Funerals

Abu Musa reported God’s messenger as saying, “Feed the hungry, visit the sick and free the captive.” Bukhari transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “A Muslim has five duties towards another Muslim: to return a salutation, visit the sick, follow funerals, accept an invitation and say ‘God have mercy on you’ when one sneezes.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

He reported God’s messenger as saying, “A Muslim has six duties towards another Muslim.” When asked what they were he replied, “When you meet him salute him ; when he issues an invitation to you, accept it; when he asks your advice give it to him ; when he sneezes and praises God say, ‘God have mercy on you’; when he is ill visit him ; and when he dies follow him to the grave.” Muslim transmitted it.

Al-Bara’ b. ‘Azib said : The Prophet (ﷺ) gave us seven commands and seven prohibitions. He commanded us to visit the sick, to follow funerals, to say ‘God have mercy on you’ when someone sneezes, to return salutations, to accept invitations, to help people to fulfil their oaths, and to help the wronged; and he forbade us gold rings, silk, thick brocade, embroidered silk, red stuffing placed on a saddle, Qassi garments (said to be cloth made of flax and raw silk which came from a place in Egypt called Qass between al-'Arish and al-Farama. Another suggestion is that the name is changed from qazzi and means silk.) and silver vessels. A version says drinking from silver vessels, for he who drinks out of them in this world will not drink out of them in the next. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Thauban reported God’s messenger as saying, “When a Muslim pays a sick visit to his brother Muslim he continues to gather the fruits of paradise till he returns.” Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying: On the day of resurrection God most high will say, “Son of Adam, I was sick and you did not visit me.” He will reply, “My Lord, how could I visit Thee when Thou art the Lord of the universe?” He will say, “Did you not know that my servant so and so was ill and yet you did not visit him? Did you not know that if you had visited him you would have found me with him? Son of Adam, I asked you for food but you gave me none.” He will reply, “My Lord, how could I feed Thee when Thou art the Lord of the universe?” He will say, “Did you not know that my servant so and so asked you for food and yet you gave him none? Did you not know that if you had fed him you would have found that with me? Son of Adam, I asked you for drink but you gave me none.” He will reply “My Lord, how could I give Thee drink when Thou art the Lord of the universe?” He will say, “My servant so and so asked you for drink but you gave him none. Did you not know that if you had given him something to drink you would have found that with me?’’ Muslim transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Abbas said that the Prophet (ﷺ) went in to visit a Bedouin Arab, and when he entered to visit a sick man he was accustomed to say, “No harm will come; it is a purification, if God will.” He repeated these words, and when the man replied, “Not at all; it is on the contrary a fever which is boiling in an old man and will cause him to visit the graves,” the Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Very well, then.” Bukharl transmitted it.

‘A’isha said: When one of us had a complaint God’s messenger wiped him with his right hand and then said, “Remove the harm, Lord of men, and give healing. Thou art the Healer. There is no healing but Thine, a healing which leaves no illness behind.” (Bukharl and Muslim.)

She said that when a person complained of some trouble, or if he had a sore or a wound, the Prophet (ﷺ) would say while pointing with his finger, “In the name of God. It is the soil of our land with the spittle of one of us (the suggestion is that the Prophet (ﷺ) took some earth on his finger and spat on it), that our sick one may be healed by our Lord’s permission.” (Bukharl and Muslim.)

She said that when the Prophet (ﷺ) had a complaint he would blow on himself, ejecting saliva, reciting the Mu'awwidhat (See n. 1, p, 197.), and wipe himself with his hand. She said, “When he suffered from the pain of which he died, I would blow on him ejecting saliva and recite the Mu'awwidhat as he did, and would take the Prophet’s hand to wipe him.” (Bukhari and Muslim.) In a version by Muslim she said, “When one of his family was ill he would blow on him ejecting saliva and recite the Mu'awwidhat.

Uthman b. Abul ‘As said he complained to God’s messenger of a pain he had in his body, and he told him to put his hand on the part of his body which was sore and say three times “In the name of God,” and seven times, “I seek refuge in God’s might and power from the evil of what I am experiencing and trying to avert.” He said he did so, and God removed his trouble. Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri said Gabriel came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and asked, “Have you a complaint, Muhammad?” When he replied that he had, he said, “In the name of God I am applying a charm to you from everything which may harm you, from the evil of every evil eye, or eye of an envious one. God heals you. In the name of God I am applying a charm to you.” Muslim transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Abbas said that God’s messenger used to commend al-Hasan and al-Husain to God’s protection, saying “With God’s perfect words I commend you to God’s protection from every devil and poisonous creature and from every evil eye.” And he would say, “Your ancestor used to commend Ishmael and Isaac with them to God’s protection.”(Abraham is here said to have done to his sons the same as the Prophet (ﷺ) did to his grandsons.) Bukhari transmitted it. Most texts of al-Masabih have “with them” in the dual.

