Riyad as-Salihin

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Whosoever attends the funeral of a Muslim believing and hoping for the reward from Allah and remains with it until the prayer is offered over it and the burial is completed, he will return with a reward of two Qirat; each Qirat is equivalent to Mount Uhud; and whosoever offers his prayer over it and returns before its burial, he will come back with one Qirat.".

We (womenfolk) were prohibited from accompanying a funeral procession, but we were not compelled (not to do so)..

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "If a group of Muslims numbering a hundred perform funeral prayer over a dead person, and all of them ask Allah's forgiveness for him, their prayer for him will be accepted." .

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "If a Muslim dies and forty people, who do not associate anything with Allah in worship, participate in the funeral prayer over him, Allah will accept their intercession for him.".

When Malik bin Hubairah (May Allah be pleased with him) offered a funeral prayer and found a small number of participants, he would divide them into three rows and would say that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "If three rows of men offer funeral prayer over anyone, his entry into Jannah will become certain.".

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) offered a funeral prayer and I memorized his supplication. He (ﷺ) prayed: "Allahummaghfir lahu, warhamhu, wa 'afihi, wa'fu 'anhu, wa akrim nuzulahu, wa wassi' mudkhalahu, waghsilhu bil-ma'i wath-thalji wal-baradi, wa naqqihi minal-khataya, kama naqqaytath-thawbal-abyada minad-danasi, wa abdilhu daran khairan min darihi, wa ahlan khairan min ahlihi, wa zawjan khairan min zawjihi, wa adkhilhul-Jannata, wa a'idh-hu min 'adhabil- qabri, wa min 'adhabin-nar .

The Prophet (ﷺ) offered a funeral prayer and said: "Allahummaghfir lihaiyina wa maiyitina, wa saghirina wa kabirina, wa dhakarina wa unthana, wa shahidina wa gha'ibina. Allahumma man ahyaiytahu minna, fa'ahyihi 'alal-Islam, wa man tawaffaiytahu minna, fatawaffahu 'alal-Iman. Allahumma la tahrimna ajrahu, wa la taftinna ba'dahu (O Allah, forgive our living and our dead, our present and our absent, our young and our old, our male and our female. O Allah, whosoever of us You keep alive, keep him alive (faithful) to Islam, and whosoever of us You cause to die, let him die having Iman. O Allah, do not deprive us of our reward (for being patient) and do not subject us to trials after his death." .

I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saying: "When you pray over the dead, make a sincere supplication for him.".

The Prophet (ﷺ) supplicated in course of funeral prayer: "Allahumma Anta Rabbuha, wa Anta khalaqtaha, wa Anta hadaytaha lil-Islam, wa Anta qabadta ruhaha, wa Anta a'lamu bisirriha wa 'alaniyyatiha, ji'naka shufa'a'a lahu .

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) led the funeral prayer of a Muslim man in our presence, and I heard him saying "Allahumma inna .

While offering the funeral prayer of one of his daughters, he recited four Takbir, and after the fourth Takbir he continued standing for a time equal to an interval between two Takbir, praying for her and seeking Allah's forgiveness for her." Then he said: "The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to do so."Another narration is: He (Abdullah) recited four Takbir and remained standing in prayer for some time till we thought that he would recite the fifth Takbir. Then he gave Salam on the right and on the left. When he turned aside, we asked him about it. He replied: "I would add nothing to what I saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) doing," or he said: "The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to do so.".

I heard the Prophet (ﷺ) saying, "Hurry up with the dead body (for its burial), for if it is pious, you are speeding it to goodness and if it is otherwise, you are laying an evil off your necks." .

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "When a dead body is placed on a bier and men carry it on their shoulders, if he was a pious man, it (corpse) says: 'Take me in haste.' But if he was not righteous, it says to its bearers: 'Woe to it. Where are you taking it?' Everything except man hears its voice. Had a human being heard its voice, he would have surely fallen into swoon.".

