Before death, try your best to fulfil the obligations, which are upon you in regard to the creatures as well as the Creator

Return to the owners whatever has been given to you as a trust or write it down in your will so that the executor of your will shall return the trust to its rightful owner.

In Islam, you are allowed to dispose up to one-third of your estate for whomsoever or whatever cause you like. As for the two thirds, it must be distributed among your heirs according to the shares allocated for them in the shari’ah.

Make a will in writing or verbally about those religious obligations which you could not fulfil by yourself and which cannot be done on your behalf by others except after your death: the qadha prayers, fasting and pilgrimage (hajj), etc. You should specify the amount from the one-third of your estate to be used to hire people to do such deeds. If you cannot afford this, then you may request your heirs to do unfulfilled rituals on your behalf voluntarily or pay someone else to do so.

It is also recommended, if your financial circumstances allow you, to include your deserving relations in the one-third of your estate.

It is recommended to forgive your brethren in iman for whatever wrong they may have done to you. On the other hand, you should ask your brethren in iman to forgive you for the intentional and unintentional wrong you may have done to them.

Is it necessary? Although the law (Canadian as well as Islamic) does not say that making of the will is a must, but by looking at the consequences of not having a will, it is necessary - both from legal aspect as well from the shari’ah aspect. Continue reading. . .  

Islamic Publishing House provides a comprehensive Islamic last will and testament - in a “fill in the blanks” method. We are also available to answer questions on the rules of Islamic inheritance and to provide guidance on the various aspects of what should be contained within your last will and testament.

When death approaches you, it is wajib on you to lie down on your back in such a way that the soles of your feet face the qiblah (direction of Mecca). Or you may turn your bed in such a way that your soles will face the qiblah. If you cannot do so yourself, then it is wajib on those who are with you to help you.

It is recommended to say by yourself or repeat after someone else the declaration of faith and statement of faraj.

The declaration of faith: It is a declaration in which you reconfirm your belief in Allah, Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.), the twelve Imams (a.s.), the Qu’ran, and the Day of Judgement.

This may be done as follows:
Radhitbu bil-lahi Rabban;
Wa bi Muhammadin (sal-lal-lahu 'alayhi wa alihi) nabiyyan;
Wa bil Islami dinan;
Wa bil Qur’ani kitaban;
Wa bil Ka’bati qiblatan;
Wa bi’ Aliyyan waliyyan wa imaman;
Wa bil Hasan, wal Husayn, wa 'Aliy-yib nil Husayn;
Wa Muhammad bin 'Aliyyan,
Wa Jafar ibn Muhammadin;
Wa Musa ibn Ja’farin, wa 'Ali yibn Musa;
Wa Muhammad ibn Aliyyin; wa Ali yibn Muhammadin;
Wal Hasan ibn 'Aliyyin; wal Hujjat ibnil Hasan
(salawatul-lahi 'alayhim) aimmatan wa sadatan wa qadatan;
Bi him atawalla, wa min a’da’ihim ata-barra
Wa an-nas sa’ata atiyatun la rayba fiha;
Wa annal-laha yab’athu man fil qubur;
Wa annal hisaba haqqun; wa annal jannata haqqun;
Wa annan nar haqqun

I have accepted Allah as the Lord, Muhammad (s.a.w.) as the Prophet, Islam as the religion, the Qur’an as the Book [of God, the Ka’bah as the qiblah.

And [I accept 'Ali as the waliy [of Allah and [my Imam; and Hassan, Hussein, 'Ali ibn Hussein, Muhammad ibn 'Ali, Ja’far ibn Muhammad, Musa ibn Ja’far, 'Ali ibn Musa, Muhammad ibn 'Ali, 'Ali ibn Muhammad, Hassan ibn 'Ali, and al-Hujat ibn al-Hassan (a.s.) as Imams, leaders and guides - I declare my love for them and declare my disassociation with their enemies.

And [I believe that surely the Hour [of Doom will come in which there is no doubt; and that Allah will resurrect all those who are in their graves. And [I believe that the reckoning [of our deeds is the truth; the Paradise is the truth and that the Hell is the truth

.

B. The statement of faraj is to be recited as follows:
La ilahah il-lal lahu Halimul Karim;
La ilaha il-lal lahu 'Aliyyul 'Azim;
Subhana 'l-laha Rabbus samawatis sab’i
Wa Rabbul ardhinas sab’i;
Wa ma fee hinna wa ma bayna hunna
Wa ma fawqa hunna wa ma tahta hunna;
Wa Rabbul 'arshil 'azim;
Wal hamdu lil-lahi Rabbis 'alameen.

There is no god but Allah, the Gentle, the Kind;
There is no god but Allah, the High, the Great;

All praise be to Allah, the Lord of the seven heavens and the lord of the seven earth’s, and whatever is in them and whatever is between them, and whatever is above them and whatever is below them; and [He is the Lord of the Great Throne.
And all praise be to Allah, the lord of the Universe.

