Your mountain of Uhud

As news of the crane accident in Makkah makes it rounds through the media, I’d like us to reflect on a couple of things

Death is inevitable. It can come at any place, at any time. How prepared are we?
Death is something that should have a big impact on everyone. The deceased, the deceased’s family and more importantly the community i.e. you and me.

How often do you read the news about someone passing away? How often do you get an SMS or Whatsapp telling you about a Janazah Salah in your own community? What is your response?

Do you try your best to reschedule your day so you can attend? Or do you only attend if you are free and you don’t have that important lunch appointment?

My focus for this blog is the Salat al Janazah. The funeral prayer.

This is Mount Uhud
(entire mountain from far left to far right)

Abu Huraira that Allah’s Apostle (p.b.u.h) said,

“Whoever attends the funeral procession till he offers the funeral prayer for it, will get a reward equal to one Qirat, and whoever accompanies it till burial, will get a reward equal to two Qirats.” It was asked, “What are two Qirats?” He replied, “Like two huge mountains.” – Bukhari

A qiraat is a large amount of reward, which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) likened to the mountain of Uhud.

This is a video I took the other day of the funeral procession in Madinah to Jannatul Baqi

Narrated Abu Sa’id Al-Khudri :

Allah’s Apostle said, When the funeral is ready and the men carry it on their shoulders, if the deceased was righteous it will say, ‘Present me (hurriedly),’ and if he was not righteous, it will say, ‘Woe to it (me)! Where are they taking it (me)?’ Its voice is heard by everything except man and if he heard it he would fall unconscious.” – Bukhari

How to perform Salat Al Janazah:

1. You say the first Takbeer (“Allaahu akbar”), then you seek refuge with Allaah from the accursed Shaytaan, then you say Bismillah ir-Rahmaan ir-Raheem and recite al-Faatihah. If time permits you also recite a short surah.

2. Then you say second Takbeer and send blessings upon the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) as one does at the end of the prayer.

3. Then you say a third Takbeer and make du’aa’ for the deceased:
اللهُمِّ اغْفِرْ لَهُ وَارْحَمْه، وَعافِهِ وَاعْفُ عَنْه، وَأَكْرِمْ نُزُلَه، وَوَسِّعْ مُدْخَلَه، وَاغْسِلْهُ بِالْماءِ وَالثَّلْجِ وَالْبَرَدْ، وَنَقِّهِ مِنَ الْخطايا كَما نَقّيْتَ الثَّوْبُ الأَبْيَضُ مِنَ الدَّنَسْ، وَأَبْدِلْهُ داراً خَيْراً مِنْ دارِه، وَأَهْلاً خَيْراً مِنْ أَهْلِه، وَزَوْجَاً خَيْراً مِنْ زَوْجِه، وَأَدْخِلْهُ الْجَنَّة، وَأَعِذْهُ مِنْ عَذابِ القَبْر وَعَذابِ النّار

Allaahum-maghfir lahu warhamhu, wa ‘aafihi, wa’fu ‘anhu, wa ‘akrim nuzulahu, wa wassi’ mudkhalahu, waghsilhu bilmaa’i waththalji walbaradi, wa naqqihi minal-khataayaa kamaa naqqaytath-thawbal-‘abyadha minad-danasi, wa ‘abdilhu daaran khayran min daarihi, wa ‘ahlan khayran min ‘ahlihi, wa zawjan khayran min zawjihi, wa ‘adkhilhul-jannata, wa. ‘a’ithhu min ‘athaabil-qabri[wa ‘athaabin-naar]

O Allah, forgive him & have mercy on him & give him strength & pardon him.
Be generous to him & cause his entrance to be wide & wash him with water & snow & hail.
Cleanse him of his transgressions as white cloth is cleansed of stains.
Give him an abode better than his home, & a family better than his family & a wife better than his wife.
Take him into Paradise & protect him from the punishment of the grave [and from the punishment of Hell-fire].

4. Then you say a fourth Takbeer and make dua for the Ummah, then you say one Tasleem to the right, saying “Assalaamu‘alaykum wa rahmat-Allaah.”

How to protect yourself from the punishment of the grave?

Narrated Abu Huraira :

Allah’s Apostle used to invoke (Allah): “Allahumma ini a’udhu bika min ‘adhabi-l-Qabr, wa min ‘adhabi-nnar, wa min fitnati-l-mahya wa-lmamat, wa min fitnati-l-masih ad-dajjal. (O Allah! I seek refuge with you from the punishment in the grave and from the punishment in the Hell fire and from the afflictions of life and death, and the afflictions of Al-Masih Ad-Dajjal. – Bukhari

So will it be Lunch or Mount Uhud?

So the next time you get notified that someone has passed away and they will be conducting Salat Al Janazah, weigh up your options and do your best to attend.

Some points to ponder:

Wouldn’t you like all your family and friends to pray at your Janazah and make dua for you?
Making dua after the Janazah prayer is an innovation as the dua is made in the actual salah.
With above point in mind, who would you prefer to lead your Janazah prayer? The Imam of the mosque who may hardly know you, or your choice of Imam? What about a pious son or relative? Who do you think will make a more sincere dua?
With above point in mind, did you know you can stipulate in your Will (Wassiyah), who should lead your Janazah prayer. So don’t delay, update or make your Will now, as tomorrow might be to late.
To get your Will (in Australia) now, visit www.wasiyyah.com.au. It’s a simple online form to fill out so don’t delay it.
Finally make sure relatives know of any debts you owe or that is owed to you, including debts to Allah, such as missed fasts or any oaths.

May Allah guide us all and keep us on the straight path and to die as a believer. Aameen.