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “Anyone for whom God intends good is made to suffer some affliction from Him.” Bukhari transmitted it.

He and Abu Sa'id reported the Prophet (ﷺ) as saying, “No Muslim is afflicted by difficulty, continuous pain, anxiety, grief, injury, or care, or even by a thorn with which he is pierced, without God thereby making an atonement for his sins.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

‘Abdallah b. Mas'ud said: I went in to visit the Prophet (ﷺ) when he was jaded by fever, and touching him with my hand, I said, “You are seriously jaded by fever, messenger of God.” The Prophet (ﷺ) replied, “Yes, I am twice as jaded as any of you.” I said, “That is because you have a double reward.” He replied that that was so and then said, “No Muslim is afflicted by injury, be it illness or something else, without God thereby causing his sins to drop away just as a tree sheds its leaves.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

‘A’isha said she never saw anyone suffering severer pain than God’s messenger. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

She said, “The Prophet (ﷺ) died lying between my breast and my collarbone. I will never feel bad about anyone having a painful death after what I saw the Prophet (ﷺ) suffer.” Bukhari transmitted it.

Ka‘b b. Malik reported God’s messenger as saying, “The believer is like a tender plant moved by the winds, sometimes being bent down and sometimes made to stand up straight, till his appointed time comes; but the hypocrite is like the cedar standing firmly, which is unaffected by anything, till it is completely cast down.”( The idea of this tradition is that believers have many troubles during their lifetime, whereas hypocrites escape them.) (Bukharl and Muslim.)

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “The believer is like a plant which is continually swayed by the wind, for the believer is continually afflicted by trial; but the hypocrite is like a cedar tree which does not shake till it is cut down.” (Bukharl and Muslim.)

Jabir told of God’s messenger visiting Umm as-Sa’ib (Ibn 'Abd al-Barr (Isti'ab, p. 781) gives her name in this form, but says she is called by some Umm al-Musayyib) and asking, “What is the matter with you that you are trembling?” She replied, “Fever; may God not bless it.” He said, “Do not revile fever, for it removes the sins of the sons of Adam just as the bellows remove the dross of iron.” Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Musa reported God’s messenger as saying, “When a man is ill or on a journey, what he was accustomed to do when staying at home and well will be recorded for him.”(This refers to his observance of salat, etc., cf. the traditions of ‘Abdallah b. 'Amr and Anas on p. 326.) Bukhari transmitted it.

Anas reported God’s messenger as saying, “Every Muslim who dies of plague is credited with martyrdom.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “There are five types of martyr: one who dies of plague, one who dies of an internal complaint, one who is drowned, one who is killed by his house falling on him, and the martyr in God’s path.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

‘A’isha said, “I asked God’s messenger about plague and he told me it is a punishment God sends upon whomsoever He wills, but God has made it a blessing to the believers. When plague comes, anyone who stays patiently in his town looking for his reward from God, knowing that only what God has decreed for him can happen to him, will have a reward like that of a martyr.” Bukhari transmitted it.

Usama b. Zaid reported God’s messenger as saying, “Plague is a punishment which was sent down on a section of the B. Isrs’il, or on people before your time. When you hear of it in a land do not go to it, and if it occurs in a land while you are in it do not go out fleeing from it. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Anas said he heard the Prophet (ﷺ) declare that God who is glorious and exalted said, “When I afflict my servant in his two loved things (i.e. his eyes), and he endures patiently, I shall compensate him for them with paradise.” Bukhari transmitted it.

