Washing of the Deceased

Hadith.396 - Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) said: "Do not leave your deceased alone, for Shaytan may disturb them within their body."

Hadith.343 - Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) said: "The Messenger of Allah (sw) entered upon a man from the Banu Hashim who was in the throes of death and said to him: 'Say : La ilaha illa Allah al-Haleemu al-Kareem, la ilaha illa Allah al-‘Aliyyu al-‘Azheem. Subhana Allah Rabbi as-samawati as-sab‘ wa Rabbi al-ardhina as-sab‘ wa ma feehinna wa ma baynahunna wa ma tahtahunna wa Rabbi al-‘Arsh al-‘Azheem. Wa salamun ‘ala al-mursaleen, wal-hamdu lillahi Rabb al ‘alameen 'There is no Allah (swt) but Allah (swt), the Forbearing, the Generous; there is no God but Allah (swt), the Most High, the Most Great; Glory be to Allah (swt), the Lord (azj) of the seven heavens and the Lord (azj) of the seven earths and what is in them and what is between them and what is beneath them, and the Lord (azj) of the Mighty Throne. Peace be upon the messengers, and all praise is due to Allah (swt), the Lord (azj) of all the worlds.' The man said thusly, and the Messenger of Allah (sw) said: 'Praise be to Allah (swt) who has saved him from the Fire.'".

Hadith.344 - Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (as) said: "You instruct your deceased to say 'There is no god but Allah (swt)' at the time of death, while we instruct our deceased to say 'Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah (sw).'".

Hadith.345 - The Messenger of Allah (sw) said: "Instruct your dying to say 'There is no god but Allah (swt),' for whoever's last words are 'There is no god but Allah (swt)' will enter Paradise."

Hadith.346 - Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) said: "The believer is most rational (aware) at the time of their death."

'Repeat the supplication.' So he repeated it, and He (sw) said: 'What do you see now?' (the man) replied: 'They have moved away from me, and two white figures have come in, and the dark figures have left. I no longer see them, and the white figures are now drawing close to me to take my soul.' The man then passed away thereafter.

Hadith.348 - Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) was asked about the positioning of the deceased, and Imam (as) said: "Direct the soles of their feet toward the Qibla”.

'Direct him toward the Qibla, for when you do so, the angels will approach him, and Allah (swt), the Mighty and Glorious, will turn toward him with His face (attention).' And he remained in that state until he passed away.”

Hadith.350 - Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) said: "There is no one who is faced with death except that Iblis (Satan) sends some of his devils to entice him toward disbelief and to cause him to doubt his faith until his soul departs. Therefore, when you are present with your dying ones, instruct them to bear witness that there is no god but Allah (swt) and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah (sw) until they pass away."

Hadith.351 - The Messenger of Allah (sw) said in his last sermon: "Whoever repents a year before his death, Allah (swt) will accept his repentance." Then He (sw) said: "A year is a long time; whoever repents a month before their death, Allah (swt) will accept their repentance." Then He (sw) said: "A month is a long time; whoever repents a week before their death, Allah (swt) will accept their repentance." Then He (sw) said: "A week is a long time; whoever repents a day before their death, Allah (swt) will accept their repentance." Then He (sw) said: "A day is a long time; whoever repents an hour before their death, Allah (swt) will accept their repentance." Then He (sw) said: “An hour is a long time; whoever repents before their soul reaches here" — and he pointed to his throat — "Allah (swt) will accept their repentance”.

Hadith.352 - Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) was asked about the words of Allah (swt), the Mighty and Glorious: "But repentance is not [accepted] of those who [continue to] do evil deeds up until, when death comes to one of them, he says, 'Indeed, I repent now’." (Surah An Nisa 4:18). Imam (as) said: "That is when they witness the realities of the Hereafter."

Hadith.353 - A man from the Bedouins, who had servants and camels, came to the Messenger of Allah (sw) and said: "O’ Messenger of Allah (sw), inform me about the words of Allah (swt), the Mighty and Glorious: 'Those who believe and are conscious of Allah (swt) — they will have good news in this world and in the Hereafter' (Surah Yunus 10:63-64) The Prophet replied: "As for His words, 'They will have good news in this world,' it refers to the good dreams that a believer sees and is given glad tidings by them in this world. And as for 'and in the Hereafter,' it refers to the glad tidings a believer receives at the time of death, that Allah (swt) has forgiven you and those who carry you to your grave."

