Book of Funerals (Kitāb al-Janāʾiz)

The word janāʾiz is the plural of janāzah—both the open-voweled form and the one with initial kasrah are attested, though the latter is linguistically preferable. The term applies both to the deceased person himself and to the bier on which he is carried.

A deceased Muslim is subject to numerous rulings. In this section the author confines himself to what pertains to the funeral prayer and its preliminaries: washing, shrouding, burial, and the like. Matters of financial entitlement will be dealt with later, under bequests and inheritance.

Because this manual is concise, the compiler has not cited every ḥadīth one might need on the subject; we shall therefore supply a brief selection of soundly-transmitted benefits.

Among the rights a sick Muslim has over his brethren is that they visit him and lift his spirits. When his condition becomes critical, he should be reminded—gently—of repentance, settling debts, and making a will, especially in matters that he is obliged to clarify. Such counsel must be offered in a way that does not frighten him into thinking death is imminent. At that stage the patient himself is strongly urged to clear himself of injustices, seek forgiveness for his sins, and entertain the best thoughts about Allah.

When death overtakes him, it is Sunnah for those present to prompt him, softly, to say the two testimonies of faith and to turn his face toward the qiblah.

Once the soul has departed, his eyes are closed, his joints are relaxed, and his preparation is expedited—unless a delay would serve a clear interest.

Washing the body, shrouding it, carrying it, praying over it, and burying it are communal obligations (farḍ kifāyah). If a sufficient number of Muslims discharge them, the duty is lifted from the rest. Should they be neglected, the sin falls upon anyone who knew the deceased’s state, had the ability to act, yet still failed to do so.