Class 5
FIQH OF FINAL HOURS
Preparation · The Deathbed · The Will · Mourning & Condolences
كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذَائِقَةُ الْمَوْتِ
Three times. Allah repeated this ayah three times across the Quran. Not because we forget it intellectually — but because we forget it practically. We know death is coming. We simply do not live as though it is. We plan our careers, our holidays, our retirements with meticulous care — and we give not a single hour to preparing for the event that is more certain than all of them combined.
Life slips away second by second. Are you aware that every day brings you closer to death or that death is as close to you as it is to other people? As we are told in the verses
“Whatsoever is on it (the earth) will perish. And the Face of your Lord full of Majesty and Honour will remain forever” [al-Rahmaan 55:26-27]
“Every soul shall taste death in the end; to Us shall you be brought back.” (Surat al-‘Ankabut: 57)
The Only Appointment None of Us Will Miss
This is one certainty that every human being shares. Brothers and sisters (may Allaah preserve us upon the Sunnah and grant us a good end…Aameen). Indeed death is a harsh and fearful reality faced by everyone who lives. No one has the power to avoid it, nor does anyone around the dying person have the ability to prevent it. It is something which happens every moment and is encountered by the old and the young, the rich and the poor, the strong and the weak. They are all the same in that they have no plan or means of escaping it, no power, no means of intercession, no way to prevent it, nor to delay it, which shows that indeed it comes from One having tremendous power-so that the human is helpless in this regard and can only submit to it. People die every day, but when someone close to us dies the shortness of this worldly life becomes a more manifest reality and less attention is given to the worldly aspirations. This is the way it should be whether someone dies or not, in order that we may make more effort in preparing for the meeting with our Lord. Let our gatherings be that of remembrance of Allaah and the aakhirah, ilm and advice towards that which increases the slaves in taqwah. The Messenger ﷺ said: ‘’Make much remembrance of the destroyer of pleasures, it is death. And let us not be deceived by this worldly life and its glitter”. (Tirimidhi, Ibn Majah & Nasa’ii)
O my Brothers and sisters! There is no cure for death. A cure for every other disease exists, except death. This is why the Prophet ﷺ asked us to remember death, it puts the Nikaah in perspective, it makes the rights of others urgent, it transforms the way we spend our time.
Are we prepared?
Yes to face our Lord after Death, we need to do good deeds and have good hope with Him while dying on Imaan. But that’s not it, Islam is complete and it has guidelines from Cradle to the Grave.
We are advised to keep our will ready while alive, we are advised on what to do while on our death bed and similarly, there are recommendations for the family members who are taking care of the person on how to benefit the person on the death bed.
And above all, there are also deeds mentioned in the Sunnah that make a person’s death good and easy. May Allah make it easy for us and give us a Good End while being on Imaan, one that He is pleased with!
So let us remember death often as the Prophet ﷺ advised us to do and prepare for it by learning and educating our children on how to go about these matters in the way of the Sunnah. As we have seen in the present times Bidahs have prevailed in large numbers at every stage whether being on the death bed or after dying or in funeral processions or by innovating ways to benefit the deceased. It is mostly because of the lack of knowledge in these issues that people end up doing whatever they listen or feel like.
The Ummah is open to learning about Topics like Salah, Ramadan, Hajj and the likes but this is something people do not want to learn too much about. Psychologically they avoid it as they study the aforementioned topics when the season is arriving and they are to implement it. But somehow we tend to avoid thinking of death thinking that we don’t need it whereas the Sunnah recommends that we think of Death frequently`. To conclude we do not want to have our last acts that we do or see others doing to be Bidah. Lets learn the Sunnah and enter or make others enter the next life while on Sunnah!
As Death is not the end, it is the beginning of the Eternal Life!
KEEPING THE WILL READY
Why Write a Will?
Writing an Islamic will is unfortunately neglected today, or not stressed upon enough, to say the least. The Prophet ﷺ said, “It is the duty of a Muslim who has anything to bequest not to let two nights pass without writing a will about it.” (Sahih Bukhari)
This obligation is further emphasized for Muslims living or possessing property in a non-Islamic country. They should write their will and make sure that the Islamic requirements in it are legally binding on the executors and heirs. If they fail to do so, their estate may be distributed in discord with the Islamic law. Thus, a will should answer three basic questions:
How should the property be distributed?