‘All said he heard God’s messenger say, “No Muslim will pay a sick visit to another in the morning without seventy thousand angels invoking blessings on him till the evening, or visit him in the evening without seventy thousand angels invoking blessings on him till the morning, and he will have gathered fruits (the word used here is kharif, one of whose meanings is gathered or plucked fruits) in paradise.” Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Zaid b. Arqam said the Prophet (ﷺ) visited him when he had a pain in his eyes. Ahmad and Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Anas reported God’s messenger: as saying, “If anyone performs ablution well and pays a sick visit to his brother Muslim seeking his reward from God, he will be removed a distance of sixty years (here kharif is used in another of its meanings) from jahannam.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Abbas reported God’s messenger as saying, "No Muslim will visit another and say seven times, ‘I ask God, the Mighty, the Lord of the mighty throne, to cure you’ without his being cured, unless his time has come.” Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi transmitted it.

He said that the Prophet (ﷺ) used to teach them to say when afflicted by fever or any pain, "In the name of God, the Great, I seek refuge in God, the Mighty, from the evil of every vein that bleeds and from the evil of the heat of hell.” Tirmidhi transmitted it, but said this was a gharib tradition which he knew only among the traditions of Ibrahim b. Isma'il who is declared to be weak in tradition.

Abud Darda’ said he heard God’s messenger say, "If one of you has any complaint, or if a brother of his complains of it, he should say, ‘Our Lord God who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy command is in the heaven and the earth. As Thy mercy is in the heaven so place Thy mercy in the earth. Forgive us our faults and sins. Thou art the Lord of the good ones. Send down some of Thy mercy and some of Thy healing on this pain’ and it will be cured.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

‘Abdallah b. ‘Amr reported God’s messenger as saying, "When a man comes to visit an invalid he should say, ‘O God, cure Thy servant who may then wreak havoc on an enemy for Thy sake, or walk at a funeral for Thy sake’.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

‘Ali b. Zaid quoted Umayya as saying that she asked ‘A’isha about the words of God who is great and glorious, "Whether you publish what is in your minds or conceal it, God will call you to account for it,” ( Qur’an, ii, 284) and His words, "If anyone does evil he will be requited for it.”(Qur’an, iv, 123). She replied that no one had asked her about them since she had asked God’s messenger and received the reply, "This is God’s rebuke of His servant, by means of fever or misfortune with which He afflicts him, even such a matter as something he puts in his sleeve and grieves for when he loses it. The result is that the servant comes out of his sins as the pure gold comes out of the crucible." Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Abu Musa reported the Prophet (ﷺ) as saying, “No affliction great or small afflicts a man but for a sin, but there are more which God forgives.” Then he recited, “Whatever misfortune befalls you, it is because of what your hands have done; but He forgives much.”(Qur’an, xlii, 30) Tirmidhi transmitted it.

‘Abdallah b. ‘Amr reported God’s messenger as saying, “When a servant of God is accustomed to worship Him in a good manner, then becomes ill, the angel who is entrusted with him is told to record for him actions equivalent to those which he did when he was well till God sets him free from his illness or takes him in death.” Transmitted in Sharh as-sunna.

Anas reported God’s messenger as saying, “When a Muslim is afflicted with some trouble in his body the angel is told to record for him his good deeds which he was accustomed to do. Then if God cures him He washes and purifies him [from sins], and if He takes him in death He forgives him and shows mercy to him.” Transmitted in Sharh as-sunna.

Jabir b. ‘Atik reported God’s messenger as saying, “There are seven types of martyrdom apart from being killed in God’s path. Those who die of plague, those who are drowned, those who die of pleurisy, those who die of an internal complaint, those who are burnt to death, those who are killed by a building falling on them, and women who die while pregnant are martyrs.” Malik, Abu Dawud and Nasa’i transmitted it.

Sa'd said that when the Prophet (ﷺ) was asked which people suffered the greatest affliction he replied, “The prophets, then those who come next to them, then those who come next to them. A man is afflicted in keeping with his religion; if he is firm in his religion his trial is severe, but if there is weakness in his religion it is made light for him, and it continues like that till he walks on the earth having no sin.” Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it, and Tirmidhi said this is a hasan sahih tradition.

‘A isha said, “I do not envy anyone an easy death after having seen the severity of the death of God’s messenger.” Tirmidhi and Nasa’i transmitted it.

