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Death & Ghusl of a Muslim Woman

HANAFI

WASIYYAT OF THE MAYYIT

• Please give a quick but proper ghusl immediately • Put me in a room without pictures and feet facing the Qiblah • Do not allow any ghair mahrams to see my face • Do not scream, wail or cry loudly • Do not delay my Janaazah • Please don’t perform any 3 days, 10 days or 40 days khatams and also

don’t make Thursday readings compulsory. Rather read on behalf of all

marhooms daily • Do not gather at my house to have parties with cakes and savouries,

then judge whose are nicest, because I won’t be there to give any

comment • When reading the Quraan, please ensure that you have wudhu and

that your hair and body is covered • Don’t feel obligated to read long surahs, rather read the kalimah or

durood sincerely on my behalf. Remember that if you read surah

Ikhlaas three times, I will receive the sawaab of reading one Quraan • If I have offended you in any way when I was alive, then please forgive

me. • Please do not beautify my grave with flowers, instead give the money

to the poor • Remember, yesterday I was in your place, tomorrow you will be in

mine

SAKARAAT The State Preceding Death

Sakaraah is the dizziness and unconsciousness that is caused by pain. A person in the state of sakarah is going through stages of unconsciousness and dizziness caused by pain. Allah says: “And the stupor of death will come in truth. This is what you have been avoiding.” Death is true, and it will arrive even though you try to avoid it. It will happen to everyone. It happened to Nabi SAW. Nabi SAW had a pot of water. He would dip his hands in the water and then he would wipe his face and say “La ilaaha illallah. There is agony/stupor of death.” Even Nabi SAW felt it.

THE MUHTADHAR A Muhtadhar is a person on whom the signs of death are clearly visible. Some of the signs are:

1. The legs become lame, slack or limp

2. Breathing becomes labored, quick and erratic

3. The nose bends slightly

4. The temples sag

5. The feet get cold

6. Gurgling sound in the throat

DO NOT SPEAK ILL OF THE MAYYIT

Speak no ill of her. Umme Salmah RA reports that Rasoolullah SAW said that when visiting the sick or (attending the Janazah of a) deceased, speak well (of him/her) for surely, the angels say Aameen upon what you say. (Tirmithee)

WHAT SHOULD BE DONE FOR A MUHTADHAR?

Death is something that everyone has to face. It is Sunnat-e-Mu'akkadah to remember death at all times. A Muslim must always be prepared for death. Death can come at any time. When it is established that a person is in the last stages of his life, the following should be done:

1. Preferably make her lie on her right side facing the Qiblah. It is also permissible to lay her on her back with her feet toward Qiblah and the head slightly raised so that she is facing Qiblah. The reason for facing the Qibla is that the chances of Shaytaan distracting her are reduced. However, if moving her causes discomfort then leave her in any comfortable position.

2. All the bed linen should be taahir/paak (free from impurities)

3. Those who are in a state of Janaabat, haidh or nifaas should leave the room

4. Make sure there are no moorats (eyes) in the room and if there are remove them. When the moorats are open tha malaaika flee and the bad jinn enter the room

5. Ask naa-mehram men to leave the room no matter how close they may be to the muhtadhar

6. In the last moments, Surah Yaseen and Surah Ra’d should be read as it eases the suffering of the dying person. This could be done at the head side of the muhtadhar or anywhere else in the same room.

7. The Kalima "Laa ilaaha ilal laa" should be recited near the person continuously. It should be read in front of her, but she should not be commanded to recite the Kalima.

TALQEEN Talqeen is to remind and encourage the dying person to recite the kalimah. The right manner of doing talqeen is to recite the kalimah aloud so that the muhtadhar is

induced to recite it. Do not instruct her to recite it lest she refuses to do so because of the difficulties experienced by her.

Once the muhtadhar recites the kalimah all those present should stop reading it. The object is that the last statement uttered should be the kalimah. Should she indulge in any worldly talks after saying the kalimah, the talqeen should be repeated.

