friday sermon on death in islam

 

The following Friday sermon script invites us all to reflect on the end of human life in this transient world. Every living being is certain to experience death and leave everything behind except for their good deeds.

In addition to contemplating death, this Friday sermon also explains the importance of performing talqin (guidance) which involves guiding someone with the proclamation of la ilaha illallah (there is no god but Allah) when they are in the throes of death or providing answers to the grave's questions when someone has just been buried.

friday sermon on death in islam

Sermon I

الحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ الْمَلِكِ الدَّيَّانِ، وَالصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ سَيِّدِ وَلَدِ عَدْنَانَ، وَعَلَى اٰلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ وَتَابِعِيْهِ عَلَى مَرِّ الزَّمَانِ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَّا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيْكَ لَهُ الْمُنَـزَّهُ عَنِ الْجِسْمِيَّةِ وَالْجِهَةِ وَالزَّمَانِ وَالْمَكَانِ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ سَيِّدَنَا مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُوْلُهُ الَّذِيْ كَانَ خُلُقُهُ الْقُرْاٰنَ  أَمَّا بَعْدُ، عِبَادَ الرَّحْمٰنِ، فَإنِّي أُوْصِيْكُمْ وَنَفْسِي بِتَقْوَى اللهِ الْمَنَّانِ، الْقَائِلِ فِي كِتَابِهِ الْقُرْاٰنِ: إِنَّكَ مَيِّتٌ وَإِنَّهُمْ مَيِّتُونَ (الزمر: ٣٠)   

Dear Muslim brothers and sisters,

May Allah have mercy upon you all,

From the pulpit, the preacher advises us all, especially himself, to constantly strive to improve our faith and piety towards Allah subhanahu wata'ala by fulfilling all obligations and abstaining from all that is forbidden.

Dear Muslim brothers and sisters,

Allah subhanahu wata'ala says:

   إِنَّكَ مَيِّتٌ وَإِنَّهُمْ مَيِّتُونَ (الزمر: ٣٠)  

The meaning is: "Indeed, you (O Muhammad) will die, and indeed, they (people) will die" (Quran, az-Zumar: 30).

One time, the Angel Jibril (Gabriel), peace be upon him, came to the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, and said to him:

   يَا مُحَمَّدُ عِشْ مَا شِئْتَ فَإِنَّكَ مَيِّتٌ، وَأَحْبِبْ مَنْ شِئْتَ فَإِنَّكَ مُفَارِقُهُ (رواه الحاكم)   

The meaning is: "O Muhammad, live as long as you wish, but indeed, you will die. And love whoever you want, but indeed, you will be separated from them" (Hadith narrated by al-Hakim).

Allah the Almighty did not create us to live forever in this temporary world. Nor did He create us solely to eat, drink, and indulge in the glitter and worldly pleasures. Rather, He has commanded us to worship Him. Allah the Almighty says:

   وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنْسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ (الذاريات: ٥٦)   

The meaning is: "And I (Allah) did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me" (Quran, adh-Dhariyat: 56).

A person who constantly reflects and acts for the life after death is indeed wise. On the other hand, a weak and foolish person is one who follows his desires, violating Allah's prohibitions, exceeding His limits, and engaging in sinful acts, yet hopes for Allah to elevate his status and reward him.

Dear Muslim brothers and sisters,

Let us not be deceived by the abundance of wealth and family. The Prophet, peace be upon him, said:

   يَتْبَعُ الْمَيِّتَ ثَلَاثَةٌ فَيَرْجِعُ اثْنَانِ وَيَبْقَى مَعَهُ وَاحِدٌ، يَتْبَعُهُ أَهْلُهُ وَمَالُهُ وَعَمَلُهُ، فَيَرْجِعُ أَهْلُهُ وَمَالُهُ وَيَبْقَى عَمَلُهُ (رواه البخاريّ ومسلم)   

The meaning is: "When a person dies, three things follow him: his family, his wealth, and his deeds. Two of them will return, and one will remain with him. His family and wealth will return, but his deeds will stay with him" (Hadith narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim).

Therefore, let us direct our focus and attention to our deeds. If our deeds are good, we will receive a good reward for them. But if our actions are bad, we have exposed ourselves to the wrath and punishment of Allah. That is why it is recommended to hasten the burial process of the deceased. The Prophet, peace be upon him, said:

   أَسْرِعُوا بِالْجِنَازَةِ، فَإِنْ تَكُ صَالِحَةً فَخَيْرٌ تُقَدِّمُونَهَا، وَإِنْ يَكُ سِوَى ذَلِكَ فَشَرٌّ تَضَعُونَهُ عَنْ رِقَابِكُمْ (رواه البخاريّ)   

The meaning is: "Hasten in carrying the funeral procession. If the deceased was righteous, then you have hastened goodness for him. And if not, then you have removed evil from your shoulders" (Hadith narrated by al-Bukhari).

When a person passes away and is carried on a bier for burial, their soul remains on the bier. The soul of a pious believer, filled with anticipation and longing for the blessings of the grave that they knew and believed in during their worldly life, would say, "Hasten me, take me quickly." On the other hand, the soul of a disbeliever would say, "Delay me, prolong my time."

Dear congregation of Friday prayer,

One beneficial act for a believer as they approach death is talqin (guiding them to utter the phrase "la ilaha illa Allah" - there is no god but Allah). The Prophet, peace be upon him, said:

   لَقِّنُوا مَوْتَاكُمْ لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللهُ (رواه مسلم)   

The meaning is: "Guide the person who is about to die among you to say the phrase 'la ilaha illa Allah'" (Hadith narrated by Muslim).