Hadith.354 - Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) said: "It was said to the Angel of Death (as), 'How do you seize souls while some are in the west and others in the east at the same moment?' He said: 'I summon them, and they respond to me.' Imam (as) said: “Then, The Angel of Death, said: 'The world is like a bowl in front of me from which I take as I please, and the world is like a coin in the palm of one of you, which you turn as you wish.'

Hadith.355 - Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) said: "No believer leaves this world except with contentment, for Allah (swt), Blessed and Exalted, lifts the veil for them until they see their place in Paradise and what Allah (swt) has prepared for them there. Then the world is shown to them as the best it could have been, and they are given the choice, so they choose what is with Allah (swt), Mighty and Glorious, and say, 'What do I need with the world and its trials?' Therefore, instruct your dying with the Words of Relief (Kalimat E Faraj)." Lā ilāha illā Allāh al-Ḥalīmu al-Karīm, lā ilāha illā Allāh al-‘Aliyyu al-‘Aẓīm. Subḥāna Allāhi Rabbi al-samāwāti al-sab‘ wa Rabbi al-arāḍīna al-sab‘ wa mā fīhinna wa mā baynahunna wa mā taḥtahunna wa Rabbi al-‘arsh al-‘Aẓīm

Hadith.356 - Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (as) said: "If I had reached Ikrimah at the time of his death, I would have benefited him." When asked how, Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) explained: "He would have instructed him in what you are upon (referring to the beliefs of faithful)”.

Hadith.357 - The Messenger of Allah (sw) said: "Sudden death is an ease and relief for the believer but a regretful taking for the disbeliever”.

Hadith.358 - Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) said: "Death is the expiation for the sins of every believer."

Hadith.359 - The Imam (as) said: "Indeed, between this world and the Hereafter, there are a thousand obstacles, the easiest and least difficult of which is death."

Hadith.360 - Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) said: "Indeed, Shaytan comes to one of our followers at the time of their death, approaching from their right and from their left to lead them astray from what they are upon. But Allah (swt), the Mighty and Glorious, refuses this, and this is the meaning of Allah’s (swt) words: 'Allah (swt) will keep firm those who believe, with the firm word, in this worldly life and in the Hereafter'" (Surah Ibrahim 14:27).

Hadith.361 - Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) said: "When a believer is at the moment of death, tears may come to their eyes because, at that moment, they witness the presence of the Messenger of Allah (sw) and they see what pleases them." Then Imam (as) said: "Do you not see that when a person sees what delights and pleases them, tears come to their eyes and they smile?"

Hadith.362 - Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) said: "If you see a believer whose eyes are fixed, the left eye tears up, the forehead perspires, the lips contract, and the nostrils widen, then that is sufficient for you (as a sign of their passing)."

Hadith.363 - Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (as) said: "The sign of a believer when death approaches is that their face becomes whiter than its usual color, their forehead perspires, and tears flow from their eyes like drops. This is the sign of the departure of their soul. As for the disbeliever, their soul exits from their mouth forcefully, like the froth of a camel or the expiration of a donkey."

Hadith.364 - It is reported: "The last taste that a person experiences at the time of death is the taste of grapes."

Hadith.365 - The Messenger of Allah (sw) was asked how the Angel of Death takes the soul of a believer. He (sw) replied: "Indeed, the Angel of Death stands before the believer at the time of their death in the position of a humble servant before their master. He and his companions do not approach until the believer is greeted with peace and given glad tidings of Paradise."

Hadith.366 - The Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as) said: "When a believer is at the point of death, the Angel of Death reassures (secures) them ; without this, they would not be able to remain settled."

Hadith.367 - Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) said: "When the soul reaches the throat, the person (believer), is shown their place in Paradise. They say, 'Return me to the world so that I may inform my family about what I see.' But it is said to them, 'There is no way for that.'"

Hadith.368 - Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) was asked about the different Qur'anic verses that mention Allah (swt) taking souls at the time of death, about the words of Allah (swt), the Exalted: "Allah (swt) takes the souls at the time of their death," (Surah Az-Zumar 39:42) And about the words of Allah (swt), the Exalted: "Say, 'The Angel of Death, who is put in charge of you, will take you,'" (Surah As-Sajdah 32:11) And about the words of Allah (swt), the Exalted: "Those whom the angels take while they are in a state of purity," (Surah An-Nahl 16:32) And "Those whom the angels take while they are wronging themselves," (Surah An-Nahl 16:28) And about the words of Allah (swt), the Exalted: "Our messengers angels take them," (Surah Al-An’am 6:61) And about His words: "And if you could see when the angels take the souls of those who disbelieved." (Surah Al-Anfal 8:50) The questioner further inquired about how this process works, given that countless souls may die simultaneously across the world Imam Al-Sadiq replied: "Indeed, Allah (swt), Blessed and Exalted, has appointed for the Angel of Death assistants among the angels who seize souls. They function similarly to a chief of police who has deputies among the people whom he sends out to fulfil tasks on his behalf. Thus, the angels take the souls, and the Angel of Death receives them from the angels along with what he himself seizes. Ultimately Allah (swt), Blessed and Exalted, takes them from Angel of Death”.