If the muhtadhar is a minor (Na Baaligh), and able to distinguish between right and wrong, then too, Kalima should be recited before her. A person who is ill or who is dying should always be given hope that Almighty Allah is Most Merciful and Forgiving. They should be reminded to have faith in Almighty Allah at all times and that His infinite mercy will pardon all sins. If a person shows despair or is not confident about the Mercy of Allah, then it is compulsory to give that person hope.

When the muhtadhar begins to gasp very rapidly, indicating the final moments of life, recite the kalima audibly.

WHAT SHOULD BE DONE WHEN A PERSON PASSES AWAY? Inna Lillahi Wa Inna Ilayhi Raje’oon

1. Close the eyes gently

2. Close the mouth fastening a clean piece of material around the chin and over the head so that the mouth is not left gaping open

3. Tie both feet together with a similar piece of cloth

4. Straighten the arms and legs

5. Cover the body with a clean sheet

6. It is Mustahab to burn lobaan or incense near the deceased

7. Prepare the Ghusl and Kafan without delay

Ask a family member or friend to: 1. Notify relatives and friends of her death

2. If possible, write on masjid boards

3. If the time and place of Janaazah salaah is fixed, inform the public

4. Prepare a Qabr

5. Arrange transport if the cemetery is far

LEGAL FORMALITIES FOR SOUTH AFRICAN CITIZENS

1. Identity Document of the deceased

2. Marriage Certificate (if married according to the shariat)

3. Death certificate obtainable from your family or any doctor

4. Burial Order obtainable from the local burial society

5. The law requires the left thumb print on the death certificate, do this before ghusl

WHO SHOULD PERFORM GHUSL? • An adult woman must be bathed by her mother, daughter or sisters

• In the absence of these any relative or pious person may carry out this duty

• All persons giving ghusl must be paak and with wudhu

• The person giving ghusl needs about six helpers. It is preferable not to have a

large audience, remember you like to bath in private

• Work with your hands, not your eyes and mouth, remember she is someone’s

mother, sister or daughter, respect the family in their time of sorrow

• Ensure that no part of the body (satr) is exposed during ghusl

• During ghusl if anything strange or undesirable is noticed, it should never be

disclosed. However if the deceased was blatantly violating the laws of Shariah

during her lifetime, and some hideous thing was observed during ghusl, then it

should be mentioned to serve as a warning to others

REQUIREMENTS FOR GHUSL 1. 3 x 20litre buckets with warm water (body temperature)

2. 3 large jugs

3. 2 large towels or bath sheets

4. 1 roll cottonwool, 1 bar sunlight soap dissolved in a dish of water

5. Scissors for removing clothes

6. Camphor blocks

7. Lobaan granules or agarbathee

8. Dark colored sheet which will not become see-through when wet

9. Surgical gloves

10.Plasters

HOW TO PERFORM GHUSL

All of this is based on authentic Hadith that Um Atiyah narrated that: " When the daughter of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) died, he instructed us:  Wash her three times, or more than that if you feel it is necessary, with water and sidr (good

smelling leaves), and then after the last wash apply some camphor to the body, then loosen her hair, wash it, comb it, and make it in three braids laid behind her back " (Bukhari & Muslim)

1. Wash the basin (ghusl table) on which the Ghusl is to be given. Then fumigate it with lobaan thrice, five times or seven times

2. During the ghusl it is permissible to place the body in any one of the following positions:

a) The mayyits leg stretched in the direction of the Qiblah

b) Making its face turn towards the qiblah by letting the body lie on its right side. However, it is preferable to make the body face the qiblah (as in the first case) because Nabi SAW declared the Ka’bah to be the qiblah for the living and the dead.

