The Book on Dying People

إِنَّ الْجِنَازَةَ يُؤْذَنُ بِهَا النَّاسُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that people should be informed to attend the funeral of a deceased person.”

كَانَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ ع إِذَا رَأَى جَنَازَةً قَدْ أَقْبَلَتْ قَالَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي لَمْ يَجْعَلْنِي مِنَ السَّوَادِ الْمُخْتَرَمِ‌[1].

“Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.), on seeing a dead body brought near, would say, ‘All praise belongs to Allah who has not brought my life to an end.’”

كَانَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع إِذَا رَأَى جَنَازَةً قَالَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي لَمْ يَجْعَلْنِي مِنَ السَّوَادِ الْمُخْتَرَمِ.

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), when seeing a dead person would say, ‘All praise belongs to Allah who has not placed me among the masses whose lives have already ended.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مَنِ اسْتَقْبَلَ جَنَازَةً أَوْ رَآهَا فَقَالَ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ هذا ما وَعَدَنَا اللَّهُ وَ رَسُولُهُ وَ صَدَقَ اللَّهُ وَ رَسُولُهُ‌ اللَّهُمَّ زِدْنَا إِيماناً وَ تَسْلِيماً الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي تَعَزَّزَ بِالْقُدْرَةِ وَ قَهَرَ الْعِبَادَ بِالْمَوْتِ لَمْ يَبْقَ فِي السَّمَاءِ مَلَكٌ إِلَّا بَكَى رَحْمَةً لِصَوْتِهِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah has said, ‘If one finds a dead body brought from the opposite direction or just sees one and says, “Allah is great. This is what Allah and His Messenger have told us will happen to us and Allah and His Messenger have indeed spoken the truth. O Lord, increase

سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ‌ السُّنَّةُ فِي حَمْلِ الْجَنَازَةِ أَنْ تَسْتَقْبِلَ جَانِبَ السَّرِيرِ بِشِقِّكَ الْأَيْمَنِ فَتَلْزَمَ الْأَيْسَرَ بِكَتِفِكَ الْأَيْمَنِ‌[1] ثُمَّ تَمُرَّ عَلَيْهِ إِلَى الْجَانِبِ الْآخَرِ وَ تَدُورَ مِنْ خَلْفِهِ إِلَى الْجَانِبِ الثَّالِثِ مِنَ السَّرِيرِ ثُمَّ تَمُرَّ عَلَيْهِ إِلَى الْجَانِبِ الرَّابِعِ مِمَّا يَلِي يَسَارَكَ‌[2].

“Once, I heard the Imam saying, ’It is of the Sunnah (noble tradition) to lift up the front corner of the coffin on one’s right shoulder. Thereafter one should move back to lift up the second corner of the coffin, then move to the other side of the coffin from the back side to lift up the third corner and lastly move (

السُّنَّةُ أَنْ يُحْمَلَ السَّرِيرُ مِنْ جَوَانِبِهِ الْأَرْبَعِ وَ مَا كَانَ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ مِنْ حَمْلٍ فَهُوَ تَطَوُّعٌ.

‘It is of the Sunnah (noble tradition) to lift up all the four corners of the coffin (in a manner mentioned in the Hadith above). Other than this is extra and voluntary.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا إِبْرَاهِيمَ ع عَنْ تَرْبِيعِ الْجَنَازَةِ قَالَ إِذَا كُنْتَ فِي مَوْضِعِ تَقِيَّةٍ فَابْدَأْ بِالْيَدِ الْيُمْنَى ثُمَّ بِالرِّجْلِ الْيُمْنَى ثُمَّ ارْجِعْ مِنْ مَكَانِكَ إِلَى مَيَامِنِ الْمَيِّتِ لَا تَمُرَّ خَلْفَ رِجْلِهِ الْبَتَّةَ حَتَّى تَسْتَقْبِلَ الْجَنَازَةَ فَتَأْخُذَ يَدَهُ الْيُسْرَى ثُمَّ رِجْلَهُ الْيُسْرَى ثُمَّ ارْجِعْ مِنْ مَكَانِكَ وَ لَا تَمُرَّ خَلْفَ الْجَنَازَةِ الْبَتَّةَ حَ

