Common Errors in our Janazahs
1.Delaying the janazah unnecessarily.
To unnecessarily delay the janazah is totally contrary to the sunnah.Nabi ??? ???? ???? ???? is reported to have said “Make haste with the janazah, for if it is a virtious soul, then the destination where you are sending it ahead is better(for it), and if it is an evil soul, then lower it (quickly) from your necks”(Abu Dawood; 2767) The general trend nowadays is to delay the janazah so that distant relations from equally distant lands may attend and large amounts are spent on airfares etc. just to ‘show face’ at the janazah.This delay only goes to further the distress, not only to the mayyit, but also to the deceased family who are now forced to cater for the accomodation and eating requirements of the people present. To burden the family of the deceased with preparing meals etc. is in total conflict with the Hadith of Nabi ??? ???? ???? ???? in which He ??? ???? ???? ???? instructed the muslims to rather prepare food for the deceased family as they are preoccupied with the loss of their beloved (Abu Dawood; 2725)
We should always keep the intrest of the mayyit at hand, which requires total conformity to the shariat and sunnah and to unnecessarily delay the janazah goes contrary to this.People should realise that to hold back the janazah for the simple reason that they may be present is selfish and unconsiderate and that their reciting some portion of the quraan and convying it to mayyit from their distant lands would be of far greater benefit to the mayyit concerned. May Allah grant us the understanding thereof. Ameen.
2.The mayyit and pardah
Just as purdah(hijaab) is necessary for the living, so too is it necessary for the deceased.It is totally against islamic morals that ghair mahram men and women view the face of the deceased. It has unfortunatly become the trend nowadays to ‘place on view’ the face of the mayyit so that all may have a ‘last view’ of the departing person.Such action is unlawful and evil. Hadrath Aiysha??? ???? ???? reports that “I used to enter my room in which Nabi ??? ???? ???? ???? lay buried (as well as Abu Bkr ??? ???? ??? ) I would cast aside my garment(of hijaab) and say (to myself): ‘He ??? ???? ???? ???? is my husband and he(Abu Bkr ??? ???? ??? ) is my father.But when Umar ??? ???? ??? was buried alongside them then, by Allah! I would not enter the room, but thoroughly enshrouded with my garment(of purdah) due to shame of Umar ??? ???? ??? ”.(Miskaat; 154) Look at the mother of the believers ??? ???? ???? ! How pure was her chastity that she felt shame to come infront of the grave of Umar ??? ???? ??? without her purdah!Islam orders the observence of strict purdah for the mayyit as well.The face of the mayyit may be shown to family people only ie. Those who are mahram to the mayyit.
3. The gathering of females
Another un-islamic practice on the occasion of a janazah is the congregating of females at the home of the mayyit.It is in these such gatherings were the laws of hijaab are bluntly violated and women freely intermingle with men in a so called ‘family reunion’ that causes undue distress to the mayyit.Rather, the sight of a janazah should induce fear of the Aakirah and remind one of the uncertainty of the visa of death: how long is its validity and when will it be terminated is known to none save Allah.
Women who are not closely related to the mayyit, have no reason to gather at the house of the mayyit.Rather, their reciting some portion of the Quraan etc and passing on to the mayyit would be of greater benefit to the mayyit.Likewise,women should not visit the Qabrastaan also.The open violation of the commands of Allah like intermingling of the sexes etc, no doubt invite the anger of Allah and causes untold distress to the mayyit, who can now see the world of the Aakirah.Let us try at occasions like these to be considerate to the mayyit and take lesson from this occasion.
4. Accompanying the janazah
Among the Masnoon acts of the Janaazah (Burial) service is that the Janaazah be carried by four men. Others should walk behind and alongside the Janaazah. The details of this carrying system are described in the books of Fiqh,
However, in some places this Masnoon system has been totally displaced and a bid’ah style has replaced the sunnah method. People line up in two rows facing each other at the entrance of the qabrustaan. The Janaazah is passed on along the gauntlet like a bag of potatoes from hand to hand until it reaches the grave. This system is in conflict with the Sunnah which it displaces., and at the same time is highly disrespectful for the mayyit (deceased ). According to the Shariah, the way of respect for the mayyit is to carry it along in the Masnoon manner, not passing it along a row of people. The Sunnah requires that the people move along with the Janaazah, not that the Janaazah be moved along while all the people remain stationary.
These are just a few errors which we have innumerated. It is imparitive that we consult the Ulema when undertaking a janazah etc. in an effort to make our actions in total conformity with the dictates of Shariah.
Source: Darulihsan
Courtesy: www.everymuslim.co.za ?
