is that his brother accompany his bier from the deceased’s house to the place where the funeral prayer is offered—whether inside the mosque or elsewhere—and from there on to the cemetery. It is authentically reported that the Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever attends the funeral until the prayer is offered over it will receive one qirāṭ; whoever remains until it is buried will receive two qirāṭs.” They asked, “O Messenger of Allah, what are the two qirāṭs?” He replied, “Like two enormous mountains.” Another narration adds, “The smaller of the two is like Mount Uhud.” What a tremendous virtue and magnificent reward this is.

When this ḥadīth reached ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿUmar (may Allah be pleased with him) he said, “We have neglected many qirāṭs.” From that time on he would not see a funeral without joining it, regarding it as a spoil of war—an opportunity to gain the equivalent of two great mountains for a small deed. And when will a person meet this reward? He will meet it on a Day when he needs it most: a Day when he will possess neither dirham nor dinar, no goods, no kin, and no spouse to benefit him—nothing will help him on the Day of Resurrection except righteous deeds. So whoever follows the funeral until the prayer is performed, and then stays until the burial is completed, earns two qirāṭs like two mighty mountains, the smaller of which is like Mount Uhud.

Anyone who joins a funeral procession should do so in a state of humility, reflecting on his own end. He should say to himself, “O my soul, your destiny is the same as that of the one now carried upon our shoulders—soon or later, and perhaps very soon.” He remembers this departure, remembers that he too will be lowered into his grave, covered over, and abandoned; even the closest person to you—the one who carries you to your grave—will then turn away and depart.