3. Do not cut, trim or comb the hair of the mayyit. Do not clip their nails.

4. Remove all jewellery, false teeth, hair accessories and wigs etc that have not already been removed

5. If the deceased has staples, stitches or implants that are difficult to remove then do not attempt to do so

6. Place the body on the basin. Ensure that the satr is covered. Use a dark sheet or towel for this purpose. The female’s satr is the whole body except the face, palms and feet. Working under the sheet, cut the clothes alongside seams and remove very gently. The clothing must be returned to the family.

7. Niyyat for ghusl: “Nawaytu an agtha sila almayyita lirafil hadith”

“O Allah, I am performing ghusl for this mayyit for removing any impurities”

8. Make sure the water is lukewarm and start by massaging the stomach gently. Then wash the private parts with mittens or gloves on using cotton wool, and without looking at the private parts. (Get a blood relative to do this) Look at the cotton wool to see if anything is coming out.

9. Close the nostrils, ears and mouth with wet cotton wool to prevent water from entering during ghusl.

10.If the deceased was Baaligh so that salaah was fardh, he/she must first be given complete wudhu (as for salaah) except that water will not be admitted into the mouth and nostrils. This means first wash the face, then the arms to the elbows, then make the masah of the head and finally wash the feet including the ankles.

11.If the deceased is in the state of janaabat, hadith or nifaas then it will be permissible to moisten the mouth and nostrils with a wet piece of cotton wool.

12.After wudhoo, wash the head with soapwater or any other cleansing agent. If these are not available, clean water will suffice. The temperature of the water must be the same as can be tolerated by a living person. You cannot comb the hair. Make a middle path and place the hair over the breasts.

13.Tilt the body onto its left to wash the right side. First, pour warm water over the body from the head to the toes. Apply soap and wash it off gently till the bottom of the left side. Wash this part of the body two more times with clean water.

14.Now turn the body onto its right side to wash the left side in the same manner mentioned above.

15.Lay the body flat on its back. Lift it slightly to a sitting position. Gently massage the stomach to push out any faeces. Should anything come out, use mittens to remove it. Repeat the istinja. There is no need to repeat the ghusl or wudhoo.

16.The body should once again be turned onto its left side and camphored water poured over it from head to toe thrice. Then turn the body onto its right side and repeat.

17.Remove the cotton wool from the mouth, ears and nose.

18.The ghusl is complete. Wipe with a towel or material. Ensure that the satr is covered all the while. The cloth used for satr will obviously be wet, therefore change it for a dry one without exposing the satr. Pat the body dry taking the utmost care. Place camphor on all salaah parts (keeps insects away)

19.Wrap the body in a sheet and carry it onto the kaffan

THE KAFFAN (SHROUD) After the Ghusl has been completed, the body is dried with a clean towel. The Kaffan is now put on. You will need +/- 10m x 150cm 0r 8m x 230/250cm plain white cotton or calico fabric. A ladies kafn consists of five pieces of fabric.

Masnoon Kaffan for a Female

The Lifaafah (Final Wrapping) is a sheet extending from above the head to below the feet, about 2.3m long and and 1.8m wide.

The Izaar (Pants) is a sheet 2m long by 1.8m wide. It should cover the body from the head to the feet.

The Sinaband (covers the Chest) is a piece of material to hold the breasts in place. It should preferably be under the armpits to the thighs. It is about 1.5m long and 1m wide

The Qamees is a sheet 2.5m long by 1m wide to cover the body from the shoulders to the calves. It will have an opening for the head to go through. It will cover the front and back of the mayyit like a Kurta. It must be folded in half. It has slits on the centre front and on both sides, at the shoulders. The front cut should be about 15cm and the one on the shoulder about 8cm on each side

The Khimaar/Ornee (Head scarf) is the scarf 1m x 1m, for covering the head and hair. The two ends will fall over the breasts and will be tucked under the opposite armpit.

There are three strips of material that you use for tying. There is a long piece for the middle (1.8m x 10cm) and the two shorter strips (1.20cm x 10cm) to tie at the head and the feet.

HOW TO PUT ON A KAFAN

1. First spread the lifaafah on the ground, then the sinaband on top of it. Then

the izaar on top of the sinaband. Finally, lay the qamees on top of the izaar.

