[3:145] No one dies except by GOD's leave, at a
predetermined time. Whoever seeks the vanities of this world, we give him
therefrom, and whoever seeks the rewards of the Hereafter, we bless him therein.
We reward those who are appreciative.
Death is one of the major events in our life. Everyone of us have
a life span that will end at a predetermined time. Only God decides and knows
when and where everyone's life ends. No one dies a day before or after that
pre-determined time.
[4:78] "Wherever you are, death will catch up with
you, even if you live in formidable castles......"
Death is a great mystery to most people. Not so for the students of the Quran.
We learn that death is exactly like sleeping; complete with dreams (6:60,
40:46). The period between death and resurrection passes like one night of
sleep (2:259; 6:60; 10:45; 16:21; 18:11, 19, 25; 30:55).
Everyone dies, good bad, evil, saint, messenger or prophet.
[ 55:26-27] Everyone on earth perishes. Only the presence
of your Lord lasts. Possessor of Majesty and Honor.
The submitters should accept the death as a fact of life realizing that no
one will live any longer or shorter than what God decrees. The
submitters believe that God's choice for them is the best choice.
Consistently, the Quran talks about two deaths, the first death took place
when we failed to make a stand with God's absolute authority
(Appendix 7). That
first death lasted until we were born into this world. The second death
terminates our life in this world (2:28, 22:66, 40:11).
Death can be a test for those who are still alive.
[ 2:155] We will surely test you through some fear,
hunger, and loss of money, lives, and crops. Give good news to the
steadfast.
The believers react to any adversity affecting
them according to the Quran;
[ 2:156] When an affliction befalls them (the believers),
they say, "We belong to GOD, and to Him we are returning."
Before doing the Funeral Prayer, one has to understand that there is a category
of people who should not be granted this prayer, the disbelievers or
idol-worshipers.
[9:113] Neither the prophet, nor those who believe
shall ask forgiveness for the idol worshipers, even if they were their nearest
of kin, once they realize that they are destined for Hell.
[11:37] "Build the ark under our watchful eyes, and
with our inspiration, and do not implore Me on behalf of those who have
transgressed; they are destined to drown."
[9:84] You shall not observe the funeral prayer
for any of them when he dies, nor shall you stand at his grave. They
have disbelieved in GOD and His messenger, and died in a state of
wickedness.
We also need to understand that God is encouraging the believers to
implore Him. The Funeral Prayer is one of these circumstances where we can
implore God. See for example these verses;
God rewards people for what they say (5:84-85).
[5:84-85] "Why should we not believe in GOD, and in
the truth that has come to us, and hope that our Lord may admit us with the
righteous people?" GOD has rewarded them for saying this; He will admit them
into gardens with flowing streams. They abide therein forever. Such is the
reward for the righteous.
[41:30-31] Those who proclaim: "Our Lord is GOD," then
lead a righteous life, the angels descend upon them: "You shall have no fear,
nor shall you grieve. Rejoice in the good news that Paradise has been reserved
for you. "We are your allies in this life, and in the Hereafter. You will
have in it anything you wish for; you will have anything you want.
[39:73] Those who reverenced their Lord will be led
to Paradise in throngs. When they get to it, and its gates are opened, its
guards will say, "Peace be upon you; you have won. Therefore, you abide herein
forever."
[16:32] The angels terminate their lives in a state
of righteousness, saying, "Peace be upon you. Enter Paradise (now) as a reward
for your works."
God wants us to implore Him.
[40:60] "Implore Me, and I will respond to you. Surely,
those who are too arrogant to worship Me will enter Gehenna, forcibly."
[2:186] "When My servants ask you about Me, I am always
near. I answer their prayers when they pray to Me. The people shall respond
to Me and believe in Me, in order to be guided."
Quran teaches us that God tests people with adversity
and hardship that they may implore (6:42, 7:94).
[6:42] We have sent (messengers) to communities before
you, and we put them to the test through adversity and hardship, that they
may implore.
It also points out:
[6:43]
"If only they implored when the tests came to them! "
As for the Funeral Prayer, it is mentioned in the
Quran by name in 9:84.
[9:84] You shall not observe the funeral prayer for
any of them when he dies, nor shall you stand at his grave. They have disbelieved
in GOD and His messenger, and died in a state of wickedness.
The Funeral Prayer is not a Salat (Contact prayers) but just a prayer,
( a supplication, an invocation, "Dua'a") for the dead person. Since it is
not a Salat, it does not have to have the order and steps of true
Salat.
There is no bowing or falling prostrate during the Funeral Prayer.
The Funeral Prayer, like our Salat is an inherited practice that
got corrupted over the years. The way it is practiced by traditional
Muslims today is not dedicated to God alone as it should
. Muhammad's and Abraham's names are added to the Funeral
Prayer which would nullify it, since it is not dedicated to God
alone, our Creator and Sustainer.
The following Funeral Prayer has removed all the corruptions and names other
than God that were added over the years by tradition. The details
of the movements are not significant as it is not a true Salat.
STEPS OF FUNERAL PRAYER
(1) Stand by the dead person's casket if it is available or just declare
for the group that you will be doing Funeral prayer for the dead person.
(2)You declare your intention of doing the Funeral prayer for the dead person
and raise your hand and say Allahu Akbar.
(3) Read Sura one, Al Fateha (The Key)..
(4)Say Allahu Akbar without raising your hand.
(5) Declare the Shahada, Ash-hadu A- La Elaaha Ella Allah, Wahdaho
La Sharik Lah. I bear witness there is no god besides God and He has
no partners.
(6)Say Allahu Akbar without raising your hand.
(7) Say your invocation to God, (supplication, Dua'a) for
the dead person asking God for His mercy on the dead person and to grant
him/her forgiveness and reward him and keep him/her with the righteous in
the Hereafter and admit him/her to Heaven (Paradise). Here are some
of the verses in the Quran that teach us how to implore God
[17:23] Your Lord has decreed that you shall not worship
except Him, and your parents shall be honored. As long as one or both of
them live, you shall never say to them, "Uff" (the slightest gesture of
annoyance), nor shall you shout at them; you shall treat them amicably.
[17:24] And lower for them the wings of humility, and
kindness, and say, "My Lord, have mercy on them, for they have raised
me from infancy."
"Forgive us and our parents, and the believers on the
day when the reckoning takes place "(14:41)
"Our Lord, forgive us and our brethren who preceded
us to the faith, and keep our hearts from harboring any hatred towards those
who believed" (59:10)
(8)Without raising your hand say Allahu Akbar third time, and do more prayers.
[14:40, 11:61]. "Our Lord, please answer our prayers.
You are always near, responsive"
(9) End the Funeral prayer by saying Salamun Alikum or Alhamdu Lellah or
any sign to let the group know you finished.
As you noticed, there is no bowing or falling prostrate. It is not a
Salat.
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