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "The soul of the deceased believer remains pending on account of the debt till it (the debt) is repayed." .

When Talhah bin Al-Bara' (May Allah be pleased with him) fell ill, the Prophet (ﷺ) came to visit him and said, "Verily, I think that Talhah is about to die. So inform me when he is dead and make haste (in burying him). Indeed, it is improper for the corpse of a Muslim to be kept lying unburied among his family members.".

We were accompanying a funeral procession in Baqi` Al-Gharqad (graveyard in Al-Madinah) when the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) proceeded towards us and sat down. We sat around him. He had a small stick in his hand. He was bending down his head and scraping the ground with the stick. He said, "There is none among you but has a place assigned for him either in the Jannah or in the Hell." The Companions said: "O Messenger of Allah, should we not depend upon what has been written for us (and give up doing good deeds)?'' The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Carry on doing good deeds. Every one will find it easy to do such deeds (as will lead him to his destined place) for which he has been created." .

After the burial of a dead man, the Prophet (ﷺ) would stand by the grave and say, "Ask Allah to forgive your brother and supplicate for him for steadfastness because he is being questioned (about his deeds) now." .

"When you have buried me, keep standing near my grave till (for the time it takes to) a camel is slaughtered and its meat is distributed, so that I may feel your nearness and know what to reply to the angels sent by my Rubb.".

A man said to the Prophet (ﷺ): "My mother has died suddenly. I think that if she were able to talk (alive) she would have given in Sadaqah (charity). So, if I give Sadaqah now on her behalf, will she get the reward?" The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Yes (she will be rewarded for that).".

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "When a man dies, his deeds come to an end, except for three: A continuous charity, knowledge by which people derive benefit, pious son who prays for him.".

Some Companions happened to pass by a funeral procession (bier) and they praised him (the deceased). The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "He will certainly enter it." Then they passed by another funeral procession and they spoke ill of the deceased. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "He will certainly enter it." `Umar bin Al-Khattab (May Allah be pleased with him) said: "(O Messenger of Allah,) what do you mean by `He will certainly enter it?'' He (ﷺ) replied, "You praised the first person, so he will enter Jannah; and you spoke ill of the second person, so he will enter Hell. You are Allah's witnesses on earth." .

I came to Al- Madinah, and while I was sitting beside 'Umar bin Al-Khattab, a funeral procession passed by. The people praised the deceased, and 'Umar bin Al-Khattab said: "He will certainly enter it." Then another funeral procession passed by and the people praised the deceased. 'Umar bin Al-Khattab (May Allah be pleased with him) said: "He will certainly enter it." A third funeral procession passed by and the people spoke ill of the deceased. He said: "He will certainly enter it." I (Abul-Aswad) asked: "O Amir Al-Mu'minin (i.e., Leader of the Believers)! What do you mean by 'He will certainly enter it'?" He replied: "I said the same as was said by the Prophet (ﷺ). He (ﷺ) said, 'If four persons testify the righteousness of a Muslim, Allah will grant him Jannah.' We asked: 'If three persons testify his righteousness?' He (ﷺ) replied, 'Even three'. Then we asked: 'If two?' He (ﷺ) replied, 'Even two.' We did not ask him (regarding the testimony) of one.".

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Any Muslim who loses three children before they reach the age of maturity, will be granted Jannah by Allah, the Exalted, out of His Mercy for them." .

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "A Muslim whose three children die (in infancy) will not be touched by the Fire (of Hell) except for the fulfillment of Allah's Oath."

A woman came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and said: "O Messenger of Allah! Only men benefit from your talks, so please fix a day for us, to teach us the knowledge which Allah has taught you." The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) fixed a day and directed them to assemble. When they gathered, the Prophet (ﷺ) went to them and taught them what Allah had taught him. He (ﷺ) then said, "Any woman of you whose three children die (in infancy) they will be a guard for her against Fire (of Hell)." One of the women asked: "What if she loses two?" The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) replied, "Even two.".

