Al-Sharḥ al-Mumtiʿ - Ibn al-'Uthaymin - (5/357)

Al-Sharḥ al-MumtiʿIbn al-'Uthaymin

women’s funerals, one may see things one would not wish to see. If a canopy is placed over it, it conceals her.

Al-Rawd states: “If the deceased is a woman, it is recommended to cover her bier with a canopy, for it affords her greater concealment. It is reported that Fatimah instructed that this be made for her, and a cloth should be placed over the canopy. The same applies if the deceased has a hump or the like,” in order to conceal such a deformity.

As for a man, this is not prescribed for him; rather, he should remain as he is, because there is a benefit in it: it makes the admonition more powerful when one sees a person who was with them yesterday now lying as a corpse upon this bier. However, if he is covered with an abayah, as is customary among us, there is no harm in it.

It is recommended to hasten with it; those walking should be in front of it, and those riding behind it. It is disliked for one accompanying it to sit down until it is set down, ………

His statement, “It is recommended to hasten with it,” means that this is encouraged, due to the Prophet’s ﷺ saying: “Hasten the funeral procession. If the deceased was righteous, then it is a good to which you are taking him forward; and if otherwise, then it is an evil that you are putting down from your necks.” (1)

This is unless it is feared that the body may come apart, such as when it has been burned; in that case, whatever removes this risk should be done.

What is meant by hastening is not an excessively rapid trot, as some people do. This exhausts those accompanying the funeral, and something may come out from the deceased, staining the shroud, because of the relaxation of his limbs. Likewise, excessive slowness is contrary to the sunnah. For this reason, Al-Rawd states: “It should be hastened, but without a rapid trot.” A rapid trot means moving with great speed.

The jurists explained the prescribed hastening by saying: “It should be such that one does not walk at his usual pace.”

This hastening is recommended, because the Messenger of Allah ﷺ explained

(1) Its source was cited previously on p. 257.

الجنائز من النساء يشاهد الإنسان أشياء لا يحب أن يشاهدها، فإذا جعلت عليها «المكبة» فإنها تسترها. قال في الروض: «فإن كانت امرأة استحب تغطية نعشها بمكبة؛ لأنه أستر لها ويروى أن فاطمة صنع لها ذلك بأمرها ويجعل فوق المكبة ثوب. وكذا إن كان بالميت حَدَبٌ ونحوه»؛ لأجل ستر هذا التشويه. أما الرجل فلا يسن فيه هذا، بل يبقى كما هو عليه؛ لأنه فيه فائدة، وهي: قوة الاتعاظ إذا شاهده من كان معه بالأمس جثة على هذا السرير، وإن ستر بعباءة كما هو معمول به عندنا فلا بأس. وَيُسَنُّ الإِسْرَاعُ بِهَا، وَكَوْنُ المُشَاةِ أَمَامَهَا، وَالرُّكْبَانِ خَلْفَهَا، وَيُكْرَهُ جُلُوسُ تَابِعِهَا حَتَّى تُوضَعَ، ......... قوله: «ويسن الإسراع بها» أي: يستحب؛ لقوله ﷺ: «أسرعوا بالجنازة فإن تك صالحة فخيرٌ تقدمونها إليه، وإن تك سوى ذلك فشرٌ تضعونه عن رقابكم» (١)، إلا أن يخشى من تمزق الجنازة كما لو كان محترقاً، فيعمل ما يزول به هذا المحذور. وليس المراد بالإسراع الخبب العظيم، كما يفعل بعض الناس، فإن هذا يتعب المشيعين، وقد ينزل من الميت شيء فيلوث الكفن، لارتخاء أعصابه، وأيضاً التباطؤ الشديد خلاف السنة؛ ولهذا قال في الروض: «الإسراع بها دون الخبب»، والخَبَب: الإسراع الشديد. قال الفقهاء مفسرين للإسراع المشروع: «بحيث لا يمشي مشيته المعتادة». وهذا الإسراع على سبيل الاستحباب؛ لأن الرسول ﷺ بَيَّنَ

(١) سبق تخريجه ص (٢٥٧).