She said : I saw the Prophet (ﷺ) when he was dying. He had a drinking-cup containing water, and he would put his hand into the cup, then wipe his face, then say, “O God, help me to bear the evils of death,” or, “the pangs of death.” Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Anas reported God’s messenger as saying, “When God has a good purpose towards His servant He gives him punishment beforehand in this world, but when He has an evil purpose towards His servant He refrains from dealing with his sin till He takes from him full payment for it on the day of resurrection.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

He reported God’s messenger as saying, “The magnitude of the reward goes along with the magnitude of the affliction. When God who is great and glorious loves people He afflicts them, and those who accept it gladly receive God’s good pleasure, but those who are displeased receive God’s displeasure. Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “The believing man or woman continues to have affliction in person, property and children so that they (this is a little difficult to translate. The Arabic has “he”, but the pronoun refers to the man or woman mentioned. I have therefore compromised by using the plural) may finally meet God free from sin.” Tirmidhi transmitted it, and Malik transmitted something similar. Tirmidhi said this is a hasan sahih tradition.

Muhammad b. Khalid as-Sulami on his father’s authority said his grandfather reported God’s messenger as saying, “When God has previously decreed for a servant a rank which he has not attained by his action, He afflicts him in his body, or his property, or his children. He then enables him to endure that so that He may bring him to the rank previously decreed for him by God.” Ahmad and Abu Dawud transmitted it.

‘Abdallah b. [ash-] Shikhkhir reported God’s messenger as saying, “The son of Adam was created with ninety-nine trials at his side. If the trials miss him he falls into decrepitude till he dies.” Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying that this is a gharib tradition.

Jabir reported God’s messenger as saying, "On the day of resurrection, when people who have suffered affliction are given their reward, those who are healthy will wish their skins had been cut to pieces with scissors when they were in the world.” Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying that this is a gharib tradition.

‘Amir ar-Ram told that God’s messenger mentioned illnesses and said, "When a believer is afflicted by illness and God who is great and glorious cures him of it, it serves as an atonement for his previous sins and a warning to him for the future; but when a hypocrite becomes ill and then is cured he is like a camel which has been tethered and then let loose by its owners, but does not know why they tethered it and why they let it loose.” When a man asked God’s messenger what illnesses were, adding that he swore by God he had never been ill, he said, "Get up and leave us ; you do not belong to our number.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Abu Sa'id reported God’s messenger as saying, "When you go in to visit an invalid, express a hope that he will live long. That will not avert anything, but it will comfort him.” Tirmidhl and Ibn Majah transmitted it, and Tirmidhi said this is a gharib tradition.

Sulaiman b. Surad reported God’s messenger as saying, "He who dies of an internal trouble will not be punished in his grave.” Ahmad and Tirmidhi transmitted it, the latter saying this is a gharib tradition.

Anas told that when a young Jew who was a servant of the Prophet (ﷺ) became ill the Prophet (ﷺ) went to visit him and, sitting down by his head, said to him, “Accept Islam.” He looked at his father who was beside him, and he said, "Obey Abul Qasim.” So he accepted Islam, and the Prophet (ﷺ) went out saying, "Praise be to God who has saved him from hell.” Bukhari transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, '"If anyone visits an invalid, one cries out from heaven, ‘May you be good, may your walk be good, and may you come to an abode in paradise!”’ Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Abbas said that when ‘Ali came out after visiting the Prophet (ﷺ) during the painful illness of which he died, the people asked, “How is God's messenger this morning, Abul Hasan?” He replied, “Praise be to God, he is getting better.” Bukhari transmitted it.

‘Ata’ b. Abu Rabah said Ibn ‘Abbas asked whether he would like him to show him a woman who would go to paradise. When he replied that he certainly would, he said: This black woman came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said, “Messenger of God, I am subject to fits and become uncovered, so make supplication to God for me.” He replied, “If you wish you may endure it and be rewarded with paradise, but if your wish I shall make supplication to God to cure you.” She said, “I shall endure it.” Then she added, “But since I become uncovered, make supplication to God that that may not happen.” He then made supplication for her. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Yahya b. Sa'id said that when a certain man died in the time of God’s messenger another said, “Congratulations to him! He has died without being afflicted by illness.” God’s messenger then said, “I’m sorry for you. What do you know about it? (literally, ‘What makes you know?’ After this one understands some such words as, ‘that lack of illness is a mark of honour.’) Would that God had afflicted him with illness, and it had atoned for his evil deeds!” Malik transmitted it in mursal form.

Shaddad b. Aus and as-Sunabihi told how, when they went to visit an invalid, they said to him, “How are you this morning?” He replied, “I am quite comfortable this morning.” Shaddad told him to rejoice that his evil deeds had been atoned for and his sins remitted, for he had heard God’s messenger declare that God who is great and glorious says, “When I afflict a servant of mine who is a believer and he praises me for the affliction I have brought upon him, he will rise from that couch of his as sinless as he was the day his mother gave birth to him.” The Lord who is blessed and exalted will say, “I fettered and afflicted my servant, so record for him what you were recording for him when he was well.” Ahmad transmitted it.

