I LOST MY FATHER , MY MENTOR, MY INSPIRATION SYED ISHTIAQUE AHMAD SAHEB ON 13.08.2016. AT GUWAHATI, ASSAM
&
I LOST MY SPIRITUAL GUIDE MOHD NASIM AFSAR SAHEB of Mumbai on 28.08.2016.
"Every soul shall have a taste of death: and only on the Day of Judgement shall you be paid your full recompense." (Quran 3:185)
- The scholars agree that the dead person is benefited by the good things that he initiated in his lifetime. The prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) said: "When a son of Adam dies, his deeds cease to benefit him except three: a perpetual charity, a useful contribution to knowledge, and a good child who would pray for him." [Reported by Imam Muslim and the other six Imams]
- As far as the good acts by the living people that will benefit the dead person, they are as follows:
- Supplicating and asking for Allah's forgiveness for the dead: Allah (S.W.T.) says what can be translated as, " And those who came after them saying: 'O our Lord, forgive us and our brothers who preceded us in good faith."' [surat Al-Hashr, (verse 10)] Also, this practice of praying for the dead is from the tradition of the prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.).
- Charity: the mother of Sa'ad Ibn Obada (R.A.) died while he was away, so he came to the prophet (S.A.W.) and said:" O messenger of Allah, my mother has died while I was away, would it benefit her if I gave charity on her behalf? He (S.A.W.) said: "Yes." Sa'ad said: "I would like you to witness that my orchard - Al-Mikhraf - is a charity on her behalf." [Reported by Imam Al-Bukhari]
- Fasting: A man came to the prophet (S.A.W.) and said:" O messenger of Allah, my mother died before she made up a month's time of fasting, can I make it up for her?" he (PBUH) said:" If your mother were in debt, would you have paid the debt for her?" he said: "Yes", he (S.A.W.) said: " A debt to Allah is more worthy of being paid." [Reported by Imams Bukhari and Muslim]
- Hajj: A woman from Juhaynah (a tribe) came to the prophet (S.A.W.) and said: "My mother has made (Nathr) - (a promise to Allah) - to go to Hajj, but she died before she fulfilled her "Nathr". Can I perform Hajj on her behalf? He (S.A.W.) said: "Perform Hajj on her behalf. If your mother were in debt, would you not have paid it for her? Do it (all of you) because Allah is more worthy of being paid pack." [Reported by Imam Al-Bukhari]
- Paying off the Deceased's Debts: The money to pay off the debt can come from the deceased's wealth, or any donations from family or friends. "Abu Qatada (R.A.) donated money to pay the debt of a deceased person, which was two Dinars, with the approval of the prophet (S.A.W.)." [Reported by Imam Al-Hakm and Al-Baihaqui]
- Reciting Qur'an: There is a difference of opinion among the scholars regarding this practice since no explicit text has been gathered that says reading the Qur'an would benefit the dead with a reward. Hanafi and Hanbali schools of Fiqh say that the reward of reading Qur'an will reach the dead, because these scholars made an analogy about the other righteous deeds that have been mentioned by the prophet (S.A.W) like fasting or hajj on behalf of the dead. On the other hand, Maliki and Shaf'i schools of Fiqh say that the reward will not reach the dead, because Allah (S.W.T) says, what can be translated as, "And that man can have nothing but what he does (good or bad)." [surat Al-Najm,(verse 39)] And also the prophet (S.A.W) said: "When a person is dead, his deeds cease (are stopped) except from three: a continuous charity, a knowledge which mankind gets benefit and a righteous child who makes supplication for him." [Reported by Imam Muslim] Also, there is no text from the prophet that proves that reciting Qura'n will transfer into a reward for the dead.
"Every soul shall have a taste of death: and We test you by evil and by good, by way of trial. To Us must you return." (21:35)
"Every soul shall have a taste of death: In the end to Us shall you be brought back." (29:57)
Abu Hurayra reported the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “Race to good actions as fast as you can. What are you waiting for except delayed poverty, oppressive wealth, debilitating illness, dottering senility, a swift death or the Dajjal? Or are you waiting for an unseen evil, or the Last Hour? The Last Hour will be most bitter and terrible.” [at-Tirmidhi]
https://muslimvillage.com/2016/07/26/52109/verses-and-hadiths-on-remembering-death/
Death is not total annihilation, but a different state of being.
When people sleep (and sleep is the “lesser death”), the soul is taken, but not completely, so the sleeper is still alive. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “It is Allaah Who takes away the souls at the time of their death, and those that die not during their sleep, He keeps those (souls) for which He has ordained death and sends the rest for a term appointed. Verily, in this are signs for a people who think deeply.” [al-Zumar 39:42]
The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) advised the Muslim, when he lies down to sleep, to say: “Bismika Rabbee wada’tu janbi wa bika arfa’uhu wa in amsakta nafsi farhamhaa wa in arsaltahaa fahfazhaa bimaa tuhfaz bihi ‘ibaadika al-saaliheen ( In Your name, my Lord, I lie down, and in Your name I rise. If You should take my soul then have mercy on it, and if You should return my soul then protect it as You protect Your righteous slaves).” When the Muslim wakes up, he should say, “Al-hamdu Lillaah alladhi ‘aafaani fi jasadi wa radda ‘alayya roohi wa adhina li bi dhikrihi (Praise be to Allaah Who has restored to me my health and returned my soul and has allowed me to remember Him ).” (Reported by al-Tirmidhi, 3323’ He said, a hasan hadeeth).