Ibn `Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and his Companions reached Al-Hijr, the dwellings of the Thamud people, he admonished his Companions (saying), "Do not pass by these people who are being tormented, without weeping, lest the punishment should befall you as it had befallen them." .

The Prophet (ﷺ) set out on Thursday for the expedition of Tabuk. He liked to set out on a journey on Thursdays.

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "O Allah! Bless my people in the early part of the day (morning). Whenever he dispatched a detachment or an army-unit, he would dispatch it at the beginning of the day (soon after dawn). The narrator, Sakhr (May Allah be pleased with him) was a merchant, and he used to send off his merchandise at the beginning of the day. So his trade flourished and he made a good fortune..

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Were people to know of what I know about the dangers of travelling alone, no rider would travel alone at night.".

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "A single rider is (accompanied with) Satan and two riders are (accompanied with) two Satans. Three riders form a group.".

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "When three persons set out on a journey, they should appoint one of them as their leader.".

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "The best number of companions is four; the best detachment is four hundred and the best army is four thousand; and twelve thousand men will not be defeated as a result of smallness of number.".

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "When you travel through green and lush land, give the camels their due from the ground, and when you travel through a dry and barren land, make them walk quickly lest their strength falters. When you encamp at night, keep away from the roads, for beasts pass there and they are the resort of insects at night.".

When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) encamped at night during a journey, he would lie down on his right side, and when he stayed a little before dawn he would raise his forearm and place his head on the palm of his hand..

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Keep to travelling by night because the earth is folded (traversed more easily) during the night.".

Whenever the people encamped during the journey, they would disperse in the mountain passes and valleys. (When) the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) noticed this he said, "Your act of scattering in the mountain passes and valleys is from Satan." Afterwards the Companions kept close together whenever they encamped..

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) happened to pass by a camel whose belly was sticking to its back (because of hunger), whereupon he said, "Fear Allah in respect of these dumb (animals). Ride them while they are fit, and slaughter them and eat their meat when they are fit.".

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) made me ride behind him one day and confided something to me which I shall never disclose to anyone. ('Abdullah added:) He ((ﷺ) preferred to screen himself from others when responding to the call of nature, either behind a wall or the trunk of a date-palm..

When we encamped, we would not offer (voluntary) prayers until we had unsaddled our beasts..

While we were travelling with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), a rider came and began to stare on the right and on the left. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "He who has an extra mount should hand it over to one who has none, and he who possesses surplus provision, should give it to him who is without provision." He named various kinds of possessions until we began to think (realize) that none of us had any right to anything surplus..

When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) made up his mind to go in an expedition, he would say to us, "O Muhajirin and the Ansar! There are among you such people who have no property and no kinsfolk. Let everyone of you take along with him two or three men. None of us had a spare animal we took rides by turn." So I took two or three men with me and I rode my camel by turn equally with them..

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to lag behind while travelling and urge the weak to walk quickly. He used to take up someone behind him and make supplication for him..

Whenever the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) mounted his camel for setting out on a journey, he would recite: "Allahu Akbar (Allah is Greatest)," thrice. Then he (ﷺ) would supplicate: "Subhanal-ladhi sakh-khara lana hadha, wa ma kunna lahu muqrinin, wa inna ila Rabbina lamunqalibun. Allahumma inna nas'aluka fi safarina hadh al-birra wat-taqwa, wa minal-'amali ma tarda. Allahumma hawwin 'alaina safarana hadha, watwi 'anna bu'dahu. Allahumma Antas-Sahibu fissafari, wal-Khalifatu fil- ahli. Allahumma inni a'udhu bika min wa'ta'is-safari, wa kaabatil- manzari, wa su'il-munqalabi fil-mali wal-ahli wal-waladi (Far removed from imperfection is the One Who has made this subservient to us, for we have no power to subjugate it, and certainly to our Rubb shall we return. O Allah, we ask You during this journey of ours for righteousness, piety and such deeds as are pleasing to You. O Allah, make easy for us this journey of ours and make the distance short for us. O Allah, You are our Companion during the journey and the Guardian of the family and the property in our absence. O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the hardships of travelling, unhappiness connected with ghastly scenes and evil turns in property and family)." When he returned, he recited this supplication making addition of these words: "Ayibuna, ta'ibuna, 'abiduna, li-Rabbina hamidun (We are those who return; those who repent; those who worship and those who praise our Rubb).".