"I asked Abu Ibrahim (as) about the method of carrying a bier (funeral procession). He said: 'If you are in a situation of taqiyya, start with the right hand, then the right foot, then return from your place to the right side of the deceased. Do not pass behind his feet at all until you face the bier again and take his

تَبْدَأُ فِي حَمْلِ السَّرِيرِ مِنْ جَانِبِهِ الْأَيْمَنِ ثُمَّ تَمُرُّ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ خَلْفِهِ إِلَى الْجَانِبِ الْآخَرِ ثُمَّ تَمُرُّ حَتَّى تَرْجِعَ إِلَى الْمُقَدَّمِ كَذَلِكَ دَوَرَانُ الرَّحَى عَلَيْهِ.[1]

“Abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Begin to lift up the coffin from the right side, then go around by the backside of the coffin to the other side then turn to the front like grinding stone (counterclockwise) . ’ ”

الْمَشْيُ خَلْفَ الْجَنَازَةِ أَفْضَلُ مِنَ الْمَشْيِ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهَا.

“Abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Walking behind the coffin of the deceased is more virtuous than walking in front of it.’”

امْشِ أَمَامَ جَنَازَةِ الْمُسْلِمِ الْعَارِفِ وَ لَا تَمْشِ أَمَامَ جَنَازَةِ الْجَاحِدِ فَإِنَّ أَمَامَ جَنَازَةِ الْمُسْلِمِ مَلَائِكَةً يُسْرِعُونَ بِهِ إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ وَ إِنَّ أَمَامَ جَنَازَةِ الْكَافِرِ مَلَائِكَةً يُسْرِعُونَ بِهِ إِلَى النَّارِ[2].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Walk in front of the coffin of a knowledgeable Muslim but do not walk in front of the coffin of a rejecter (of belief). In front of the coffin of a Muslim, angels who hasten to paradise walk, but in front of the coffin of an unbeliever, angels walk who hasten with him (the unbeliever)

مَشَى النَّبِيُّ ص خَلْفَ جَنَازَةٍ فَقِيلَ لَهُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَا لَكَ تَمْشِي خَلْفَهَا فَقَالَ إِنَّ الْمَلَائِكَةَ أَرَاهُمْ يَمْشُونَ أَمَامَهَا وَ نَحْنُ تَبَعٌ لَهُمْ‌[3].

‘The Holy Prophet once was walking behind the coffin of a deceased person and he was asked, “O Messenger of Allah, why do you walk behind the coffin?” He replied, “I see angels walk in front of the coffin and we just follow them.’””

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الْمَشْيِ مَعَ الْجَنَازَةِ فَقَالَ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهَا وَ عَنْ يَمِينِهَا وَ عَنْ شِمَالِهَا وَ خَلْفِهَا.

“I asked him [one of the two Imam] (abu Ja‘far or abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, about walking in the funeral procession. He said, ‘Walk in front or on the right or left side or behind it.’”

امْشِ بَيْنَ يَدَيِ الْجَنَازَةِ وَ خَلْفَهَا.

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘(In a funeral procession) walk in front or behind (the coffin).”’

مَنْ أَحَبَّ أَنْ يَمْشِيَ مَمْشَى الْكِرَامِ الْكَاتِبِينَ فَلْيَمْشِ بِجَنْبَيِ السَّرِيرِ[1].

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘If one wants to walk (in a funeral procession) like the honorable angels, then walk on either side of the coffin.’”

سُئِلَ كَيْفَ أَصْنَعُ إِذَا خَرَجْتُ مَعَ الْجَنَازَةِ أَمْشِي أَمَامَهَا أَوْ خَلْفَهَا أَوْ عَنْ يَمِينِهَا أَوْ عَنْ شِمَالِهَا فَقَالَ إِنْ كَانَ مُخَالِفاً فَلَا تَمْشِ أَمَامَهُ فَإِنَّ مَلَائِكَةَ الْعَذَابِ يَسْتَقْبِلُونَهُ بِأَلْوَانِ الْعَذَابِ.

