Final Rites [11292012] - AlHuda Sisters

Announcing the Death in a PermissibleManner1. Announcing the death is allowed as long as it is not done in a manner resembling what was done in the time of Ignorance (Jaahiliyyah). Indeed, announcing the death may sometimes be obligatory, when there is no one present to fulfill the right he has of being washed, shrouded, and having the Funeral Prayer said over him. 2. It is permissible for the one who informs of the death to ask people to pray for forgiveness for the deceased, since that is reported in the pure Sunnah. 2 Signs of a Good End to One’s LifeIt is established from the Prophet that he informed us of a number of clear signs which are an indication that a person has concluded his life upon good, and we ask Allah, the One free of all imperfections, that He grant us that. So any person who dies in one of these ways then it is glad tidings for them, and how excellent this is: 1. Pronouncing the Shahaadah (La ilaaha iIIallaah) when dying. 2. Dying with sweat upon the brow. 3. Dying on the night preceding or the day of Friday. 4. Martyrdom upon the battlefield. 5. Death due to plague. 6. Death due to stomach illness. 7. Death by drowning. 8. Death due to a building falling upon him. 9. Death of a woman during pregnancy due to the child. 10. Death through consumption/tuberculosis. 11. Death whilst defending the Deen or one’s self. 12. Death whilst defending one’s property from robbers. 13. Death whilst defending the frontiers of Islam. 14. Death whilst doing a righteous action. 15. Death in a fire. People’s Praise of the Deceased1. If a group of truthful Muslims speak in praise of the deceased, their number being two or more of the people of piety and knowledge who lived near to and knew the deceased, then Paradise is assured for him. 2 This Sunnah is however contradicted by many people who instead say, 'Read Al-­‐Fatihah for the soul of so and so,' or other than this, having no basis in the Sunnah! -­‐ 4 -­‐