Hadith.369 - Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) said: "Indeed, the follower of Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as) will see him in three places that bring joy: at the time of death, at the Sirat (the bridge over Hell), and at the Hawdh (the Pool)."

Hadith.370 - The Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as) said: "When a servant is in their last day of this world and their first day of the Hereafter, their wealth, children, and deeds are presented before them. They turn to their wealth and say, 'By Allah (swt), I was extremely attached and miserly with you; what do you have for me now?' It (wealth) replies, 'Take your shroud from me.' Then they turn to their children and say, 'By Allah (swt), I loved you and I was protective over you; what do you have for me now?' They (children) respond, 'We will carry you to your grave and bury you in it.' Then they turn to their deeds and say, 'By Allah (swt), you were burdensome upon me, and I was reluctant toward you; what do you have for me now?' It (deeds) replies, 'I am your companion in your grave and on the Day of Resurrection until you and I are presented before your Lord (azj).'".

Hadith.371 - The Messenger of Allah (sw) said: "Whoever dies on a Jumu’ah or on the night of Jumu’ah, Allah (swt) will relieve him from the punishment of the grave."

Hadith.372 - Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) said: "Whoever dies between the decline of the sun on Thursday until the decline of the sun on will be safe from the squeezing (pressure) of the grave."

Hadith.373 - Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (as) said: "Jumu’ah night is a radiant night, and its day is a radiant day. There is no day on the face of the earth on which the sun sets with more people freed from the Fire than on Jumu’ah. Whoever dies on Jumu’ah, Allah (swt) will write for them freedom from the punishment of the grave, and whoever dies on Jumu’ah will be freed from the Fire."

Hadith.374 - Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) said: "There is no dying person for whom Allah (swt), the Mighty and Glorious, does not return their sight, hearing, and intellect at the moment of death, whether they are giving a final will or not. This is the 'relief of death' that is referred to as the comfort of passing away."

Hadith.375 - Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) was asked: "For what reason is the deceased washed (given ghusl)?" Imam (as) said: "The drop that he was created from, exits from their eyes or their mouth, and no one leaves this world until they see their place in either Paradise or the Fire."

Hadith.376 - Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) said: "Whoever dies in the state of Ihram (consecration for Hajj or Umrah), Allah (swt) will resurrect them reciting the Talbiyah."

Hadith.377 - The Imam (as) said: "Whoever dies in one of the two sanctuaries (Makkah or Madinah) will be safe from the Great Terror on the Day of Resurrection."

Hadith.378 - The Imam (as) said: "If a woman dies during childbirth (in her postpartum state), no record of her deeds will be unfurled on the Day of Resurrection."

Hadith.379 - The Imam (as) said: "The death of a stranger (someone who dies away from their home) is martyrdom."

Hadith.380 - The Imam (as) said regarding the words of Allah (swt), the Mighty and Glorious: "No soul knows what it will earn tomorrow, and no soul knows in which land it will die" (Surah Luqman 31:34). Imam (as) said; "From one step to another."

Hadith.381 - The Imam (as) said: "When a believer dies, the places on earth where they used to worship Allah (swt), the door through which their deeds would ascend, and their place of prostration weep for them."

Hadith.382 - Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) said: "Whoever considers tomorrow as part of their lifespan has not kept good company with death."

Hadith.383 - The Messenger of Allah (sw) entered upon Khadijah {s.a} while she was experiencing what she {s.a} was enduring (her final illness). He (sw) said to her: "In spite of what we see happening to you, Khadijah {s.a}, when you meet your co-wives in the Hereafter, give them my greetings of peace." She {s.a} asked: "Who are they, O’ Messenger of Allah (sw)?" He (sw) replied: "Mary {s.a}, the daughter of Imran (as), and Kulthum {s.a}, the sister of Musa (as), and Asiya {s.a}, the wife of Pharaoh." She {s.a} responded: "With pleasure, O’ Messenger of Allah (sw)."