‘A’isha reported God’s messenger as saying, “When a man’s sins are numerous and he has no good deeds wherewith to atone for them, God afflicts him with sorrow to remove them from him.” Ahmad transmitted it.

Jabir reported God’s messenger as saying, "When one visits an invalid he continues to plunge into mercy till he sits down, and when he sits down he is immersed in it.” Malik and Ahmad transmitted it.

Thauban reported God’s messenger as saying, "When one of you has an attack of fever the fever is a portion of hell, so he should quench it with water, bathing in a flowing stream facing the direction of the current and saying, ‘In the name of God. O God, heal Thy servant and varify Thy messenger’ after the morning prayer before sunrise. He should dip himself in it three times a day for three days, and if he is not cured in three days, then for five days, and if he is not cured in five days, then for seven, and if he is not cured in seven days, then for nine, for it will hardly last more than nine days by the permission of God who is great and glorious.” Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this is a gharib tradition.

Abu Huraira said that fever was mentioned in the presence of God’s messenger, and when a man reviled it the Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Do not revile it, for it removes sins as fire removes the dross of iron.” Ibn Majah transmitted it.

He said that God’s messenger said to an invalid whom he visited, "Cheer up, for God most high says, ‘It is my fire to which I give power over my believing servant in the world to be his portion of hell on the day of resurrection.” Ahmad, Ibn Majah and Baihaqi, in Shu'ab al- iman, transmitted it.

Anas reported God’s messenger as stating that the Lord who is glorious and exalted says, "By my might and glory, I will not take out of the world anyone I intend to forgive till I get payment for every sin which hangs on his neck by illness in his body and scarcity in his provision.” Razin transmitted it.

Shaqiq said he visited ‘Abdallah b. Mas'ud when he was ill, and he began to weep. On being reproved by someone he said, "I am not weeping because of the illness, because I heard God’s messenger say that illness is an atonement; I am weeping simply because it has come to me when my powers are weakened and did not come when I was active, because a servant of God has recorded for him such reward when he is ill as was being recorded for him before he became ill and the illness prevented him from doing [good deeds].” Razln transmitted it.

Anas said the Prophet (ﷺ) was not accustomed to visit an invalid till he had been ill for three days. Ibn Majah and Baihaqi, in Shu'ab al- iman, transmitted it.

‘Umar b. al-Khattab reported God’s messenger as saying, “When you visit an invalid tell him to make supplication for you, for his supplication is like that of the angels.” Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Abbas said that staying for a short time and making little noise when visiting an invalid is part of the sunna. He reported God’s messenger as saying, when their clamour and disagreement became excessive, ‘‘Get up and leave me.”(This was during the Prophet's last illness, the disagreement taking place regarding the advisability of the Prophet (ﷺ) giving them further written instructions.) Razin transmitted it.

Anas reported God's messenger as saying, “A visit should last as long as the time between the two milkings of a she-camel.”(The reference is to the practice of drawing some milk from the camel, then leaving her for a little for her young to suck milk. When she then let her milk flow copiously she was milked again.) In the version of Sa'id b. al-Musayyib in mursal form it says, “The best type of sick visit is when one gets up and departs soon.”(While this is more explicit to one who is not familiar with the milking of camels, the meaning is the same as in the form given by Anas.) Baihaqi transmitted it in Shu'ab al-iman.

Ibn ‘Abbas said the Prophet (ﷺ) once visited a man and asked him what he would like. When he replied that he would like some wheaten bread the Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Let anyone who has any wheaten bread send it to his brother,” adding, “When any of you has an invalid who expresses a desire for something, give it to him to eat.” Ibn Majah transmitted it.

‘Abdallah b. ‘Amr said that when a man who had been born in Medina died there, the Prophet (ﷺ) prayed at his funeral and said, “Would that he had died somewhere else than in his birthplace!” On being asked why he had said that he replied, “When a man dies somewhere else than in his birthplace a space will be measured for him in paradise equal to the distance between his birthplace and the place where he died.” Nasa’I and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Abbas reported God’s messenger as saying, “Dying abroad is treated as martyrdom." Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “He who dies of an illness dies as a martyr, or he will be guarded from the trial in the grave, and will have his provision brought him morning and evening from paradise." Ibn Majah and BaihaqI, in Shu'ab al-iman, transmitted it.

