Introduction- Islamic Funeral Rites and Practices

By Sheikh Ahmad Kutty

All praises are due to Allah. May Allah’s blessings and peace be on Muhammad, his family, companions, and on all those who earnestly follow their footsteps. Ameen.

Allah Almighty says,

“Nor can a soul die except by Allah’s leave the term being fixed as by writing. If any do desire a reward in this life, We shall give it to him; and if any do desire a reward in the Hereafter, We shall give it to him. And swiftly shall We reward those that (serve Us with) gratitude.” (3:145)

Death is an inevitable fact, which all human beings, rich or poor, scholar or layman, must face one day. The time, place and manner of death are all pre-determined by Allah. A Muslim, therefore, recognizes that death is a fact, and prepares himself to welcome it in a state of true submission to the will of Allah.

It is said, “There is no preacher better than death.” In other words, constant remembrance of death helps a person to sort out the priorities in this life from the point of view of the eternal life. By so doing, he avoids a situation where death suddenly overtakes him.

For a believer, the attitude to life is best summed up by the motto, “Live for this world as though you were destined to live forever, and live for the hereafter as though you were destined to depart tomorrow.” Prophet (upon whom be Allah’s blessings and peace) said, “When morning comes, do not convince yourself that you will surely live until evening, and when evening comes, do not convince yourself that you will live until the morning.” (Reported by al-Bukhari, al-Tirmidhi, etc)

To be prepared to die means to make one’s life productive and fruitful by serving Allah and our fellow human beings. It is to live with the full realization that Allah’s sovereignty over life and death is both supreme and absolute. It is also to be conscious of one’s accountability before Allah.

Allah says,

“O ye who believe! Fear Allah and let every soul look to what (provision) he has sent forth for the morrow. Yea, fear Allah: for Allah is well-acquainted with (all) that ye do.” (59:18)

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