Who should settle the deceased’s financial affairs?
Who should take care of the deceased’s minor children?
What must be in the will:
Any debts owed — they must be paid from the estate before any inheritance is distributed. This includes deferred Mahr.
Total assets and any debts owed to you that family should pursue.
Bequests within the one-third limit.
Guardian for minor children if both parents may die.
Another suggestion is to Instructions for your Janaazah.
The one-third rule: a Muslim may only bequeath up to one-third of their estate to non-heirs (charities, friends, causes). The remaining two-thirds must be distributed according to the Quranic inheritance rules (Fara’id). ‘Allah has given each person their right, so there is no Wasiyyah for a legal heir.’ (Abu Dawud, Hasan by Al-Albani)
Will to guide others after Death and to avoid Bidahs
It is a sad fact that mostly people do not know of the Funeral Processions and just follow rituals that may or may not be from Islam. So it is also recommended by scholars that one leaves in his will guidelines so that his family who will not be able to think straight due to their loss and hence save them from falling into Bidahs.
You can find a beautiful example of one such Will in the link below…
DEATH BED
Most people have never been in a room where someone is dying. When it happens, the shock and grief can leave families paralysed — doing nothing, or worse, doing things that have no basis in the Sunnah. The Prophet ﴿﴾ gave us precise, beautiful, and calming guidance for this moment. Knowing it in advance transforms a moment of helplessness into an act of worship.
The Talqeen: Encouraging the Shahaadah
The Messenger of Allaah ﷺ said:
“Exhort your dying ones to say Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah.” (Sahih Muslim).
“If a person’s last words are Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah, Paradise will be guaranteed for him.” (Ahmad & Abu Dawood; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani)
How to do this?
Gently say ‘Laa ilaaha ill-Allah’ near the person. Not to force them to repeat it — but to have it be among the last words they hear. If they say it, do not ask them again unless they speak other words afterwards.
Do not push too hard to say the Kalimah
Al-Nawawi said: They (the scholars) regarded it as makrooh to exhort him repeatedly or continuously, lest that cause him hardship and distress and he dislikes that in his heart and says something that is not appropriate. They said: If he says it once, he need not be reminded again unless he says something else after that, in which case he should be reminded again so that it will be the last thing that he says. End quote.
Some other rules
Exhort the Non-Muslims as well to say the Kalimah. The Prophet ﷺ was present when his uncle Abu Taalib was dying, and he said to him: “O uncle, say Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah.” (Bukhaari & Muslim). Also the Prophet ﷺ was present when the Jewish boy who used to serve him was dying. He said to him: “Say Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah.” (Bukhaari).
Remind to have Good Thoughts about Allah. The Prophet ﷺ three days before his death said: “Let none of you die unless he has good expectations from Allah”. (Muslim).
Remove things that Dispels the Angels of Mercy. Although things that dispel the Angels of Mercy should never be around us, it is more so when a person is on his death bed. Things like Pictures or Statues of humans or animals, improperly dressed women, music, smoke, foul smell, etc.
Do not cry or weep loudly in front of them. The Prophet ﷺ said – ‘The deceased is tormented because of his family’s weeping over him’?” (Ahmad; Ahmad Shaakir said: its isnaad is saheeh.
Surah Yasin: A weak hadeeth is mention which states : ‘Recite Yasin over your dying.’ (Abu Dawud & Ibn Majah). Shaykh Al-Albani graded it Da’if. But many scholars including Ibn Taymiyah, Imam Al-Nawawi and others said it is recommended to do so because of the benefits.— considered acting on it permissible as a virtuous act. The student may act on it given the scholarly acceptance of weak hadiths in virtuous acts (Fadha’il Al-A’mal), understanding that it is not an established Sunnah. Click here to read the detail discussion about this.
Facing the Qiblah: if possible, turn the dying person to face the Qiblah — on their right side, face toward Qiblah. (Fiqh position of the majority of scholars based on a narration in Mustadrak Al-Hakim, Vol. 1, p. 354, which Al-Hakim graded Sahih). If this is difficult due to their condition, it may be left.
Click here to read more details about Death Bed and Sign of a Good End
The Moment of Death
What to Do Immediately
In Sahih Muslim, “When the Prophet ﷺ entered upon Abu Salamah whose eyes had remained open after death, he closed them and said: 'Verily, when the soul is taken, the sight follows it.' Then he supplicated for him.”
