we have deprived him of the bliss Allah has prepared for him; this is an offence against him, as well as a violation of the sunnah. Nowadays, a funeral has become like a wedding celebration, with people waiting for those who are coming to arrive.

However, if it is delayed for an hour, two hours, or something similar, in order that more people may gather, there is nothing wrong with that. For example, if someone dies early in the day and we delay him until noon so that people may attend, or until the Friday prayer if he dies on Friday morning, so that more people may pray over him. There is nothing wrong with this, because it is a slight delay for the benefit of the deceased.

If someone were to ask: How do we answer the fact that the Companions—may Allah be pleased with them—did not bury the Prophet ﷺ until Wednesday night, although he died on Monday?

The answer is that this was in order to appoint the caliph after him, lest the people remain without a caliph. The first leader, Muhammad ﷺ, had died, so they did not bury him until they had appointed a caliph after him. This itself urged them to complete the appointment of the caliph promptly. As soon as Abu Bakr—may Allah be pleased with him—was pledged allegiance, they began preparing and burying the Prophet ﷺ.

Accordingly, if the caliph dies without having designated a successor, there is nothing wrong with delaying his burial until a caliph is appointed after him.

“And carrying out his bequest; and it is obligatory to hasten the repayment of his debt . . .”

His statement, “and carrying out his bequest”: “carrying out” is in the genitive case, coordinated with “preparation”; that is, hastening to carry out his bequest. Carrying out his bequest itself is obligatory, but hastening its execution is either obligatory or recommended. This is because if the bequest concerns an obligation, then it is to hasten the clearing of his liability; and if it concerns a voluntary act—