Fold the top portion of the qamees into two from the opening. The top layer

should be rolled up to allow the body to be covered once the mayyit is placed

on the bottom layers of the qamees.

2. Sprinkle camphor in the centre of the first two sheets

3. Lower the body gently onto the kafan and cover the top of the body up to the

calves with the top layer of the qamees

4. Remove the sheet used for covering the satr. Do not use itr, surmah or any

other make-up.

5. Apply camphor paste on the places of sajdah such as the forehead, nose, both

palms, knees and the fore-feet.

6. The hair should be divided into two parts and put onto the right and left breast

over the qamees

7. Cover the head and hair with the khimaar. Do not tie it or fold it.

8. Fold the the izaar, the left flap first and then the right over the qamees and

khimaar

9. Now close the sinaband over these in the same manner. Close the lifaafah, the

left flap first and then the right.

10.Lastly, tie the ends of the lifaafah by the head and feet using cloth bands. Do

the same at the waist. This will keep the kafan in place.

TA’ZIAT – EXTENDING CONDOLENSE

Ta’ziat means to sympathise with the bereaved. The Prophet SAW has said: “He who consoles the one in distress shall be rewarded as much as the distressed”.

• When visiting the realtives of the mayyit, they should be comforted, consoled and given encouragement.

• Ta’ziat should take place within three days of the demise of the mayyit. This is for the local residents. After three days, Ta’ziat is makrooh. However, for those coming from different towns, Ta’ziyat is valid even after the third day.

• A person who has once discharged the obligation of Ta’ziyat should not repeat it. It is Makrooh to go for Ta’ziyat a second time.

• Ta’ziyat should not take place immediately after the burial. The crowd should not return from the Qabrastaan to the home of the mayyit. It is Makrooh to do so. Ta’ziyat is an act to be executed individually at any time within three days.

• It is not Sunnat for those coming for Ta’ziyat to recite Surah Mulk or engage in any prescribed Dua for the mayyit in the home of the relatives.

• If the Ta’ziyat was offered by way of letter, it should not be repeated by ones physical presence.

The following Dua may be recited on the occasion of Ta’ziyat:

“May Allah grant you great reward, May he comfort your distress and may He forgive your deceased.”

IDDAT

The period of waiting after ones husband dies is called Iddat.

Um Atiyyah reported that the Messenger of Allah said: "A woman should not mourn for any deceased person for more than three days, except in the case of her

husband’s death, which she may mourn for a period of four months and ten days. Such a woman in mourning is not to wear any fancy, bright clothes, but only plain

clothes, not use any adornment or make-up, nor use perfume, nor die her hands or feet with Henna "(Bukhari & Muslim).

If the widow is pregnant, then her waiting period ends when she delivers her baby, according to Allah’s command in the Quran: "And for those who are pregnant, their

Idda is until they deliver " (Quran 65:4).

• Iddat lasts for four lunar months and ten days

• Iddat of a divorce is the same

• During this period the widow is required to remain in her home, and the yard

around it.

• She may not leave the premises if she has sufficient provision.

• If she is the sole breadwinner without other income, then she may go to work

and return as soon as possible.

• If a widow is expecting, then her iddat will last till the child is born.

• If a woman was not at home at the time of death then she should hurry back

and start her iddat at home.

• Abstain from wearing fancy clothes, make up or jewels.

This is not a time to deprive herself from lawful things or to suffer unduly. It is a time to remember the memories of her husband, make Dua for him, think about herself and plan for the future.  

MISCELLANEOUS MASA’IL

1. It is not permissible to put flowers or wreaths on the Qabr. This is a custom of

the kuffar

2. It is not permissible to build walls or any structure whatever on or around the

qabr

3. It is not permissible to put a tombstone at the qabr in the way the kuffar do. At

most, the name of the mayyit may be written on a simple stone or plank.

