Saturday 14 Oct 2017
Chapter of Prayer: Lesson 40 Remembering Death, issue of Suicide, other matters Surrounding Death
This lesson will go into Extra details of the Janazaah prayer, using hadiths outside of this book
• From the book Explanation of Buluughul Maraam
o Hadith of Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said “Remember the Destroyer of Desires often, death”
Death is inevitable and We should remember it often, when a person thinks about death you will not be fooled by the desires/glitters of this world. Therefore, a person should not become negligent of this.
Remembering death helps one to prepare for the after-life (Akhirah) as it encourages good deeds, and reduces sins
Remembering death weakens attachment to the world, removes the worry for the one who has little and removes the satisfaction for the one that has much
o Hadith of Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) “None of you should wish for death due to difficulty afflicting him. If you had to say wish for it then say O Allah let me to live as long as life is better for me and allow me die if death is better for me”
This indicates the impermissibility of suicide. A Muslim should not wish for death upon themselves due to difficulties they may face, let alone doing it
Secondly, we also learn from this hadith that in times of difficulty a Muslim should remain calm, patient and put their trust in Allah. Remember everything has already been decreed, so you keep your trust in Allah and keep making dua/supplication (being confident and certain in Allah) and this difficulty will be removed and/or you will get reward for your patience
Example of the Story of Ibrāhīm (Abraham) may Allah be pleased with him and other Prophets and Messengers (may Allah be pleased with them all)
Some scholars mention from this hadith that you should not wish for death
o Hadith of Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said “The hour shall not be established until a man will walk past the grave of another man and he will say ‘if only I was in his place’”
This narration is talking about the fitan (trials and tribulations) that will come when the hour is near
o Hadith of Buraidah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said “A believer dies with sweat upon his forehead”
This narration indicates that death is a difficult moment. Scholars say this could mean the actual time of death has hardship within it which wipes away sins.
When the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) was in his final illness, Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) mentioned he had a cloth to wipe his head with due to the sweat, and he said indeed death has its pangs
However, when the soul exits, the soul of a believer exits easily from the body as water exits a water skin
o Hadith of Abu Sa’īd and Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said to remind those on the verge of death about the Shahādah
Majority of scholars say this is a recommendation instead of an obligation
It is possible to say the Shahādah in the presence of the one who is dying to remind them of it
What is the wisdom behind this?
Related matter: is it sunnah to recite Surah Yasin upon the dying? = NO. There is a hadith from Ibn Hibaan which instructs to do this. However, this hadith is NOT authentic for two reasons. It’s chain of narration has a mismatch within it. Secondly, there is a person in this chain called Abu Uthmān who is unknown/cannot be identified. Therefore, this hadith cannot be authenticated
FOR REST OF SUMMARY GO TO: AlhudaBolton.com
NEXT WEEK Insha Allah: The topic of condolences after death occurs
