The Most Preferred Person to Perform Salah (Prayer) for a Dead Person

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from certain persons of his people who has said the following: “Abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘The nearest relative performs Salah (prayer) for a deceased or one whom such relative likes to perform Salah (prayer).”’

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

1. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn abu ‘Abd Allah from his father from Muhammad ibn Sinan from Hudhayfah ibn Mansur who has said the following: “I accompanied abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), on the way to Makkah and when he completed his salat (prayer) he said, ‘O Allah, open the way for us. Make our journey and our health full of goodness.’ Whenever he climbed a higher place, he would say, ‘You possess highness and You are over all goodness.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

1. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from ibn Mahbub from Hisham ibn Salim from al-Hassan ibn Zurarah from his father who has said the following: “This is concerning my question before abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about the case of a man who marries a woman following her command to form the marriage contract. He (the Imam) said, ‘Her command in the matters of mahr (dower) must stay within the amount of mahr (dower) of the family of Muhammad (SAW), which is twelve Awqiyah and one Nashsha and it weighs five hundred dirham of silver/ I then asked, ‘What will happen if he forms the marriage contract according to his own command and she agrees with it?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Whatever he commands is lawful and binding on her whether the amount is very little or more.’ I then asked, ‘How is it that her command is not binding on him and his command is binding upon her?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is because according to her own command she could not go beyond the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, upon which he married his wives, she must act according to the Sunnah because she appointed him as the agent to form the contract and settle mahr (dower) and she agreed to his decision so she must accept his decision and command about the amount whether it is less or more/”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

2. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from al-ffusayn ibn Sa‘id from al-Qasim ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn abu Hamzah from abu Basir from who has said the following: “I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), who is the most deserving to perform Salah (prayer) for a deceased woman? He (the Imam) said, ‘It is her husband.’ I then asked, ‘Is her husband more deserving or her father, son or brother? He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, her husband is more deserving.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘Um ay r from Mu‘awiyah ibn ‘Ammar who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, during his journey, when climbing down would say, ‘Allah is free of all defects’ and when climbing up would say, ‘Allah is great beyond description.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

2. Al-Hassan ibn Mahbub has narrated from abu Ayyub from Muhammad ibn Muslim who has said the following: “About the case of a man who marries a woman on her command and decision or according to his decision and command then he or she dies before they go to bed with each other, abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘She can have advantage and inheritance but has no mahr (dower)/ I then asked what happens if he divorces her after marriage according to her command and decision?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘If he divorces her after marriage according to her command and decision her mahr (dower) is not more than the weight of five hundred dirham of silver which is the mahr (dower) of the women of the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ’Isma‘il ibn Marrar from Yunus from abu Basir from who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a deceased woman as to who is most deserving to perform Salah (prayer) for her. He (the Imam) said, ‘Her husband deserves the most to perform Salah (prayer) for her.’ I then asked, ‘Is he more deserving than her father, brother or son? He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, he is more deserving.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from al-Qasim al-Sayrafiy from Hafs ibn al-Qasim who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘On every bridge there is a Satan. When you approach him, say, ‘(I seek help) by the name of Allah.’ He moves away from you.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

3. Al-Hassan ibn Mahbub has narrated from abu Jamilah from Mu’alla’ ibn Khunayth who has said the following: “Once abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), was asked, when I was present, about the case of a man who married a woman as the second wife, the first being al-Mudabbarah, a slave-girl (a slave whose freedom is agreed to take place after the death of the master) which was known to the woman but she executed the marriage and then he divorced her before going to bed with her. He (the Imam) said, ‘In my view the woman can have half of the services of al-Mudabbarah, that is one day of her service for the woman and one day of her service for her master/ It was asked, ‘What happens if she dies before the woman and the master and who will have her legacy?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘One-half is for the woman and one-half is for the master.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

4. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Muhammad ibn Yahya from Talhah ibn Zayd who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If the Imam is present, he is the most deserving of all people to perform Salah (prayer) for a deceased person.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

4. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Aban ibn ‘Uthman from ‘Isa ibn ‘Abdullah al-Qummiy from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who said: “Say: ‘O Allah, I appeal before You to grant my soul certainty, forgiveness and good health in this life and in the next life. O Allah, You are my trustee, my hope, my shoulder (power) and my supporter. With Your help I disembark and travel.’ Allahumma inni as'aluka li nafsiya al-yaqina wal-'afwa wal-'afiyata fi al-dunya wal-akhirah. Allahumma anta thiqati wa anta raja'i wa anta 'adudi wa anta nasiri. Bika ahullu wa bika asiru. He (the Imam) said, ‘If one travels alone he should say: ‘Whatever Allah wills happens. There is no power without the help of Allah. O Allah, comfort me in my fear, help me in my loneliness and make the end of my absence (from my home) closer.’” Ma sha'a Allah la quwwata illa billah Allahumma anis waḥshatī wa-aʿinnī ʿalā waḥdatī wa-add ghaybatī.

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

4. Ibn Mahbub has narrated from al-Harith ibn Muhammad ibn al-Nu’man al-Ahwal from Burayd al-‘Ijliy who has said the following: “I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about the case of a man who married a woman to teach her a chapter from the book of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious. He (the Imam) said, ‘I do not like his going with her to bed before teaching her the Chapter and giving her something.’ I then asked if giving dates or raisins is enough. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not unlawful if she agrees with whatever it is.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

5. Ahmad ibn abu ‘Abd Allah has narrated from Muhammad ibn Ali from Hammad from a man from abu Sa‘id al-Mukariy who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that when you come out for a journey say, ‘O Allah, I have come out in this direction without placing my trust in anyone other than You. I do not have any hope in anyone to which I incline except to You. I have no power to rely on, or any plan to use, except seeking favors from You. I seek kindness from You and comfort in Your best methods. You know best about my past in Your knowledge, during my journey, what I like and what I dislike. In whatever matters of Your measures I may face, affliction will be praiseworthy to me and Your decision about it will be something from which I will learn a lesson and You, however, establish whatever You will and delete whatever You will and with You is the mother book. O Allah, divert from me the measures of all trials and afflictions, the approval of all constraints and expand for me a corner in Your mercy, a gift from Your forgiveness, an increase in Your sustenance and a completion in Your bounties, and comprehensiveness in Your granting good health. Apply to me all Your approval in harmony with my wishes and my best hopes. Expel what I am afraid of and what I am not afraid of for my soul, my religion, my possessions and that which You know more than I do, and make this a goodness for my next life as well as for this life along with what I ask from You. O my Lord, protect me along with what I have left behind, like my children, family, possessions, means of livelihood, my dependents, my relatives and brothers with the best of deputies which You assign for one who is absent from his home. (You assign for the protection) of believing people in matters of safety and protection of all privacies and safety of all belongings, completion of all bounties, sufficing in all hardships, concealment of all evil matters, diversion of obstacles, perfection of all that accumulates for my happiness and pleasure in all of my affairs. Do it for me through Muhammad and the family of Muhammad and grant salawat (favors and compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause) with kindness and blessings.

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

5. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from al-‘Ala’ ibn Razin from Muhammad ibn Muslim who has said the following: “Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said that once a woman came to the Holy Prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, and said, ‘You must give me in marriage.’ The Messenger of Allah, asked, ‘Is there anyone for her?’ A man stood up and said, ‘I am for her, O Messenger of Allah, give her in marriage to me.’ He (the Messenger of Allah) asked, ‘What do you want to give her?’ He replied, ‘I do not have anything.’ He (the Messenger of Allah) said, ‘No, I will not give her in marriage to you.’ She repeated and the Messenger of Allah also repeated his question to people, but no one other than that man said anything. She repeated again and on the third time the Messenger of Allah asked that man, ‘Do you know something from the Quran well?’ He replied, ‘Yes, I know from the Quran.’ He (the Messenger of Allah) said, ‘I give her in marriage to you to teach her what you know well of the Quran.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

6. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Hassan ibn Mahbub from Jamil ibn Salih from al-Fudayl who has said the following: “This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who marries a woman for one thousand dirham. He then gives her a runaway slave and a gown made of silk for one thousand dirham for her mahr (dower). He (the Imam) said, ‘If she agrees for the slave and knows his condition, then it is not unlawful if she takes possession of the clothes and has agreed for the slave.’ I then asked, ‘What happens if he divorces her before going to bed with her?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘She will have no mahr (dower) and has to return five hundred dirham and the slave is for her.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

7. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Ali ibn abu Hamzah who has said the following: “I once asked al-Rida’ (a.s.), about the case of a man who marries a woman and her mahr (dower) is a servant. He (the Imam) said, ‘The servant must be of average and medium condition.’ I then asked, ‘What happens if it is a house?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It must be of average and medium condition.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

8. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Ali ibn abu Hamzah who has said the following: “I once asked abu Ibrahim (a.s.), about the case of a man who gave his daughter in marriage to the son of his brother with a mahr (dower) of a house and a servant and the man died. He (the Imam) said, ‘Mahr (dower) is paid from medium kinds of assets.’ I (the narrator) than asked, ‘What is the condition of the house and servant?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘The house must be of a medium condition and the servant must be of a medium condition.’ I then asked, ‘Can it be thirty or forty dinar? The house is about that much.’ The Imam said, ‘This is seventy-eighty dinar or one hundred dinar or so.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

9. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from ‘Abd Allah al-Kahiliy who has said that narrated to me daughter of al-Hassan sister of abu ‘Ubaydah al-Hadhddha’ who has said the following: “This is concerning my question before abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who marries a woman with a condition not to marry any other woman with her and she agrees for that as her mahr (dower). He (the Imam) said, ‘This condition is not valid because mahr (dower) can only be like one or two dirham.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

10. Humayd ibn Ziyad has narrated from al-Hassan ibn Muhammad ibn Sama‘ah from more than one person from Aban ibn ‘Uthman from ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn abu ‘Abd Allah who has said the following: “About the case of a man who marries a woman without assigning any mahr (dower) and goes to bed with her, abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘She has a mahr (dower) similar to that for the women of her family.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

11. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Yahya from Ghiyath ibn Ibrahim who has said the following: “About the case of a man who marries a woman for a mahr (dower) payable immediately and a part of it on credit, abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘The due date for payment of what is on credit of mahr (dower) is on their separation or death.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

12. Abu Ali al-Ash’ariy has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from Safwan from Musa ibn Bakr from Zurarah who has said the following: “About the case of a man who hides the amount of mahr (dower) and in public shows it more, abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘It ( mahr (dower)) is what he hides.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

13. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Hammad from Hariz from Muhammad ibn Muslim who has said the following: “Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), once asked, ‘Do you know why mahr (dower) of women has become four thousand?’ I replied, ‘No, I do not know.’ He (the Imam) said, “Umm Habibah, daughter of abu Sufyan was in al-Habashah (Ethiopia) and the Holy Prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, proposed marriage. Al-Najashiy paid four thousand. For this reason they take it, however, the actual mahr (dower) is twelve Awqiyah and one Nashsha.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

14. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn Ahmad from Musa ibn Ja’far from Ahmad ibn Bashir from Ali ibn Asbat from al-Bitkhiy from ibn Bukayr from Zurarah who has said the following: “About the case of a man who marries a woman for teaching her a chapter from the book of Allah, then divorces her before going to bed with her and what she must receive, abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘He owes to teach her half as much of that chapter.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

15. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from al-Nawfaliy from al-Sakuniy who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Holy Prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘If a woman gives her mahr (dower) as charity to her husband before going to bed with her, Allah writes for her for every dinar freeing of a slave.’ It was asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah, What is for gifting it after going to bed?’ He (the Messenger of Allah) said, ‘That is because of affection and kindness.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

16. Abu Ali al-Ash’ariy has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from Safwan from ibn Muskan from abu Ayyub al-Khazzaz from Muhammad ibn Muslim who has said the following: “This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the minimum amount of mahr (dower). He (the Imam) said, ‘It can be a figure of sugar.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

17. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from al-Nawfaliy from al-Sakuniy who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘Allah forgives every sin on the Day of Judgment except non-payment of mahr (dower), usurpation of wages and selling free people.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

18. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Khalid from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from al-Mashriqiy from a group who narrated to him who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Imam pays debts of believing people except mahr (dower) of women.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.