4. The practice of pouring water regularly on the grave, believing this to be

Masnoon or an act of ibadat, is not permissible.

5. It is not necessary that an odd number of people descend into the qabr to bury

the mayyit

6. The mahram males of the female mayyit should descend into the grave to

lower and bury the body. Those on the outside passing on the body should

likewise be mahram males of the mayyit. If mahrams are not present, others

will be bound to do the burial.

7. It is not permissible to transport the mayyit to another town/city for burial.

Burial must take place in the qabrastan (cemetery) of the town where the

death occurs.

8. If the child is alive inside a pregnant woman who has died, she will be operated

on and the baby removed. To do so is obligatory.

9. It is permissible to open the grave for burying another mayyit if there is

certainty that the earlier mayyit had already become transformed into the soil.

If upon opening the grave some bones are discovered, these should be left to

one side in the same grave and the other mayyit may be buried therein.

10.The practice of making dua after 70 steps from the Qabr (after burial) is bid’ah

(innovation) which is not permissible.

11.It is bid’ag to recite Athan at the graveside

12.It is permissible to fill sand in and on the grave which has sagged down.

13.Islam does not prescribe any special garments for mourning the dead.

14.The funeral expenses will be taken from the estate of the mayyit. If the mayyit

has no estate, the Asbat (male relatives on the father’s side) are responsible

for the expenses except in the case of a married woman. Her husband will be

responsible for her funeral expenses, qadha fasts, kaffara etc. if she dies a

pauper.

15.The Isaale sawaab for the deceased should be made by feeding the poor, giving

Sadaqah or making istighfaar etc. Shariah has NOT specified any fixed dates for

doing this

16.Even if a person has committed the heinous sin of suicide he/she will be given

ghusl, kafan and dafan in the qabrastan.

17.When giving charity on behalf of the deceased it desirable to make niyyat for

the fulfilment of Qadha salaat

18.A baby who was born alive, then passed away, must be named, given ghusl and

kafn and buried after janaazah has been performed

19.A stillborn baby must be named, given ghusl, wrapped in a piece of cloth and

buried

20.In a miscarriage, if the limbs are formed then the same rules as for a still born

will apply

21.There is no janaazah salaat for stillborn babies

22.If the limbs are not formed, then the baby will be wrapped in a cloth and

buried (no ghusl)

23.If a woman dies at the time of childbirth with the baby having emerged

partially, e.g. only the hands etc. then the child will not be separated from her

if it too has died. Only one ghusl, kafan and Janazah Salat will be discharged.

24.If one of the parents of a deceased child is a Muslim then that child will be

regarded a Muslim and ghusl, kafan etc will be accorded.

25.It is not permissible for women to accompany the Janaazah or visit the

Qabrestaan (cemetery)

26.Death on a Friday is a great blessing. The mayyit is saved from the questioning

and punishment of the grave.

27.There is no questioning in the Qabr by the two angels, Mukar and Nakier for the

following:

• The Shaheed

• The Murabit i.e one who dies guarding the frontiers of Darul Islam (an Islamic State)

• One who dies in a plague/epidemic • One who dies in a plague without even having contracted the disease

provided he was patient • The Siddique i.e. a Saint of high rank • Babies • One who dies on a Friday night • One who recites Surah Mulk every night

WHAT TO READ WHEN THE JANAZA LEAVES? At the last moments before death, Allah (S.W.T.) sends the angels of death to get the soul from the human body. Allah (S.W.T.) says in surat Al-An’am, (verse 61), what can be translated as, “He is the irresistible, supreme over His slaves, and He sends guardians over you, until when death approaches one of you, Our messengers (angel of death and his assistants) take his soul, and they never neglect their duty.”

These angels of death come to the believer in a pleasant appearance and come to the disbelievers and the hypocrites in an unpleasant way.

In another detailed hadith stated below, the Messenger of Allah (S) describes the details of how a soul of a believing and righteous person is welcomed in the next world.