Al'Irbad b. Sariya reported God’s messenger as saying: The martyrs and those who die on their beds will apply to our Lord who is great and glorious for a decision regarding those who die of plague. The martyrs will say, “Our brethren were killed just as we were and those who died a natural death will say, “Our brethren died on their beds just as we died.”. Our Lord will reply, “Look at their wound, for if their wounds resemble those of people who have been killed they are of their number and will be associated with them, for their wounds have resembled theirs." Ahmad and Nasa’i transmitted it.

Jabir reported God’s messenger as saying, “He who runs away from plague like him who runs away from battle, but he who meets it with endurance will have a martyr’s reward." Ahmad transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, "None of you must wish for death; neither one who does well, for perhaps he may do still more good, nor one who does ill, for perhaps he may seek to please God.” Bukhari transmitted it.

He reported God’s messenger as saying, "None of you must wish or pray for death before it comes to him. When one dies his hope is cut off, but the continued life of a believer only brings him more good.” Muslim transmitted it.

Anas reported God's messenger as saying, "None of you must wish for death because he is afflicted by evil circumstances, but if he cannot help doing so he should say, ‘O God, give me life as long as life is better for me, and take me when death is better for me.’ ” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

‘Ubada b. as-Samit reported God's messenger as saying, "If anyone wishes to meet God, God wishes to meet him; but if anyone does not wish to meet God, God does not wish to meet him.” When ‘A'isha or one of his wives said she did not want to die, he replied, "That is not what I mean; but when death comes to a believer he is given glad tidings of God’s good pleasure and regard, so nothing is dearer to him than what lies before him, and he wishes to meet God and God wishes to meet him. But when an infidel approaches death he is given tidings of God’s punishment and chastisement, so nothing is more objectionable to him than what lies before him, and he does not wish to meet God and God does not wish to meet him.” In ‘A’isha's version it says that death precedes the meeting with God. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Qatada used to tell that when a funeral was brought past God’s messenger he said, "He is at rest, or others are at rest from him.” When asked what he meant by these words he replied, "The believing servant is at rest from the toil and harm of the world and departs to God’s mercy, but [God’s] servants (i.e.. mankind), the country, the trees and the animals are at rest from the profligate.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

‘Abdallah b. ‘Umar told of God’s messenger taking him by the shoulders and saying, ‘‘Be in the world as though you were a stranger or one who is passing through.” Ibn ‘Umar used to say, “In the evening do not expect to see the morning and in the morning do not expect to see the evening, but take something when in health to serve you in time of illness and something in your life to serve you in your death.” Bukhari transmitted it.

Jabir said he heard God’s messenger say three days before his death, “See that none of you dies without having good expectations from God.” Muslim transmitted it.

Mu'adh b. Jabal told of God’s messenger saying that if they wished he would tell them the first thing God would say to the believers on the day of resurrection and the first thing they would say to Him. When his hearers expressed a desire to be told, he said that God would say to the believers, “Did you wish to meet me?” and that they would reply, “Yes, our Lord.” He would ask them why, and they would reply that it was because they hoped for His forgiveness and pardon. He would then say, “My forgiveness has become necessary for you.” [Baghawl] transmitted it in Sharh as-sunna and Abu Nu'aim in al-Hilya.

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “Keep much in your remembrance the cutter off of delights, i.e., death.” Tirmidhi, Nasa'i and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Ibn Mas'ud told of the Prophet (ﷺ) saying to his companions one day, “Show due respect towards God.” On their replying, “Prophet of God, we show due respect towards God, praise be to God,” he said, “That is not what I mean; but he who shows due respect to God must guard the head and what it retains, must guard the belly and what it contains, and keep death and decay in remembrance; and he who desires the next world must abandon the adornment of this world. He who does that has shown due respect towards God.” Ahmad and Tirmidhi transmitted it, the latter saying this is a gharib tradition.

‘Abdallah b. ‘Amr reported God’s messenger as saying, ‘‘The gift to a believer is death.”( i.e. death is the means by which he gains an introduction to the delights of paradise.) Baihaqi transmitted it in Shu'ab al-iman.

