Al-Sharḥ al-Mumtiʿ - Ibn al-'Uthaymin - (5/330)

Al-Sharḥ al-MumtiʿIbn al-'Uthaymin

“…and make his grave spacious for him, and fill it with light for him.” If the deceased is a child, he says: “O Allah, make him a treasure for his parents, a forerunner, a reward, and an accepted intercessor, …”

His statement, “and make his grave spacious for him,” means: make it wide for him, for spaciousness means width. This expansion is not a physical one, such that his grave becomes so vast as to fill the cemetery; rather, it is an expansion not perceptible by worldly senses, because it pertains to the conditions of the Hereafter.

As you see in a dream that a person finds himself in a spacious place, among palm trees and things that delight his soul, while he is still lying in his bed, so the punishment of the grave resembles, in certain respects, what the sleeper sees—though it is more severe, in that it is real.

We have said this so that no one may object: How can this be, when people are in their graves and the graves do not become any wider than they are in reality?

We say to him: This is a matter of the unseen; it is not a known physical matter.

His statement, “and fill it with light for him,” means: place light for him therein.

It says in al-Rawd: “There is no harm in pointing with one’s finger while supplicating for the deceased.” But this is questionable!

His statement, “If he is a child, he says …,” explains the wording of the supplication for a child when the funeral prayer is offered over him.

But has this supplication in this wording been authentically established for a child?

The answer is: No, it has not been authentically established for a child in this wording. However, it has been reported that the funeral prayer is offered over him, that supplication is made for him, and that supplication is made for his parents (1).

(1) In the hadith of al-Mughira ibn Shuba, may Allah be pleased with him, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “The child is prayed over, and forgiveness and mercy are supplicated for his parents.” It was reported by Imam Ahmad, 4/247-249, 252; Abu Dawud, no. 3180; al-Tirmidhi, no. 1031; al-Nasai, 4/55; Ibn Majah, no. 1481; and al-Bayhaqi, 4/8, 24-25. Al-Tirmidhi said: “Hasan sahih (sound and authentic).” The phrase, “and supplication is made for his parents,” was uniquely reported by al-Bayhaqi.

وافْسَحْ لَهُ فِي قَبْرِهِ، وَنَوِّرْ لَهُ فِيهِ». وَإِنْ كَانَ صَغِيراً قَالَ: «اللَّهُمَّ اجْعلْهُ ذُخْراً لِوَالِدَيْهِ، وَفَرَطاً، وأَجْراً، وَشَفِيعاً مُجَاباً، .......... قوله: «وافسح له في قبره» أي: وسع له؛ لأن الفسحة السعة، وهذا التوسيع ليس توسيعاً محسوساً بحيث يكون قبره متسعاً يملأ المقبرة، لكنه فَسْحٌ غير محسوس إحساساً دنيوياً؛ لأنه من أحوال الآخرة. وكما ترون في المنام أن الإنسان يرى أنه في مكان فسيح، وفي نخيل، وأشياء تبهج نفسه، وهو لا يزال في فراشه، فعذاب القبر يشبه من بعض الوجوه ما يراه النائم، وإن كان أشد منه في كونه حقيقة. وإنما قلنا ذلك؛ لئلا يورد علينا مورد بأن الناس في قبورهم لا تتسع القبور أكثر مما هي عليه في الواقع؟ فنقول له: هذا أمر غيبي، وليس أمراً حسياً معروفاً. قوله: «ونور له فيه»، أي: اجعل له فيه نوراً. قال في الروض: «ولا بأس بالإشارة بالأصبع حال الدعاء للميت»، وهذا فيه نظر!! قوله: «وإن كان صغيراً قال .... »، هذا فيه بيان صيغة الدعاء للصغير إذا صلي عليه. ولكن هل ثبت هذا الدعاء بهذه الصيغة للصغير؟ الجواب: لا، لم يثبت بهذه الصيغة للصغير، ولكن ورد أنه يصلى عليه، ويدعى له، ويدعى لوالديه (١).

(١) لحديث المغيرة بن شعبة ﵁، وفيه قال النبي ﷺ: «والطفل يصلى عليه، ويدعى لوالديه بالمغفرة والرحمة». أخرجه الإمام أحمد (٤/ ٢٤٧،٢٤٨، ٢٤٩، ٢٥٢)؛ وأبو داود (٣١٨٠)؛ والترمذي (١٠٣١)؛ والنسائي (٤/ ٥٥)؛ وابن ماجه (١٤٨١)؛ والبيهقي (٤/ ٨، ٢٤، ٢٥). وقال الترمذي: «حسن صحيح». وقوله: «ويدعى لوالديه» تفرد به البيهقي.