The Book of Funerals

It was narrated from Anas: that the Messenger of Allah announced the news of the death of Zaid and Ja'far before news of them came. He announced their death and his eyes were overflowing with tears.

Abu Salamah and Ibn Al-Musayyab narrated that Abu Hurairah told them, that: the Messenger of Allah had told them of the death of An-Najashi, the ruler of Ethiopia, on the day that he died, and he said: "Pray for forgiveness for your brother."

Rabiah bin Saif Al-Mu'afiri narrated from Abu 'Abdur-Rahman Al-Hubuli, from 'Abdullah bin 'Amr, who said: "while we were traveling with the Messenger of Allah, he saw a woman, and did not think that he knew her. When she was halfway to him, he stopped until she reached him, and it was Fatimah, the daughter of the Messenger of Allah. He said to her: 'What brought you out of your house, O Fatimah?' She said: 'I came to the people of this deceased one to pray for mercy for them, and to offer my condolences to them.' He said: 'Perhaps you went with them to Al-Kuda?" She said: 'Allah forbid that I should go there. I heard what you said about that.' He said: If you had gone there with them, you would never have seen Paradise until the grandfather of your father saw it."'

It was narrated from Muhammad bin Sirin that Umm 'Atiyyah Al-Ansariyyah said: "The Messenger of Allah entered upon us when his daughter died, and said: 'Wash her three times or five, or more if you think (that is needed), with water and lote leaves, and put some camphor in it the last time, and when you have finished call me.' When we finished we called him and he gave us his waist-wrap, and said: 'Shroud her in it."'

It was narrated from Abu Al-Hasan, the freed slave of Umm Qais bint Mihsan, that Umm Qais said: "My son died, and I felt very sad. I said to the one who was washing him: 'Do not wash my son with cold water and kill him." 'Ukashah bin Mihsan went to the Messenger of Allah and told him what she had said, and he smiled then said: "What did she say, may Allah give her long life?" And we do not know of any woman who lived as long as she lived.

It was narrated from Ayyub: "I heard Hafsah saying: 'Umm 'Atiyyah said: They tied the hair of the daughter of the Prophet in three braids."' 'I said: Did they undo it, then make three braids? She said: 'Yes."'

It was narrated from Umm 'Atiyyah that: the Messenger of Allah said concerning the washing of his daughter: "Start on the right and the parts that were washed in wudu."'

It was narrated that Umm 'Atiyyah said: "One of the daughters of the Prophet died, and he sent word to us saying: 'Wash her with water and lotus leaves, and wash her an odd number of times, three, or five, or seven if you think (that is needed), and put some camphor in it the last time. And when you have finished, inform me.' When we finished, we finished, we informed him, and he threw his informed him, and he threw his waist-wrap to us and said: 'Shroud her in it.' And we combed her hair and put it in three braids, and put it behind her."

It was narrated that Umm 'Atiyyah said: "The Messenger of Allah entered upon us when we were washing his daughter and said: 'Wash her three times or five, or more if you think (that is necessary), with water and lotus leaves, and put camphor, or some camphor in it the last time. And when you have finished, inform me.' When we finished, we informed him, and he threw his waist-wrap to us and said: 'Shroud her in it."'

It was narrated that Umm 'Atiyyah said: "The Messenger of Allah entered upon us while we were washing his daughter and said: 'Wash her three times, or five or more if you think (that is necessary), with water and lotus leaves, and put camphor, or some camphor in it the last time. And when you have finished, inform me.' When we finished, we informed him, and he threw his waist-wrap to us, and said: Shroud her in it."

Something similar was narrated from Umm 'Atiyyah except, that he (the narrator) said: "Three times or five, or seven, or more than that, if you think that (is necessary)."

It was narrated that Umm 'Atiyyah said: "A daughter of the Messenger of Allah died and he told us to wash her. He said: 'Three times, or five or seven, or more than that, if you think that (is necessary).' I said: 'An odd number?' He said: 'Yes, and put camphor, or some camphor, in (the water) the last time. And when you have finished, inform me.' So when you have finished, we informed him, and then gave us his waist-wrap and said: 'Shroud her in it."

It was narrated from Ayyub, from Muhammad, that Umm 'Atiyyah said: "The Messenger of Allah came to us when we were washing his daughter. He said: 'Wash her three times, or five, or more than that if you think that (is necessary), with water and lotus leaves, and put camphor, or some camphor in (the water) the last time. And when you have finished, inform me.' When we finished, we informed him and he threw his waist-wrap to us and said: 'Shroud her in it."' He said: "Hafsah said: 'We washed her three, or five, or seven times.' Umm 'Atiyyah said: 'We combed her hair into three braids."'

Ayyub narrated from Muhammad, who said: "Hafsah informed me that Umm 'Atiyyah said: 'We put her hair in three braids."'

Hammad reported from Ayyub: "And Hafsah said, from Umm 'Atiyyah: 'We put her hair in three braids."'