Close the eyes: gently close the deceased’s eyes immediately. Say the du’a: 'Allahummaghfir li-[name] warfa’ darajatahu fil-mahdiyyeen, wakhlufhu fi ‘aqibihi fil-ghaabireen, waghfir lana wa lahu ya Rabb al-‘alameen.' (O Allah, forgive [name] and elevate his rank among the guided, and be a successor for him among those he left behind, and forgive us and him, O Lord of the worlds.) (Sahih Muslim)
Cover the body: cover the entire body with a cloth immediately after death. This preserves dignity and is the consistent Sunnah. The Prophet ﷺ was covered when he passed. (Sahih Bukhari)
Announce the death: inform family and the community — but without the practices of wailing or broadcasting in a manner that invites drama. The announcement should be clear, calm, and invite people to pray for the deceased.
Urgency of burial: the Prophet ﷺ said: ‘Hasten with the Janaazah. If he was righteous you are sending him toward good. If otherwise, you are putting an evil away from your shoulders.’ (Sahih Bukhari). Do not delay the burial unnecessarily to wait for distant relatives unless absolutely unavoidable.
HOW THE FAMILY SHOULD REACT
GRIEF IN THE ISLAMIC FRAMEWORK
Grief is not a failure of faith. Weeping is not weakness. The Prophet ﷺ wept at the death of his son Ibrahim — his tears fell and he said: ‘The eyes weep and the heart grieves, and we say nothing except what pleases our Lord.’ (Sahih Bukhari). Islam does not ask you not to feel. It asks you to feel within a framework that preserves your dignity, your deen, and the dignity of the one who has passed.
What Is Permitted
Weeping: entirely permitted — it is a mercy from Allah. The Prophet ﷺ did (as mentioned in the hadeeth above). Weeping for the dead even after burial is permitted as long as it does not cross into prohibited forms.
Saying Inna Lillahi Wa Inna Ilaihi Raajioon: ‘Those who, when afflicted with calamity, say: Indeed, we belong to Allah and to Him we shall return — upon those are blessings from their Lord and mercy.’ (Al-Baqarah 2:156-157). This is the response to death that Allah Himself described as worthy of His blessings.
Du’a for the deceased: continue making du’a for them throughout the mourning period and beyond. This benefits them and keeps the bereaved connected to purpose rather than consumed by helplessness.
What Is Prohibited
Niyaahah (wailing): loud wailing, screaming, beating the chest, tearing clothes, and the practices of lamentation are explicitly prohibited in this hadith. The Prophet ﷺ condemned them as the ‘calls of Jahiliyyah’ — the pre-Islamic practices of ignorance. They harm the deceased: ‘The deceased is tormented by the wailing of his family over him.’ (Sahih Bukhari)
Expressing anger at Allah’s decree: statements like ‘Why did Allah take him?’ in a tone of protest or rebellion against the divine decree are prohibited. Questioning and grief are human — but protest against Allah’s will crosses into dangerous territory.
Excessive public display: grief is private and intimate. Broadcasting it on social media, turning the mourning into a public performance, or competing in demonstrations of grief have no place in the Islamic tradition.
The Maximum Period of Mourning
General mourning: three days is the maximum for mourning a relative or friend. After three days, visible mourning should cease. This applies to all Muslims.
The widow’s Iddah of mourning: four months and ten days — the longest prescribed mourning in Islam. During this period she does not remarry, does not wear adornment, and stays in the marital home. (Al-Baqarah 2:234 | Sahih Bukhari No. 5336)
No mourning beyond three days for other than a husband: the Prophet ﷺ explicitly prohibited mourning beyond three days for anyone except a husband. (Sahih Bukhari). This is not coldness — it is mercy. It prevents grief from becoming a permanent state that paralyses the living.
The Sunnah of Ta’ziyah
offering Condolences
Ruling: Sunnah — some scholars consider it Fard Kifaayah (communally obligatory). It is among the rights of one Muslim upon another.
Timing: within three days of the death. After three days, unless you were travelling or genuinely unable to come earlier, condolences should not be delayed to the point of reopening grief.
Dua of condolence
إِنَّ للهِ ما أَخَذ، وَلَهُ ما أَعْـطـى، وَكُـلُّ شَيءٍ عِنْـدَهُ بِأَجَلٍ مُسَـمَّى
Inna Lillahi ma akhadha, wa lahu ma a‘ta, wa kullu shay’in ‘indahu bi ajalin musamma
Indeed to Allah belongs what He has taken, to Him belongs what He has given, and everything has an appointed time with Him.