Upon the authority of al-Bara’ ibn `Aazib who said: We went out with the Prophet (S) to a burial of a man from the Ansaar (original inhabitants of Madina) until we arrived at the grave and he still had not been placed in the slot of the grave.

Then the Messenger of Allah (S) sat down and we sat around him. You would have thought that birds were upon our heads from our silence and in the hand of the Messenger of Allah (S) was a stick which he was poking the ground with. Then he started looking at the sky and looking at the earth and looking up and down three times. Then he said to us: “Ask Allah for refuge from the torment of the grave“, he repeated this command two or three times. Then he said O Allah I seek refuge in you from the torment of the grave (three times).  He then said,

‘When the believer is about to depart from this world and go forward into the Next World, angels with faces as bright as the sun descend from the heavens and sit around him in throngs stretching as far as the eye can see. Then the Angel of Death comes and sits at his head and says, “Good soul, come out to forgiveness and pleasure from Allah!” Then his soul emerges like a drop of water flows from a water-skin and the angel takes hold of it. When he has grasped it, the other angels do not leave it in his hand even for the twinkling of an eye. They take it and place it in a perfumed shroud and a fragrance issues from it like the sweetest scent of musk found on the face on the earth.

‘Then they bear it upwards and whenever they take it past a company of angels, they ask, “Who is this good soul?” and the angels with the soul reply, “So-and-so the son of so-and-so,” using the best names by which people used to call him in this world. They bring him to the lowest heaven and ask for the gate to be opened for him. It is opened for him and angels who are near Allah from each of the heavens accompany him to the subsequent heaven until he reaches to the heaven where Allah the Great is. Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, says, “Register the book of My slave in Illiyun and take him back to earth. I created them from it and I return them to it and I will bring them forth from it again.”

‘His soul is then returned to his body and two angels come to him. They make him sit up and say to him,  “Who is your Lord?”  He replies, “My Lord is Allah. “They ask him, “What is your religion?” He replies, “My religion is Islam.” They ask him, “Who is

this man who was sent among you?” He replies, “The Messenger of Allah.” They ask him, “How did you come to know these things?” He replies, “I read the Book of Allah, believed it, and declared it to be true.” Then a Voice from on high declares, “My slave has spoken the truth, so spread out carpets from the Garden for him and open a gate of the Garden for him!” Then some of its fragrance and perfume comes to him, his grave is expanded for him as far as the eye can see, and a man with beautiful garments and a fragrant scent comes to him and says, “Rejoice in what delights you for this is the day which you were promised.” He asks, “Who are you? Yours is a face which presages good.” He replies, “I am your good actions.” Then he (the soul) says, “O Lord, let the Last Hour come soon so that I may rejoin my family and my property!”

The above is part of a long hadith that continues to describe the opposite that happens with the wrongdoers in this world with whom Allah is not happy because they don’t believe in the principles of Tawhid and refute His commands.

Regarding the  illiyun described in the hadith where Allah says, ‘Register the book of My slave in ‘Illiyun and take him back to earth. I created them from it and I return them to it and I will bring them forth from it again’, the Quran describes it in verses:

19. And what will make you know what ‘Illiyyun is?20. A Register inscribed,

21. To which bear witness those nearest (to Allah, i.e. the angels).

Imam Bukhari related that the messenger (S.A.W.) said, “Whoever loves to meet Allah, Allah loves to meet him, and whoever hates to meet Allah, Allah hates to meet him.” A’eshah then asked, “We hate death.” The prophet (S.A.W.) replied, “That’s not what I meant; when the believer is about to die, he is given glad tidings with the pleasure of Allah and His blessings, so there is nothing in front of the believer better than that, so he loves to meet Allah and Allah loves to meet him. And also when the non-believer is about to die, he is told about the punishment of Allah that will fall on him, so there is nothing more disliked to him than that, so he hates to meet Allah and Allah hates to meet him.”