Muhammad bin Sirin said: "Umm 'Atiyyah was a woman from among the Ansar who told us: 'The Prophet entered upon us while we were washing his daughter and said: "Wash her three times, or five, or more than that if you think that (is necessary), with water and lotus leaves, and put camphor, or some camphor in it the last time. And when you have finished, inform me." So when we finished we informed him, and he threw his waist-wrap to us and said: "Shroud her in it." And he did not add to that. He (the narrator) said: "I do not know which of his daughters that was." I said: "What did he mean by: 'Shroud her in it?' Did he mean to put it on like an Izar?" He said: "No, I think he meant to wrap her completely."

It was narrated that Umm 'Atiyyah said: "One of the daughters of the Prophet died and he said: 'Wash her three times, or five, or more than that if you think that (is necessary). Wash her with water and lotus leaves and put camphor, or some camphor in it the last time. And when you have finished inform me.' We informed him, and he threw his waist-wrapper to us and said: 'Shroud her in it."'

It was narrated that Ibn Juraij said: "Abu Az-Zubair told me that he heard Jabir say; 'The Messenger of Allah delivered a speech and mentioned a man among his Companions who had died. He had been buried at night and wrapped in a shroud that was not sufficient. The Messenger of Allah rebuked (them) and said that no one should be buried at night unless constrained to do that. And the Messenger of Allah said: When one of you wants to takes care of his brother, let him shroud him well."'

It was narrated that Ibn Juraij sad: "Abu Az-Zubair told me that he heard Jabir say: "The Messenger of Allah delivered a speech and mentioned a man among his Companions who had died. He had been buried at night and wrapped in a shroud that was not sufficient. The Messenger of Allah reduced (them) and said that no one should be buried at night unless constrained to do that. And the Messenger of Allah said: When one of you wants to takes care of his brother, let him shroud him well."'

It was narrated from Samurah that the Prophet said: "Wear white clothes for they are purer and better, and shroud your dead in them."'

It was narrated that Aishah said: "The Prophet was shrouded in three white Suhuli garments."

Hisham narrated from his father, from 'Aishah that: the Messenger of Allah was shrouded in three white Yemeni garments of cotton, among which was no shirt and no turban. It was mentioned to 'Aishah that they said: "He was buried in two garments and a Burd made of Hibrah." She said: "A Burd was brought, but they sent it back and did not shroud him in it."

It was narrated that 'Abdullah bin 'Umar said: "When 'Abdullah bin Ubayy died, his son came to the Prophet and said: 'Give me your shirt so that I may shroud him in it, and (some and) offer the (funeral) prayer for him, and pray for forgiveness for him'. So he gave him his shirt then he said: 'When you have finished, inform me and I will offer the (funeral) prayer for him.' But 'Umar stopped him and said: 'Hasn't Allah forbidden you to offer the (funeral) prayer for the hypocrites?' He said: 'I have two options. Whether you ask forgiveness for them (hypocrites) or ask no forgiveness for them." So he offered the (funeral) prayer for him. Then Allah, Most High, revealed: 'And never pray (funeral prayer) for any of them (hypocrites) who dies, nor stand at his grave.' So he stopped offering the (funeral) prayer for them."

It was narrated from Sufyan, from 'Amr who said he heard Jabir say: "The Prophet came to the grave of 'Abdullah bin Ubayy when he had been placed in his grave and stood over it. He commanded that he be brought out to him and placed on his knees, and he dressed him in his shirt and blew on him (for blessing). And Allah knows best."

It was narrated that 'Amr heard Jabir say: "And Al-'Abass was in Al-Madinah, and he asked the Ansar for a garment to clothe him in, but they could not find a shirt that would fit him except the shirt of 'Abdullah bin Ubayy, so they clothed him in it."

Khabbab said: "We emigrated with the Messenger of Allah, seeking the Face of Allah, the Most High, so our reward became due from Allah. Some of us died without enjoying anything of his reward (in this world) among them is Mus'ab bin Umair. He was matyred on the day of Uhud and we could not find anything to shroud him in except a Namirah; if we covered his head with it, his feet were uncovered, and if we covered his feet with it, his head became uncovered. The Messenger of Allah told us to cover his head with it and to put Idhkhir over his feet. And for some of us, the fruits of our labor have ripened and we are gathering them." This is the wording of Isma'il

It was narrated that Ibn 'Abbas said: "The Messenger of Allah said: 'Wash the Muhrim in the two garments in which he entered Ihram, and wash him with water and lotus leaves, and shroud him in his two garments, and do not put perfume on him nor cover his head, for he will be raised on the Day of Resurrection in Ihram."'

It was narrated that Abu Sa'eed said: "The Messenger of Allah said: "The best of perfume is musk."'

It was narrated that Abu Sa'eed said: "The Messenger of Allah said: 'One of the best of your perfumes is musk."'

It was narrated from Abu Umamah bin Sahl bin Hunaif that: a poor woman fell sick and the Messenger of Allah was informed of her sickness. The Messenger of Allah used to visit the poor when they were sick and ask about them. The Messnger of Allah said: "If she dies, then inform me." Then her funeral took place at night and they did not like to wake the Messenger of Allah. When morning came, the Messenger of Allah was told what had happened to her. He said: "Did I not tell you to inform me?" They said: "O Messenger of Allah, we did not like to wake you up at night." The Messenger of Allah went out and the people lined up by her grave and he said four Takbirs.