeguarded from Hell,"is a fabricated tradition.

  • Instructing (talqeen) those who have already died to recite the declarationof faith: laa ilaaha illa-laah, [This practice is of no use to thedead. The Prophet (SAW) recommended that those who are dying should be encouragedto recite the declaration of faith.]

  • Writing du'aas on the shroud.

  • Transferring the body of the deceased over long distances in order to burythe person near the graves of the pious or in their home countries.

  • Reciting aloud Qur'aan, poems or words of remembrance while carrying thebier.

  • Excessive talking talking in loud voices during the time of the burial.

  • Sprinkling rose water when placing the body in the grave and everybody coveringthe grave with sand while reciting specific prayers.

  • Reciting shahada three times after closing the grave and sprinkling wateron it.

  • Placing flowers ,twigs,etc. on the graves,based on ProphetMuhammad's(SAW)action.What the Prophet (SAW) did was special for him andhe did not do it for every grave.

  • Sahih Al-Bukhari,vol.2,pp.249-50#443.

  • Gathering at the home of the dead person and obliging the family of the deceasedto provide food for the guests.

  • Recital of Soorah Yaaseen at the graveyard.

  • Avoiding the celebration of 'Eid because of a death in the family. Refusingto visit people on 'Eid for the same reason.

  • Touching or wiping the tombs of the righteous in the belief that blessingswill be gained from this act.

  • Circumbulating the Prophet's grave or any other grave.

  • Putting flag poles with white flags outside the home of one who has diedto indicate that death has occurred in the family. This is a practice ofHindu origin found amongst Muslims in Southern Philippines.

Remember... Allah, subhana watala, sees everything we do!