Buraida reported God’s messenger as saying, “The believer dies with the sweat on his brow.” Tirmidhi, Nasa'i and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

‘Ubaidallah b Khalid reported God’s messenger as saying, “Sudden death is an act of punishment out of anger.” Abu Dawud transmitted it. Baihaqi in Shu'ab al-iman and Razin in his book made an addition, saying “An act of punishment out of anger for the infidel and a mercy for the believer.”

Anas said that the Prophet (ﷺ) visited a young man who was dying and asked him how he was. He replied, “I am hoping in God, messenger of God, but I am afraid of my sins,” whereupon God's messenger said, “The two cannot come together in a man’s heart at such a time without God giving him what he hopes for and granting him security from what he fears.” Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it, Tirmidhi saying that this is a gharib tradition.

Jabir reported God’s messenger as saying, “Do not wish for death, for the terror of the place whence one looks down in severe. It is part of a man’s happiness that his life should be long and God who is great and glorious should supply him with repentance.” Ahmad transmitted it.

Abu Umama said: We sat attentive to God’s messenger who gave us an exhortation and softened our hearts. Then Sa'd b. Abu Waqqas wept copiously and said, “Would that I were dead! ” God’s messenger said, “Do you wish for death in my presence, Sa'd?’’ repeating it three times. He then said, “Sa'd, if you have been created for paradise, it will be better for you if your life is prolonged and your deeds are good.” Ahmad transmitted it.

Haritha b. Mudarrab said he visited Khabbab who had been cauterised seven times. He said that were it not for the fact that he had heard God’s messenger say that no one must wish for death he would wish for it. He added, “I have seen myself in the company of God’s messenger when I did not possess a dirham, but now there are 40,000 dirhams in my house.” His shroud was produced, and when he saw it he wept and said, “No shroud was found for Hamza (the Prophet’s uncle. He was killed at Uhud and his remains were treated with indignity by Hind.) but a garment with black and white stripes, which did not reach his feet when put over his head and did not reach his head when put over his feet. It was eventually stretched over his head and grass was put on his feet.” Ahmad and Tirmidhi transmitted it, but Tirmidhi did not include the passage from “His shroud was produced” to the end.

Abu Sa'id and Abu Huraira reported God's messenger as saying, “Recite to those of you who are dying, ‘There is no god but God. ’ ” Muslim transmitted it.

Umm Salama reported God’s messenger as saying, “When you are with one who is ill or dying speak good words, for the angels say Amen to what you say.” Muslim transmitted it.

She reported God’s messenger as saying, “If any Muslim who suffers some calamity says what God has commanded him, ‘We belong to God and to Him do we return ; O God, reward me for my affliction and give me something better than it in exchange for it,’ God will give him something better than it in exchange.” When Abu Salama died she said, “What Muslim is better than Abu Salama whose family was the first to emigrate to God’s messenger? ”(He and his wife, Umm Salama, were among those who emigrated to Abyssinia. Abu Salama died of wounds received at the battle of Uhud, and the Prophet (ﷺ) later married Umm Salama.) She then said the words, and God gave her God’s messenger in exchange. Muslim transmitted it.

She said that God’s messenger came in to Abu Salama when his eyes were fixedly open. Closing them he said, “When the soul is taken the sight follows it.” Some of his family wept and wailed, so he said, “Do not supplicate for yourselves anything but good, for the angels say Amen to what you say.” He then said, “O God, forgive Abu Salama, raise his degree among those who are rightly guided, and grant him a succession in his descendants who remain. Forgive both us and him, Lord of the universe, make his grave spacious for him and grant him light in it.” Muslim transmitted it.

‘A’isha said that when God’s messenger died he was covered with a striped Yemen garment. (Bukharl and Muslim.)

Mu`adh b. Jabal reported God’s messenger as saying, “If anyone’s last words are ‘There is no god but God,’ he will enter paradise.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Ma'qil b. Yasar reported God’s messenger as saying, “Recite sura. Ya Sin(Qur’an, xxxvi) over your dead.”(This is a literal translation. The meaning is probably those who are on the point of death.) Ahmad, Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

‘A’isha said that God’s messenger kissed ‘Uthman b. Maz'un (The first of the Emigrants to die in Medina after returning from Badr) when he was dead, and the Prophet (ﷺ) wept so much that his tears flowed over ‘Uthman's face. Tirmidhl, Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

She said that Abu Bakr kissed the Prophet (ﷺ) when he was dead. Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it.