It is recommended to move the dying person to his/her usual place of prayer in the home. This is recommended only if it does not cause pain or inconvenience to the dying person.
It is recommended to recite two surahs, Yasin (no. 36) and as-Saffat (no. 37), near the dying person. According to the traditions, this will relive the pangs of death.

• Soon after a person dies, it is recommended to do the following things:
• Close the eye-lids of the dead person
• Close the mouth of the dead person
• Tie the two jaws so that the mouth does not open
• Straighten his/her arms and place them on the two sides of his body
• Straighten his/her legs
• Cover the dead body
• Switch on the light in the room where the dead body is kept
• Arrange the funeral as soon as possible
• Inform the mu'mineen to attend the funeral.

It covers Ghusl/Kafan/Dafan i.e., washing, shrouding, and burying. Basically, these are Wajib (obligatory) acts for all of us but Kifai - Wajibe Kifai, which means if one or more persons undertake to do, others are absolved. Else it is wajib on everyone.

After Death Rituals 

 

After the deceased has been buried, it is recommended to recite Salatul Wahshat. This prayer can be performed at any time of that night, however it is more recommended to perform it after the Isha prayer. Namaz-e-Wahshat is to be recited once by the wali of the deceased or by someone who has been asked by the wali to perform this salaat. 1st Rakat Sura-Al-Hamd followed by Ayatul Kursi 2nd Rakat Sura-Al-Hamd followed by Sura-Al-Qadr (x10) After reciting Salaam Recite "Alla Humma Saali, Ala Muhammadin Wa Ale Muhammad Wab'ath Thawabaha Ila Qabri...(read the name of the Marhum)".

 

This namaz means that the salaat is performed for the sake of sending it's reward, as a gift, to the Marhum. This salaat can be performed at any time, as many times and for as many Marhumeen as desired. This salaat can be performed in the same manner as Subh prayer except that the Niyyat (Intention) is different. However it is more recommended to perform this salaat in the method taught by Imam Ja'far-as-Sadiq (A.S.) as follows: 1st Rakat Sura-Al-Hamd followed by Sura-Al-Qadr 2nd Rakat Sura-Al-Hamd follewed by Sura-Al-Kawthar

There are several disciplines you need to observe when visiting the cemetery:
You should remember death and visualize yourself as lying in the grave and facing the consequences of your sins and acts of disobedience to Allah (swt).

Worldly talks, jokes and laughs should be avoided and, instead, recitation of the Surahs of the Qur'an and Du'as for the dead buried in the cemetery should be constantly recited.

Eating and drinking in the cemetery should be avoided. Apparently, Tabarruk in respect of recitation of the Qur'an or Majlis of our Aemmah (a.s.) is an exception.

It is recommended to visit either on Thursday or Friday.

A person, on entering a cemetery, should say, (I begin) in the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.

اللهم صل على محمد والمحمد  وعجل فرجهم يا كريم

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحيمِ

اَلسَّلامُ عَلىٰ اَهْلِ لاَ اِلـهَ اِلاَّ اللّهُ

مِنْ اَهْلِ لاَ اِلـهَ اِلاَّ اللّهُ

يَا اَهْلَ لاَ اِلـهَ اِلاَّ اللّهُ

بِحَقِّ لاَ اِلـهَ اِلاَّ اللّهُ

كَيْفَ وَجَدْتُمْ قَوْلَ لاَ اِلـهَ اِلاَّ اللّهُ

مِنْ لاَ اِلـهَ اِلاَّ اللّهُ

يَا لاَ اِلـهَ اِلاَّ اللّهُ

بِحَقِّ لاَ اِلـهَ اِلاَّ اللّهُ

اغْفِرْ لِمَنْ قالَ لا اِلـهَ اِلاَّ اللّهُ

وَاحْشُرْنَا فِىْ زُمْرَةِ مَنْ قالَ لاَ اِلـهَ اِلاَّ اللّهُ

مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللّهِ عَلِىٌّ وَلِىُّ اللهِ

"Peace, Salam be on the people who are worthy of being among those who declare that there is no God but Allah. O' those who are (buried here) and worthy of being among the people who declare that there is no God but Allah, for the sake of there being no God but Allah, (tell us) how have you found the declaration that there is no God but Allah?

O' Allah, there is no God but (You) Allah. By Your absolute and sole Attribute of You alone being God, Allah, forgive those who declare that there is no God but (You) Allah and raise us (on the Day of Judgment) among the group of people who declared (during their lives) that there is no God but Allah, Muhammad (s.a.w.a.) is the Prophet of Allah, 'Ali (a.s.) is the Representative of Allah.'"