What should be done for whom about to die

[ابوالوليد المسلم]

What should be done for whom about to die (3)

‘Abdullah bin Hamoud al-Furaih


Should the testification of faith be repeated to him?

The correct opinion is that it should not be repeated to him but should be said only once, except if he does not respond because when the Prophet (peace be upon him) dictated the testifaction of monotheism to his uncle, it was reported in the wordings of the Hadith: “The Prophet (peace be upon him) repeated it over and over to him.”[1]


There is no doubt that the condition of a believer differs from that of a disbeliever. He was the uncle of the Prophet (peace be upon him) as reported in the previous Hadith, but repeating it to him would make him leave disbelieve to faith which is the main objective. If he does not respond, scholars deem it to be desirable to repeat it as the Prophet (peace be upon him) di so: “(If he) asked permission to enter, he would knock the door thrice with greeting and whenever he spoke a sentence he used to repeat it thrice.”[2]


It is desirable for the person who repeats the testification of faith to say it gently as gentleness is confirmed in this position. We ask Allah Almighty to make “La Ilaha Illalah” our last words.


Is it part of the Sunnah to read Surat Yasin at the dying person?

Those who hold the view of it is part of the Sunnah to recite Surat Yasin with the Hadith of Mi`qal ibn Yasar (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Recite Surat Yaseen over your dying people..”[3]


However, it is a weak Hadith because Abu Othman and his father whose uprightness is unknown, moreover Abu Al Qatan graded it as weak because of a discrepancy in its chain of narrators.[4]


The Hafizh ibn Hajar Al `Asqaly (may Allah be pleased with him) reported the saying of Ibn Al `Arabi on Al Daraqutny as he said: “This Hadith is weak in its chain of narrators, unknown strength and it is not correct in the Hadith.” [5]


Based on the above, it is not a Sunnah to read Surat Yasin over the one for whom death has come.
Is it part of the Sunnah to direct the dying person towards the Qiblah?

Those, who hold the view of it is a Sunnah to recite Surat Yasin, took the Hadith of `Umayr ibn Qatadah as a proof in which the Prophet (peace be upon him) said about the Sacred House: “(This is) your Qiblah, in your life and after death.”[6] There is the Hadith of Ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) raising (the issue): “The nobelest assemblies are those which are held toward the Qiblah..”[7] Both Hadiths are weak. Our Sheikh Ibn Othaimeen (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “Both Hadiths are weak.” [8]


Ibn Hazm (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “No narration came about facing the Qiblah.” [9]
Al Albany (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “Turning the one for whom death has come to face the Qiblah has been disliked by Sa`id ibn Al Musayyab, as in Al Muhalla (5/174) and Malik as in Al Madkhal (3/229-230).”


[1] Narrated by Al Bukhari number (1360). Narrated by Muslim number (24)

[2] Narrated by Al Bukhari number (94)

[3] Narrated by Ahmad number (20301). Narrated by Abu Dawud number (3121). Narrated by Ibn Majah number (1522)

[4] Look at: Bayan Al Waham wal Iham (5/49)

[5] Look at: At-Talkhees (2/110)

[6] Narrated by Abu Dawud number (2875)

[7] Narrated by At-Tabarany (Al Awsat) (1/255). Narrated by Al Hakim (4/300). Narrated by Al Bayhaqi (7/272)

[8] Look at: Ash-Sharh Al Mumti’ (5/251)

[9] Look at: Al Muhalla (5/174)