The Prophet SAW said: “When the janaazah is placed and the men carry it on their shoulders, if it is a righteous person, it will say ‘Go as fast as you can!’ If it is otherwise, then he will say: ‘Woe to it! Where are you taking me?’ Everyone would hear that sound except the human beings. And if the human beings would hear it, they would die due to that shock.”

RasulAllah(SAW) says: “If it wasn’t for the fact that none of you would bury the dead, I would ask Allah to let you hear the sounds of the people in the graves.”

He would be afraid of us not burying the dead because we hear the punishments they are going through in the grave.

Allah (S.W.T.) says in surat Fussilat, (verse 30 - 32), what can be translated as, “Verily, those who say: Our Lord is Allah (alone), and they stood straight, on them the angels will descend (at the time of their death)(saying): Do not fear, nor grieve! But receive the glad tidings of Paradise, which you have promised!

We have been your alliances in the life of this world and are (so) in the Hereafter. Therein you shall have (all) that your inner-selves desire, and therein you shall have (all) for which you ask for. An entertainment from (Allah), the Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”

For disbelievers, their time of death is dreadful. Allah (S.W.T.) says in surat Al-Anfal, (verse 50 & 51), what can be translated as, “And if you could see when the angels take away the souls of those whom disbelieve (at death), they smite their faces and their backs, (saying): Taste the punishment of the blazing Fire. This is because of that which your hands had forwarded. And verily, Allah is not unjust to His slaves.”

During a man’s dying moments, he wishes that death were delayed so that if he were a non-believer, he would become a believer. Or if he were a disobedient believer, he would repent from his sins. Allah (S.W.T.) says in surat Al-M’umenun, (verse 99 & 100), what can be translated as, “Until, death comes to one of them, he says My Lord! Send me back so that I may do good in that which I have left behind. No! It is but a word that he speaks, and behind them is a Barrier until The day when they will be resurrected.” So, belief is not accepted from anyone at the time of death. Also, repentance is useless if death reached the man’s throat.

Allah (S.W.T.) says in surat An-Nisa’, (verse 17 & 18), what can be translated as, “Allah accepts only the repentance of those who do evil in ignorance and foolishness and repent soon afterwards; it is they whom Allah will forgive and Allah is Ever All-Knower, All-Wise. And of no effect is the repentance of those who continue to do evil deeds until death faces them and he says: Now I repent; nor of those who die while they are disbelievers. For them we have prepared a painful torment.”

In the authentic hadith reported by Imam At-Tirmithi, and Ibn-Majah, that the prophet (S.A.W.) said, “Allah (S.W.T.) accepts repentance from a person as long as death does not reach his throat.”

When dying, man experiences the hardships of death, among which are fainting because of severe pain. This is good for the believer because it wipes out his sins, purifies him, and elevates him to higher degrees in Paradise.

The prophet (S.A.W.) suffered from the hardships of death when he was very sick in his last moments of life; he used to put his hands in a bowl of water and wipe his face and say: “La-Elaha Ella-llah. Surely, death has its hardships.” (reported by Imam Al-Bukhari).

Imams Al-Bukhari and Muslim reported what A’eshah talked about the prophet’s sickness when he was dying, “I have not seen worse pain on anyone than the one I saw on the messenger of Allah (S.W.T.).”

Imams Al-Bukhari, Muslim and Ahmad reported that Abdullah Bin Mas’oud said, “I went to see the messenger (S.A.W.), when he was in pain, and I touched him with my hand and said, “Oh, messenger of Allah, you are in severe pain.” The prophet (S.A.W.) replied, “Yes, I am hurting as much as two men of you.” Then I said, “You have twice the reward?” He said, “Yes.” then he said, “A Muslim who is troubled by a calamity; a sickness or less than that, but Allah (S.W.T.) will shed his sins like the tree sheds its leaves.”

