His words, “O Allah, do not deprive us of his reward,” mean the reward we receive for preparing him for burial, performing the funeral prayer over him, accompanying his funeral procession, and burying him, as well as the reward we receive for patiently enduring the loss. As for the reward for his own deeds, it belongs to him, and we have no share in it.

His words, “And do not let us go astray after him,” mean: safeguard us from misguidance and keep us from tribulation and error after losing him.

Among the supplications recited in the funeral prayer is the report narrated by al-Tabarānī in al-Mu‘jam al-Kabīr and by al-Hākim from Yazīd ibn Rukānah ibn al-Muttalib—may Allah be pleased with him—who said: “When the Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—stood to perform the funeral prayer over a deceased person, he would say: ‘O Allah, Your servant, the son of Your bondwoman, is in need of Your mercy, while You have no need to punish him. If he did good, increase his good deeds; and if he did wrong, pardon him.’” It is an established hadith.1

Mālik narrated in al-Muwatta from Sa‘īd al-Maqburī that he asked Abū Hurayrah, “How do you perform the funeral prayer?” Abū Hurayrah replied: “By Allah, I shall tell you. I accompany the funeral bier from the deceased’s household. When it is set down, I proclaim Allah’s greatness, praise Allah, and invoke blessings upon His Prophet. Then I say: ‘O Allah, he is Your servant, the son of Your servant and the son of Your bondwoman. He testified that there is no deity but You and that Muhammad is Your servant and Messenger, and You know him best. O Allah, if he did good, increase his good deeds; and if he did wrong, overlook his misdeeds. O Allah, do not deprive us of his reward, and do not subject us to tribulation after him.’”2

We ask Allah to forgive us and all deceased Muslims. Truly, He is the All-Forgiving, the Most Merciful.