“Someone asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘How should I walk in a funeral procession?’ The Imam replied, ‘Walk in front, or behind or on the right or left side of the coffin.’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘Do not walk in front if he is someone opposed to our belief; the angels of torment will come his way with all kinds of tor

رَأَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص قَوْماً خَلْفَ جَنَازَةٍ رُكْبَاناً فَقَالَ أَ مَا اسْتَحْيَا هَؤُلَاءِ أَنْ يَتْبَعُوا صَاحِبَهُمْ رُكْبَاناً وَ قَدْ أَسْلَمُوهُ عَلَى هَذِهِ الْحَالِ.

“Abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah once saw a group of people riding behind the coffin in a funeral procession. He said, ‘Why do these people not feel ashamed of following their companion while they have abandoned him in such condition?’”

مَاتَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْأَنْصَارِ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص فَخَرَجَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص فِي جَنَازَتِهِ يَمْشِي فَقَالَ لَهُ بَعْضُ أَصْحَابِهِ أَ لَا تَرْكَبُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَقَالَ إِنِّي لَأَكْرَهُ أَنْ أَرْكَبَ وَ الْمَلَائِكَةُ يَمْشُونَ‌[1] وَ أَبَى أَنْ يَرْكَبَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘A man from Ansar (new Muslims of al-Madinah) of the companions of the Messenger of Allah died. The Messenger of Allah came out and joined the funeral procession walking. Someone from his companions said, “Why do you not ride, O Messenger of Allah?” He replied, “I do not like to ride w

كُنْتُ مَعَ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع فِي جِنَازَةٍ لِبَعْضِ قَرَابَتِهِ فَلَمَّا أَنْ صَلَّى عَلَى الْمَيِّتِ قَالَ وَلِيُّهُ لِأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع ارْجِعْ يَا أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ مَأْجُوراً وَ لَا تَعَنَّى‌[2] لِأَنَّكَ تَضْعُفُ عَنِ الْمَشْيِ فَقُلْتُ أَنَا لِأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع قَدْ أَذِنَ لَكَ فِي الرُّجُوعِ فَارْجِعْ وَ لِيَ حَاجَةٌ أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَسْأَلَكَ عَنْهَا فَقَالَ لِي أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع إِنَّمَا هُوَ فَضْلٌ وَ أَجْرٌ فَبِقَد

“Once I was in the presence of abu Ja’far (a.s.), in a funeral procession of one of his relatives. When he completed the prayer for a deceased, the guardian of the deceased said to abu Ja’far (a.s.), ’Please return home. May Allah grant you the reward. Please do not become tired. You are not strong enough to walk. 5 I

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ أَمِيرَانِ وَ لَيْسَا بِأَمِيرَيْنِ لَيْسَ لِمَنْ تَبِعَ جَنَازَةً أَنْ يَرْجِعَ حَتَّى يُدْفَنَ أَوْ يُؤْذَنَ لَهُ وَ رَجُلٌ يَحُجُّ مَعَ امْرَأَةٍ فَلَيْسَ لَهُ أَنْ يَنْفِرَ حَتَّى تَقْضِيَ نُسُكَهَا.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Two kinds of commanders have no command. One is he who joins a funeral procession. He has no command to return home before the burial is complete, or he is given permission to return. The other is a man who performs Hajj along with a woman. He has

حَضَرَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع جَنَازَةَ رَجُلٍ مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ وَ أَنَا مَعَهُ وَ كَانَ فِيهَا عَطَاءٌ[3] فَصَرَخَتْ صَارِخَةٌ فَقَالَ عَطَاءٌ لَتَسْكُتِنَّ أَوْ لَنَرْجِعَنَّ قَالَ فَلَمْ تَسْكُتْ فَرَجَعَ عَطَاءٌ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ‌ لِأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع إِنَّ عَطَاءً قَدْ رَجَعَ قَالَ وَ لِمَ قُلْتُ صَرَخَتْ هَذِهِ الصَّارِخَةُ فَقَالَ لَهَا لَتَسْكُتِنَّ أَوْ لَنَرْجِعَنَّ فَلَمْ تَسْكُتْ فَرَجَعَ فَقَالَ امْضِ بِنَا فَلَوْ أَن