We have talked about the last moments before death and how harsh and painful they are, so we must ask ourselves a question. Am I prepared to face the stage before death? If your answer is yes, then you should praise Allah and thank Him for that. We should also preserve and continue to perform good deeds. On the other hand, if your answer is no, then you should quickly correct the problems, because it is still not too late and there is still a chance for improvement. We should be aware of any delaying, because it is one of the most dangerous weapons Satan uses to stop the believers from doing good.

WHAT TO DO WHEN SOMEONE DIES

CHECKLIST

1. Someone needs to sort out the Qabr (call the Kabrestaan, organise a hearse)

2. Someone needs to be responsible for calling family members and loved ones

3. Someone needs to be responsible for informing radio Islam

4. Someone must be in charge of bringing the Kaffan home

5. Someone needs to arrange blankets and chairs

6. Someone must organize a hearse

7. Someone needs to get all the legal documents (ID, marriage certificate etc.)

8. Someone needs to send out a message with the time of the Janazah (i.e. the Janaza will leave at 3pm)

9. Preparations must be made for Ghusl and Kaffan

HADITH AND QUOTES Almighty Allah states in the Glorious Quran:"Every soul must taste Death". (Surah Aale Imraan: Verse 185)The Holy Prophet Muhammad (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) has stated: "Allah says, 'I have nothing to give but Paradise as a reward to my believer slave, who, if I cause his dear friend (or relative) to die, remains patient (and hopes for Allah's reward).'" (Abu Hurairah - Bukhari)

Narrated Zainub bint Abi Salma, from Um Habiba (RA) the Prophet SAW said:

“It is not permissible for a woman who believes in Allah and the last day to mourn for any dead person for more than three days, except for her husband, (for whom she should mourn for four months and 10 days) (371 Bukhari II)

Death: “Why, but when the soul reaches the throat of the dying and at that moment you are watching – and we are nearer to him than you, but you do not see is” [Surah Waqiah]

Death: “Ibrahim AS: it was like a bird being burnt and roasted over a fire”

“Shaddad bin Aws says: if the dead were to rose from the graves and tell people about the pangs of death no man would take pleasure in this life, nor could anyone enjoy sound sleep”

“Death - For a noble servant: the angel of death speaks kindly to him, like a mother speaking to her child, for he knows the soul is a favourite to Allah”

Life asked Death “Why do people love me but hate you?” Death responded, “Because you are a beautiful lie and I am a painful truth”

MAYYIT ROOM RULES

Please abide by a few behavioral rules:

• Please make sure your hair is covered at all times

• No one in haidh (period) is allowed to enter the room

• No non Mahrams are allowed in the room(SPECIFY)

• No talking unnecessarily

• Phones on silent

• Be humble

• Do not speak about worldly affairs

• Do not joke or laugh

LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT

I, the undersigned,

____________________________________________________

Hereby confirm that my Identity number is ___________________________________________

and that I reside in ______________________________________________________________

and declare this document to be my last Will and Testament.

1. I hereby revoke all previous wills.

2. I nominate _________________to be the Executor of my Estate with the power of

assumption.

3. I direct the Master of the High Court to dispense with the furnishing of security by

my nominated Executor for the proper administration of my Estate.

4. I hereby nominate __________________________________________

and__________________________________________

and__________________________________________

to be the sole heir/s of my entire estate.

5. I direct that a receipt signed by the guardian in respect of any loose assets

bequeathed to a minor beneficiary shall be sufficient to discharge to my executor

and the Master of the High Court.

6. I nominate and appoint _______________and _________________, presently

residing at ____________, or their survivor to be the guardian of any of my

children should they survive me. If the said___________ and ___________ do not

survive me, I hereby appoint ______________to be the guardian of any of my

children. I direct that the guardian shall not be required to furnish security in that

capacity to the Master of the High Court.

AS WITNESSES

1._________________________________

2._________________________________ __________________________

TESTATOR

REFERENCES 1. An-Naasiraat – The Helpers Womans Community Forum – Middleburg

2. Burial Guide For Muslims (Fordsburg Muslim Youth Organisation)

3. Kitabul Jana-iz – Death and Burial (Hanafi)