Whenever the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) proceeded on a journey, he would seek refuge in Allah from the hardships of the journey, and against deviation after guidance, and against the supplication of the oppressed, and occurrences of unpleasant events in the family and property. He would say: "Allahumma inni a'udhu bika min wa'tha'is- safari, wa kaabatil-munqalabi, wal-hauri ba'dal-kauni, wa da'watil- mazlumi, wa su'il-manzari fil-ahli wal- mal.".

In my presence, a beast was brought to 'Ali bin Abu Talib (May Allah be pleased with him) for riding. When he put his foot in the stirrup, he said: "Bismillah (With the Name of Allah)." When he had settled himself on its back he recited: "Al-hamdu lillahil-ladhi sakh-khara lana hadha, wa ma kunna lahu muqrinin, wa inna ila Rabbina lamunqalibun. (All praise belongs to Allah Who has made this subservient to us, for we had not the strength to overpower it; and to our Rubb shall we return)." He then recited thrice: "Alhamdu lillah (Praise be to Allah)," and then three times: "Allahu Abkar (Allah is Greatest)." Then he said: "Subhanaka inni zalamtu nafsi faghfir li, innahu la yaghfirudh-dhunuba illa Anta (You are far removed from imperfection I have wronged myself, so forgive me, because none but You can forgive sins)." Then he smiled. It was asked: "Why have you smiled, O Amir Al-Mu'minin (Leader of the Believers)?" He replied: "I saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) doing as I have done. I (i.e., Ali) asked him (the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)) the reason for smiling. He (ﷺ) said, 'Your Rubb, Glorious is He, is pleased when His slave seeks His forgiveness. He (the slave) has firm faith that none except Allah Alone can forgive sins)'.".

When we ascended (a height) we would proclaim: "Allahu Akbar (Allah is Greatest)," and when we descended (from the height) we would proclaim: "Subhan Allah (Allah is free from imperfection)."'.

Whenever the Prophet (ﷺ) and his army ascended a height, they would proclaim: "Allahu Akbar (Allah is Greatest)," and when they climbed down, they would proclaim: "Subhan Allah (Allah is free from imperfection).".

Whenever the Prophet (ﷺ) returned from Hajj or 'Umrah and ascended a height or hill, he would recite thrice: "Allahu Akbar (Allah is Greatest)." Then he would say, "La ilaha ill-allahu wahdahu la sharika lahu, lahul- mulku, wa lahul-hamdu, wa Huwa 'ala kulli shay'in Qadeer. Ayibuna ta'ibuna 'abiduna li-Rabbina hamidun. Sadaq-Allahu wa'dahu, wa nasara 'abdahu, wa hazamal-ahzaba wahdahu .

A man said: "O Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), I intend to set out on a journey, so counsel me." He (ﷺ) said, "Fear Allah, and ascending towards the raised ground, you should recite: "Allahu Akbar (Allah is Greatest)." When the man turned away, he (ﷺ) said, "O Allah! Shorten the distance for him and make the journey easy for him." .

We accompanied the Prophet (ﷺ) in a journey, and when we climbed up a height, we proclaimed aloud: "La ilaha illallah (There is no true god except Allah)" and "Allahu Akbar (Allah is Greatest)." The Prophet (ﷺ) admonished us saying, "O people, take it easy. He Whom you are calling is not deaf or absent. He is with you (i.e., by His Knowledge), He is Hearing and He is Near.".