Be brief and sincere: Ta’ziyah is not an occasion for storytelling, for asking how the death happened in graphic detail, or for extended visits that exhaust the family. Say the du’a, offer your presence, and leave. The family’s need is for peace and prayer, not conversation.
Non-Muslims offering condolences: the majority of scholars permit accepting condolences from non-Muslims and offering them to non-Muslims, as this is an expression of human compassion, not a religious endorsement.
Sending Food. It is sunnah to send food to the family and also help them take care of their affairs so that they dont have to worry about anything else besides grieving. (Abu Dawood). So running errands for the family, informing their employers or school administrators so that they dont have to, buying groceries for them, offering financial support, etc. are all things that lighten the load for them and fulfill this noble purpose. The Prophet ﷺ commanded the community to send food to the bereaved family — not the family to cook for visitors. In most Muslim communities today, the exact opposite has happened: the grieving family is expected to host and feed whoever comes to offer condolences. This is a cultural inversion of the Sunnah that adds burden to those already broken by grief.
COMMON BID’AHS AROUND DEATH AND MOURNING
The period of death is one of the most fertile grounds for bid'ah in Muslim communities — because grief makes people vulnerable to whatever feels comforting, and culture rushes in with practices dressed as care. We address them with gentleness but without ambiguity.
The family of the deceased cooking and hosting gatherings for visitors on Day 3, Day 7, Day 40 (Chehlum), and the death anniversary (Barsi) — this is the exact inversion of the Sunnah. The community should feed the family, not the other way around. The Prophet ﷺ commanded the community to send food to the bereaved family — not the family to cook for visitors. In most Muslim communities today, the exact opposite has happened: the grieving family is expected to host and feed whoever comes to offer condolences. This is a cultural inversion of the Sunnah that adds burden to those already broken by grief.
Hiring Quran reciters to recite at the home of the deceased for a fee — this practice involves two problems: treating the Quran as a paid service, and the belief that a specific number of Quran khatams on specific nights has a fixed reward not established by the Prophet ﷺ.
Gatherings on the 3rd, 7th, 40th day and death anniversary as fixed religious occasions — these have no basis in the Sunnah and burden the bereaved family financially and emotionally at the worst possible time.
Wailing, beating the chest, tearing clothes, and lamentation — explicitly prohibited in Sahih Al-Bukhari. ‘He is not from us who does these things.’
Believing that the deceased can hear our regular speech and respond to it in the days following death — the souls of the deceased are in the care of Allah and communication with them in this manner is not established.
Leaving food, water, or personal items at the grave for the deceased to ‘use’ — the dead have no need of these, and placing them carries the implication of a belief with no Islamic basis.
Wearing only black for mourning as a religious requirement — there is no prescribed colour for mourning in Islam. The widow's mourning dress code is to avoid adornment, not to wear a specific colour.
Placing a lit candle or lamp at the grave or in the home of the deceased as a ritual — explicitly prohibited by the Prophet ﷺ who cursed those who do this. (Sunan Abu Dawud, Sahih by Al-Albani)
Please join our free online certificate course “DEATH”, to learn more about Death & Funeral rights. https://learn-islam.org/benefiting-the-dead (available online now, register and learn)
TIPS FOR THE TEST
Do not have to memorise the ayahs or hadeeths word for word and their references, but remember their meanings and the msg being given.
Remember the rulings.
The extra links provided are for extra knowledge and no questions from there will come in the test.
ASSIGNMENT
There will be an Assignment Question asked in the Test. Marks will be given based on the following: -
I. Invite atleast 10 people to the course (can invite via WhatsApp, Facebook, Email, telegram or word of mouth) 4 Marks. (check the note below for exceptions)
Note:
Those who have already invited whether on Whatsapp, Email or FB, do not need to invite again.
It does not matter, whether people join or not, our job is to invite.
II. Talk to 3 people (friends or family) about any three topics from the course - (5 Marks)
III. Pray for the Ummah, pray for the ease of all the poor & oppressed Muslims and Maghfirah of the Muslims who passed away. Pray that Allah make us all strong in imaan and give us the hidayah to work for the aakhirah and to help each other. - 1 Mark
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