What kind of things can be done that would benefit the dead muslim muslimah?
All of the above hadits and many more show that death is not total annihilation, but a different state of being.
- The scholars agree that the dead person is benefited by the good things that he initiated in his lifetime. The prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) said: "When a son of Adam dies, his deeds cease to benefit him except three: a perpetual charity, a useful contribution to knowledge, and a good child who would pray for him." [Reported by Imam Muslim and the other six Imams]
- As far as the good acts by the living people that will benefit the dead person, they are as follows:
- Supplicating and asking for Allah's forgiveness for the dead: Allah (S.W.T.) says what can be translated as, " And those who came after them saying: 'O our Lord, forgive us and our brothers who preceded us in good faith."' [surat Al-Hashr, (verse 10)] Also, this practice of praying for the dead is from the tradition of the prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.).
- Charity: the mother of Sa'ad Ibn Obada (R.A.) died while he was away, so he came to the prophet (S.A.W.) and said:" O messenger of Allah, my mother has died while I was away, would it benefit her if I gave charity on her behalf? He (S.A.W.) said: "Yes." Sa'ad said: "I would like you to witness that my orchard - Al-Mikhraf - is a charity on her behalf." [Reported by Imam Al-Bukhari]
- Fasting: A man came to the prophet (S.A.W.) and said:" O messenger of Allah, my mother died before she made up a month's time of fasting, can I make it up for her?" he (PBUH) said:" If your mother were in debt, would you have paid the debt for her?" he said: "Yes", he (S.A.W.) said: " A debt to Allah is more worthy of being paid." [Reported by Imams Bukhari and Muslim]
- Hajj: A woman from Juhaynah (a tribe) came to the prophet (S.A.W.) and said: "My mother has made (Nathr) - (a promise to Allah) - to go to Hajj, but she died before she fulfilled her "Nathr". Can I perform Hajj on her behalf? He (S.A.W.) said: "Perform Hajj on her behalf. If your mother were in debt, would you not have paid it for her? Do it (all of you) because Allah is more worthy of being paid pack." [Reported by Imam Al-Bukhari]
- Paying off the Deceased's Debts: The money to pay off the debt can come from the deceased's wealth, or any donations from family or friends. "Abu Qatada (R.A.) donated money to pay the debt of a deceased person, which was two Dinars, with the approval of the prophet (S.A.W.)." [Reported by Imam Al-Hakm and Al-Baihaqui]
- Reciting Qur'an: There is a difference of opinion among the scholars regarding this practice since no explicit text has been gathered that says reading the Qur'an would benefit the dead with a reward. Hanafi and Hanbali schools of Fiqh say that the reward of reading Qur'an will reach the dead, because these scholars made an analogy about the other righteous deeds that have been mentioned by the prophet (S.A.W) like fasting or hajj on behalf of the dead. On the other hand, Maliki and Shaf'i schools of Fiqh say that the reward will not reach the dead, because Allah (S.W.T) says, what can be translated as, "And that man can have nothing but what he does (good or bad)." [surat Al-Najm,(verse 39)] And also the prophet (S.A.W) said: "When a person is dead, his deeds cease (are stopped) except from three: a continuous charity, a knowledge which mankind gets benefit and a righteous child who makes supplication for him." [Reported by Imam Muslim] Also, there is no text from the prophet that proves that reciting Qura'n will transfer into a reward for the dead.
What are the rules concerning the visitation of graves?
- Visiting the graves is desirable for both men and women. This will remind us of the reality of death. The prophet (S.A.W) said to the companions, "I had (previously) forbidden you to visit the graves, now (it is permissible for you, so) go and visit them, there is a lesson to learn from them, and do not say anything that will upset Allah." [Reported by Imams Al-Hakm, Al-Baihaqui, and Al-Bazzar] Women just like men may visit the graves, because of the orders of the prophet (S.A.W), which included them too. Also women will share with men the same wisdom that can be learned from visiting the graves. And also when Aishah (R.A.) asked the prophet (S.A.W) what she could say when she visits the graves, the prophet taught her what she should say, and did not prevent her from visiting the graves. He said to her, "Say, Aishah, “Peace be upon the believing men and women dwelling here. May Allah grant mercy to those who have preceded us and those who are to follow them certainly, Allah willing, we will join you”. [Reported by Imams Muslim and An-Nasa'i] The opinion for men as well as women to visit graves has been adopted by Imam Malik, some Hanafi scholars and even one report from Imam Ahmad. It is, however, important that the women must be dressed according to the Sharia’h rules and be accompanied by her Mahram.
- Whoever pays a visit to a grave; you should face the deceased, greet and supplicate for him/her as the prophet used to do while he visited graves.
- No wiping hands over the graves
- No kissing or circumambulating around them
- No sacrificing animals for the dead
- No sitting on the grave or walking on top of them
- No praying toward the graves
- No breaking the bones of the dead
- No placing pictures or flowers on top of the grave
Abu Hurairah reported, "The Prophet (saws) said, 'The righteous works that continue to benefit a believer after his death (or sadaqa jaariyah) include the knowledge that he taught and spread among others, a righteous son whom he leaves behind, or a copy of the Qur'an that he bequeaths to his inheritors, or a mosque that he builds, or a rest house that he builds for the wayfarers, or a well/pond of water that he digs for the benefit of others, helping a child for his/her education, helping orphan, donating to school/dispensary/hospital, or planting trees. He will continue to receive reward for all these even after his death.'