Hadith.384 - The Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as) said: "I guarantee Paradise for six people: One who goes out to give charity and dies, they shall have Paradise; One who goes out to visit a sick person and dies, they shall have Paradise; One who goes out striving in the way of Allah (swt) and dies, they shall have Paradise; One who goes out for pilgrimage (Hajj) and dies, they shall have Paradise; One who goes out for Jumu’ah prayer and dies, they shall have Paradise; And one who goes out for the funeral of a Muslim and dies, they shall have Paradise."

Hadith.385 - The Messenger of Allah (sw) said: "The honor of the deceased is their hastening (to be buried)."

Hadith.386 - The Messenger of Allah (sw) said: "I do not want to find among you a man whose deceased loved one died at night and he waits until morning, or a man whose deceased loved one died during the day and he waits until night. Do not wait for the rising or setting of the sun with your dead. Hurry them to their resting places; may Allah (swt) have mercy on you." The people replied: "And may Allah (swt) have mercy on you, O’ Messenger of Allah (sw)."

Hadith.387 - Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (as) said: "In what Musa ibn Imran (as) privately spoke to his Lord (azj), the Mighty and Glorious, Musa (as) said: 'O’ Lord (azj), what is the reward for visiting the sick?' Allah (swt) replied: 'I will appoint an angel to visit them in their grave until the Day of Resurrection.' Musa (as) asked: 'O’ Lord (azj), what about the one who washes the deceased?' Allah (swt) replied: 'I will cleanse them of their sins as on the day their mother gave birth to them.'"

Hadith.388 - The Imam (as) said: "Whoever washes a deceased believer and fulfils the trust in that act, Allah (swt) will forgive them." It was asked: "How does one fulfil the trust in this matter?" Imam (as) replied: "By not disclosing what they see and maintaining their duty until the deceased is buried."

Hadith.389 - Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) said: "Any believer who washes the body of another believer and says while turning it: Allāhumma hādhā badan ‘abdika al-mu’min wa qad akhrajta rūḥahu minhu wa farraqta baynahumā fa‘afwuka ‘afwuka ‘afwuka 'O’ Allah (swt), this is the body of Your believing servant; You have taken their soul from it and separated them from each other, so forgive, forgive, forgive,' Allah (swt) will forgive the washer's sins for a year, except for major sins."

Hadith.390 - Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) said: "There is no believing servant who washes a deceased believer and says while washing them: Rabbi ‘afwuka ‘afwuka 'O’ Lord (azj), Your forgiveness, Your forgiveness,' except that Allah (swt) forgives them."

Hadith.391 - The Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as) said: "The one who washes the deceased should be the closest person to them or the one whom the guardian (Wali) of the deceased appoints for this task."

Hadith.392 - Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) said: "Whoever washes a deceased person and conceals and keeps secret what they see, they will emerge from their sins like the day their mother gave birth to them."

junub (one in a state of major ritual impurity) bathes with six ratls of water and the menstruating woman with nine ratls of water ? Is there a prescribed amount of water for washing the deceased?" And Imam (as) replied in his own handwriting, saying: "The prescribed washing of the deceased is to continue until they are purified, if Allah (swt), the Exalted, wills."

Hadith.394 - Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (as) said: "Water should not be heated for washing the deceased."

Hadith.395 - It is also narrated in another hadith: "Except if it is a cold winter, in which case, you should protect the deceased as you would protect yourself."

Hadith.397 - Ali ibn Ja'far asked his brother Imam Musa ibn Jafar Al-Kadhim (as) about washing the deceased in an open space. Imam (as) replied: "There is no issue with it, but if they are covered with a curtain (for privacy), that is more beloved to me."

Hadith.398 - Abdullah ibn Sinan asked Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) about whether it is permissible for a man to look at his wife when She dies or to wash her if there is no one else to wash her, and likewise, if a woman can do the same for her husband when he dies. Imam (as) replied: "There is no issue with that. It is usually the woman's family who may dislike her husband seeing something he would dislike about her."

Hadith.399 - Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) was asked about about who performed the washing (Ghusl) of (the body of) Sayyida Fatimah Al-Zahra {S.A}?" Imam (as) said: "The Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as) performed her washing because She was a ‘Al-Siddiqah’ (the most truthful and righteous one) ; and her ghusl is not permitted except by a ‘Al-Siddiq’ (truthful and righteous person)."