“Once abu Ja’far (a.s.), joined a funeral procession for a man from Quraysh while I was with him. ‘ Ata’ (ibn Rabah) was also there. A woman began to cry loudly. ‘ Ata’ said, ‘You should calm down or I must leave.’ She did not calm down and ‘Ata’ returned. I then said to abu Ja’far (a.s.), that ’Ata’ has returned.’ He

إِذَا أُدْخِلَ الْمُؤْمِنُ قَبْرَهُ نُودِيَ أَلَا إِنَّ أَوَّلَ حِبَائِكَ الْجَنَّةُ وَ حِبَاءَ مَنْ تَبِعَكَ الْمَغْفِرَةُ.[2]

“Abu la’ far (a.s.), has said, ‘When a believing person is placed in the grave, it is announced then: “Paradise is the first gift for you and forgiveness for those who have escorted you.’””

مَنْ شَيَّعَ جَنَازَةَ مُؤْمِنٍ حَتَّى يُدْفَنَ فِي قَبْرِهِ وَكَّلَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بِهِ سَبْعِينَ مَلَكاً مِنَ الْمُشَيِّعِينَ يُشَيِّعُونَهُ وَ يَسْتَغْفِرُونَ لَهُ إِذَا خَرَجَ مِنْ قَبْرِهِ إِلَى الْمَوْقِفِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has stated this Hadith. ‘Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, for one’s escorting the dead body of a believing person until it (the dead body) is buried, assigns seventy thousand angels of the escorting ones to escort him (escorting person) and ask forgiveness for him from the time he is

أَوَّلُ مَا يُتْحَفُ بِهِ الْمُؤْمِنُ يُغْفَرُ لِمَنْ تَبِعَ جَنَازَتَهُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the first gift for a deceased believing person is forgiveness for those who escort him to his grave.”

مَنْ شَيَّعَ مَيِّتاً حَتَّى يُصَلِّيَ عَلَيْهِ كَانَ لَهُ قِيرَاطٌ مِنَ الْأَجْرِ وَ مَنْ بَلَغَ مَعَهُ إِلَى قَبْرِهِ حَتَّى يُدْفَنَ كَانَ لَهُ قِيرَاطَانِ مِنَ الْأَجْرِ وَ الْقِيرَاطُ مِثْلُ جَبَلِ أُحُدٍ.

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘If one escorts a deceased until the Salah (prayer) for a deceased is performed, his reward is one qirat and one who escorts the deceased up to the grave and until burial is complete, his reward is two qirat; and one qirat is of the size of the mountain of ‘Uhud.”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع يَقُولُ‌ مَنْ مَشَى مَعَ جَنَازَةٍ حَتَّى يُصَلَّى عَلَيْهَا ثُمَّ رَجَعَ كَانَ لَهُ قِيرَاطٌ مِنَ الْأَجْرِ فَإِذَا مَشَى مَعَهَا حَتَّى تُدْفَنَ كَانَ لَهُ قِيرَاطَانِ وَ الْقِيرَاطُ مِثْلُ جَبَلِ أُحُدٍ.

“I heard abu Ja‘far (a.s.), say, ‘If one walks in the procession for the burial of a deceased until Salah (prayer) for a deceased is complete and then returns back, his reward is one qirat. If one walks until burial is complete, his reward is two qirat and one qirat is of the size of the mountain of ’Uhud.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع يَقُولُ‌ مَنْ تَبِعَ جَنَازَةَ مُسْلِمٍ أُعْطِيَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ أَرْبَعَ شَفَاعَاتٍ وَ لَمْ يَقُلْ شَيْئاً إِلَّا وَ قَالَ الْمَلَكُ وَ لَكَ مِثْلُ ذَلِكَ.

“I heard abu Ja‘far (a.s.), say, ‘If one escorts the dead body of a Muslim, on the Day of Judgment, he will be given four kinds of intercession opportunities. Whatever he says (in response), the angel says, “Likewise is for you also.’””

