“they” refers to the clothes, and the meaning of his being stripped of them is that they are taken from him—for example, if the enemy takes them and leaves him naked—then he must be shrouded in other garments, since shrouding the deceased is indispensable, as the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Shroud him in his two garments” (1).

“And no funeral prayer is offered over him ………”

His statement, “And no funeral prayer is offered over him,” means that no one among the people—neither the imam nor anyone else—is to offer the funeral prayer over him. This is because the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, did not offer the funeral prayer over the martyrs of Uhud (2), and because the purpose of the prayer is intercession, as the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Whenever a Muslim man dies and forty men who associate nothing with Allah stand over his funeral, Allah accepts their intercession for him” (3).

The martyr, however, has everything expiated for him except debt, for debt is not cancelled by martyrdom. Rather, it remains a liability owed by the deceased, to be paid from his estate if he leaves an estate; otherwise, if he incurred it intending to repay it, Allah will repay it on his behalf.

If someone were to ask: Did the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, not go out to Uhud near the end of his life and offer prayer over them? (4)

The answer is that this was not the funeral prayer, since the funeral prayer must be performed before burial. Rather, it was either a prayer in the sense of supplication, or a farewell prayer, as Ibn al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy on him, was inclined to hold.

As for the view that it was the prayer offered over the deceased, it is incorrect, for it is inconceivable that the Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, could remain from