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ص‌ مَنْ تَبِعَ جَنَازَةً كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَهُ أَرْبَعَ قَرَارِيطَ قِيرَاطٌ بِاتِّبَاعِهِ وَ قِيرَاطٌ لِلصَّلَاةِ عَلَيْهَا وَ قِيرَاطٌ بِالانْتِظَارِ حَتَّى يَفْرُغَ مِنْ دَفْنِهَا وَ قِيرَاطٌ لِلتَّعْزِيَةِ.

“’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), has said, ‘If one escorts the body of a deceased, his reward is four qirat, one for escorting, one for Salah (prayer) for a deceased, one for waiting until burial is complete and one for offering condolences.’”

فِيمَا نَاجَى بِهِ مُوسَى ع رَبَّهُ قَالَ يَا رَبِّ مَا لِمَنْ شَيَّعَ جَنَازَةً قَالَ أُوَكِّلُ بِهِ مَلَائِكَةً مِنْ مَلَائِكَتِي مَعَهُمْ رَايَاتٌ يُشَيِّعُونَهُمْ مِنْ قُبُورِهِمْ إِلَى مَحْشَرِهِمْ.

‘One of the private conversations that Moses had with his Lord was this: “O Lord, what is the reward for one who escorts a deceased person?” The Lord said, “I assign angels of My angels who carry banners when escorting them from their graves to the station for Judgment.’”

مَنْ حَمَلَ جَنَازَةً مِنْ أَرْبَعِ جَوَانِبِهَا غَفَرَ اللَّهُ لَهُ أَرْبَعِينَ كَبِيرَةً.

‘If one lifts up (the coffin of) a deceased person from all of its four corners (at different times), Allah forgives his forty major sins.”

مَنْ أَخَذَ بِقَائِمَةِ السَّرِيرِ غَفَرَ اللَّهُ لَهُ خَمْساً وَ عِشْرِينَ كَبِيرَةً وَ إِذَا رَبَّعَ خَرَجَ مِنَ الذُّنُوبِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that if one holds the corner of the coffin, Allah forgives his twenty- five major sins; and if he lifts up all four corners (at different times) he comes out of all sins.”

سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ‌ مَنْ أَخَذَ بِجَوَانِبِ السَّرِيرِ الْأَرْبَعَةِ غَفَرَ اللَّهُ لَهُ أَرْبَعِينَ كَبِيرَةً.

“I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), say, ‘If one lifts up all four corners of the coffin Allah forgives his forty major sins.’”

سَأَلْتُهُ كَيْفَ يُصَلَّى عَلَى الرِّجَالِ وَ النِّسَاءِ قَالَ يُوضَعُ الرَّجُلُ مِمَّا يَلِي الرِّجَالَ وَ النِّسَاءُ خَلْفَ الرِّجَالِ.

“I once asked him (the Imam) (a.s.), about performing Salah (prayer) for the dead bodies of men and women. He (the Imam) said, ’The dead bodies of men are placed near men and those of women behind the (dead) men.”’

إِنْ كَانَ ثَلَاثَةً أَوِ اثْنَيْنِ أَوْ عَشَرَةً أَوْ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ فَلْيُصَلِّ عَلَيْهِمْ صَلَاةً وَاحِدَةً يُكَبِّرُ عَلَيْهِمْ خَمْسَ تَكْبِيرَاتٍ كَمَا يُصَلِّي عَلَى مَيِّتٍ وَاحِدٍ وَ قَدْ صَلَّى عَلَيْهِمْ جَمِيعاً يَضَعُ مَيِّتاً وَاحِداً ثُمَّ يَجْعَلُ الْآخَرَ إِلَى أَلْيَةِ الْأَوَّلِ ثُمَّ يَجْعَلُ رَأْسَ الثَّالِثِ إِلَى أَلْيَةِ الثَّانِي شِبْهَ الْمَدْرَجِ حَتَّى يَفْرُغَ مِنْهُمْ كُلِّهِمْ مَا

“I once asked abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of one who performs Salah (prayer) for one or two or three dead bodies, how is he to perform them. He (the Imam) said, ‘If there are three or two or ten or less or more, he performs one Salah (prayer) with five Takbir (Allah is great beyond description) just as it is

كَانَ إِذَا صَلَّى‌[1] عَلَى الْمَرْأَةِ وَ الرَّجُلِ قَدَّمَ الْمَرْأَةَ وَ أَخَّرَ الرَّجُلَ وَ إِذَا صَلَّى عَلَى الْعَبْدِ وَ الْحُرِّ قَدَّمَ الْعَبْدَ وَ أَخَّرَ الْحُرَّ وَ إِذَا صَلَّى عَلَى الْكَبِيرِ وَ الصَّغِيرِ قَدَّمَ الصَّغِيرَ وَ أَخَّرَ الْكَبِيرَ.

“When abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), performed Salah (prayer) for a deceased man and a deceased woman, he (the Imam) would set forward woman, then the man. In the case of a slave and a free person, he (the Imam) would set forward the slave, then the free: and in the case of grown up and a minor, he set forward the minor then t

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الرِّجَالِ وَ النِّسَاءِ كَيْفَ يُصَلَّى عَلَيْهِمْ قَالَ الرِّجَالُ أَمَامَ النِّسَاءِ مِمَّا يَلِي الْإِمَامَ يُصَفُّ بَعْضُهُمْ عَلَى أَثَرِ بَعْضٍ.

“I once asked one of the two Imam, (abu Ja‘far or abu ‘Abd Allah), ‘Alayhim al-Salam, about the case of deceased men and women as to how Salah (prayer) is performed for them. He (the Imam) said, ‘Men are placed before women from the side of the Imam in a queue one after the other.’”

يَضَعُ النِّسَاءَ مِمَّا يَلِي الْقِبْلَةَ وَ الصِّبْيَانَ دُونَهُمْ وَ الرِّجَالَ دُونَ ذَلِكَ وَ يَقُومُ الْإِمَامُ مِمَّا يَلِي الرِّجَالَ.

“About the case of the dead bodies of men, children and women, abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Women are placed first from the direction of al-Qiblah (al-Ka‘bah). Then the children, and then men are placed, and the Imam stands next to the dead bodied of men.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ جَنَائِزِ الرِّجَالِ وَ النِّسَاءِ إِذَا اجْتَمَعَتْ فَقَالَ يُقَدَّمُ الرِّجَالُ فِي كِتَابِ عَلِيٍّ ع.

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of the dead bodies of men and women collected together. He (the Imam) said, ‘The dead bodied of men are placed first, according to the book of Ali (a.s.).’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ رَجُلٍ يُصَلِّي عَلَى جِنَازَةٍ وَحْدَهُ قَالَ نَعَمْ قُلْتُ فَاثْنَانِ يُصَلِّيَانِ عَلَيْهَا قَالَ نَعَمْ وَ لَكِنْ يَقُومُ الْآخَرُ خَلْفَ الْآخَرِ وَ لَا يَقُومُ بِجَنْبِهِ.

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who performs Salah (prayer) for a dead body alone. He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, he can do so.’ I then asked, ‘Can two people perform Salah (prayer) for a dead body? He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, but one of them stands behind the other and not on his side.’”

لَا يُصَلَّى عَلَى الْجِنَازَةِ بِحِذَاءٍ وَ لَا بَأْسَ بِالْخُفِّ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Salah (prayer) for dead bodies are not performed wearing shoes, but it is not harmful to wear al-Khuff (slippers, socks).”’

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ خَيْرُ الصُّفُوفِ فِي الصَّلَاةِ الْمُقَدَّمُ وَ خَيْرُ الصُّفُوفِ فِي الْجَنَائِزِ الْمُؤَخَّرُ قِيلَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَ لِمَ قَالَ صَارَ سُتْرَةً لِلنِّسَاءِ.

‘The best row in Salah (prayer) is the first row but the best row in Salah (prayer) for dead bodies is the last one.’ It was asked, ‘Why is it so, O Messenger of Allah?’ He (the Messenger of Allah) said, ‘It is a curtain for women.’”

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ص‌ مَنْ صَلَّى عَلَى امْرَأَةٍ فَلَا يَقُومُ فِي وَسَطِهَا وَ يَكُونُ مِمَّا يَلِي صَدْرَهَا وَ إِذَا صَلَّى عَلَى الرَّجُلِ فَلْيَقُمْ فِي وَسَطِهِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin) ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said, ‘When performing Salah (prayer) for a deceased woman one does not stand next to her midsection. Instead; one stands next to her chest, but when performing Salah (prayer) for a deceased man, one stands next to his midsection.”’

إِذَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى الْمَرْأَةِ فَقُمْ عِنْدَ رَأْسِهَا وَ إِذَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى الرَّجُلِ فَقُمْ عِنْدَ صَدْرِهِ‌[3].

“Abu al-Hassan ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said, ‘When performing Salah (prayer) for a deceased woman you must stand up next to her head and for a man stand up next to his midsection.’”

يُصَلِّي عَلَى الْجِنَازَةِ أَوْلَى النَّاسِ بِهَا أَوْ يَأْمُرُ مَنْ يُحِبُّ.

“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).”’

قُلْتُ لَهُ الْمَرْأَةُ تَمُوتُ مَنْ أَحَقُّ بِالصَّلَاةِ عَلَيْهَا قَالَ زَوْجُهَا قُلْتُ الزَّوْجُ أَحَقُّ مِنَ الْأَبِ وَ الْوَلَدِ وَ الْأَخِ قَالَ نَعَمْ وَ يُغَسِّلُهَا.

“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.’”

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الْمَرْأَةِ تَمُوتُ مَنْ أَحَقُّ أَنْ يُصَلِّيَ عَلَيْهَا قَالَ الزَّوْجُ قُلْتُ الزَّوْجُ أَحَقُّ مِنَ الْأَبِ وَ الْأَخِ وَ الْوَلَدِ قَالَ نَعَمْ.

“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 dese

إِذَا حَضَرَ الْإِمَامُ الْجِنَازَةَ فَهُوَ أَحَقُّ النَّاسِ بِالصَّلَاةِ عَلَيْهَا.

“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.’”

يُصَلِّي عَلَى الْجِنَازَةِ أَوْلَى النَّاسِ بِهَا أَوْ يَأْمُرُ مَنْ يُحِبُّ.

5. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn abu Nasr from certain persons of our 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).”’

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ الْجِنَازَةِ أَ يُصَلَّى عَلَيْهَا عَلَى غَيْرِ وُضُوءٍ فَقَالَ نَعَمْ إِنَّمَا هُوَ[1] تَكْبِيرٌ وَ تَحْمِيدٌ وَ تَسْبِيحٌ وَ تَهْلِيلٌ كَمَا تُكَبِّرُ وَ تُسَبِّحُ فِي بَيْتِكَ عَلَى غَيْرِ وُضُوءٍ.

“I once asked abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), about performing Salah (prayer) for a deceased without Wudu’. He (the Imam) said, ’It is permissible; it is only Takbir (Allah is great beyond description), Tahlil (no one deserves worship except Allah), Tahmid (it is Allah only who deserves all praise), Tasbih (Allah is free of all

سُئِلَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ الرَّجُلِ تُدْرِكُهُ الْجِنَازَةُ وَ هُوَ عَلَى غَيْرِ وُضُوءٍ فَإِنْ ذَهَبَ يَتَوَضَّأُ فَاتَتْهُ الصَّلَاةُ عَلَيْهَا قَالَ يَتَيَمَّمُ وَ يُصَلِّي.

“Abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), was asked about a man who attends Salah (prayer) for a deceased without Wudu’ and if he goes for Wudu’ he misses Salah (prayer). He (the Imam) said, ‘He can take Tayammum, then perform Salah (prayer).”’

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع الْجِنَازَةُ يُخْرَجُ بِهَا وَ لَسْتُ عَلَى وُضُوءٍ فَإِنْ ذَهَبْتُ أَتَوَضَّأُ فَاتَتْنِي الصَّلَاةُ أَ لِيَ أَنْ أُصَلِّيَ عَلَيْهَا وَ أَنَا عَلَى غَيْرِ وُضُوءٍ قَالَ تَكُونُ عَلَى طُهْرٍ أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ.

“I once asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.), about Salah (prayer) for a deceased when I do not have Wudu’, and because of going for Wudu’ I miss Salah (prayer) if I can perform it without Wudu’. He (the Imam) your being with Wudu’ is more beloved to me.’”