In another narration from ath-Thabarani, there is an additional statement: "If 'la ilaha illa Allah' (there is no god but Allah) is placed on one side of the scale, and the heavens and the earth are placed on the other side, 'la ilaha illa Allah' would outweigh the heavens and the earth" (Hadith narrated by ath-Thabarani).

The Prophet, peace be upon him, said:

   لَقِّنُوا مَوْتَاكُمْ لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللهُ، فَإِنَّهُ مَنْ كَانَ ءَاخِرُ كَلِمَتِهِ لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللهُ عِنْدَ الْمَوْتِ دَخَلَ الْجَنَّةَ يَوْمًا مِنَ الدَّهْرِ وَإِنْ أَصَابَهُ قَبْلَ ذٰلِكَ مَا أَصَابَهُ (رواه ابن حبّان)   

The meaning is: "Guide (instruct) the person among you who is about to die to say the phrase 'la ilaha illa Allah' (there is no god but Allah). For whoever's last words before death are 'la ilaha illa Allah,' they will surely enter Paradise one day, even if they were previously afflicted with punishment" (Hadith narrated by Ibn Hibban).

It is narrated that Uthman ibn Affan, may Allah be pleased with him, said, "If someone is in the throes of death, then guide them to say 'la ilaha illa Allah.' For every servant whose life is sealed with that phrase, it will be their provision to Paradise" (Hadith narrated by Ibn Abi ad-Dunya).

It is also narrated from Umar ibn al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, that he said, "Visit those among you who are dying and remind them, for they see what you do not see. And instruct them to say 'la ilaha illa Allah'" (Hadith narrated by Ibn Abi ad-Dunya).

Dear fellow Muslims, among the recommended practices after a believer is buried is to recite talqin (instructing) for them. The Prophet, peace be upon him, said, "When one of you dies and you have covered their grave with soil, let one of you stand at the head of the grave and say, 'O servant of Allah, the son of the servant of Allah.' The deceased can hear but cannot respond. Then let them repeat it a second time, and the deceased will sit up. Then let them repeat it a third time, and the deceased will say, 'Guide us, may Allah have mercy on you.' However, you will not hear their response." In another narration, they should say to the deceased:

   اذْكُرِ الْعَهْدَ الَّذِي خَرَجْتَ عَلَيْهِ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا شَهَادَةَ أَنْ لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ اللهِ وَأَنَّكَ رَضِيتَ بِاللهِ رَبًّا وَبِالْإِسْلَامِ دِينًا وَبِمُحَمَّدٍ صلى الله عليه وسلم  نَبِيًّا وَبِالْقُرْءَانِ إِمَامَا    

"Remember the covenant that you carry to the grave, bearing witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah, bearing witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, and that you are pleased with Allah as your Lord, Islam as your religion, Muhammad (peace be upon him) as your Prophet, and the Quran as your guide." (Al-Hafiz al-Asqalani stated that this hadith is strong according to the scholars of hadith)

Dear fellow Muslims, let us be aware of our negligence, for surely we will die. Today, we recite talqin for the deceased, but one day it will be us who will be recited for. Today, we carry the coffin of the deceased, but tomorrow it could be our turn to be carried. As we bury the dead today, one day it is certain that we will be buried.

Dear fellow Muslims, such is the brief sermon on this blessed day. May it be beneficial and bring blessings to us all.

   أَقُوْلُ قَوْلِيْ هٰذَا وَأَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ لِيْ وَلَكُمْ، فَاسْتَغْفِرُوْهُ، إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُوْرُ الرَّحِيْمُ   

Sermon II

   اَلْحَمْدُ للهِ وَكَفَى، وَأُصَلِّيْ وَأُسَلِّمُ عَلَى سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ الْمُصْطَفَى، وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَأَصْحَابِهِ أَهْلِ الْوَفَا. أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَّا إِلهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيْكَ لَهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ سَيِّدَنَا مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُوْلُهُ  أَمَّا بَعْدُ، فَيَا أَيُّهَا الْمُسْلِمُوْنَ، أُوْصِيْكُمْ وَنَفْسِيْ بِتَقْوَى اللهِ الْعَلِيِّ الْعَظِيْمِ وَاعْلَمُوْا أَنَّ اللهَ أَمَرَكُمْ بِأَمْرٍ عَظِيْمٍ، أَمَرَكُمْ بِالصَّلَاةِ وَالسَّلَامِ عَلَى نَبِيِّهِ الْكَرِيْمِ فَقَالَ: إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَمَلَائِكَتَهُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ، يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا صَلُّوا عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيمًا، اَللّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى سَيِّدِنَا إِبْرَاهِيْمَ وَعَلَى آلِ سَيِّدِنَا إِبْرَاهِيْمَ وَبَارِكْ عَلَى سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى سَيِّدِنَا إِبْرَاهِيْمَ وَعَلَى آلِ سَيِّدِنَا إِبْرَاهِيْمَ، فِيْ الْعَالَمِيْنَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيْدٌ مَجِيْدٌ. اَللّٰهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِلْمُسْلِمِيْنَ وَالْمُسْلِمَاتِ والْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ الْأَحْيَاءِ مِنْهُمْ وَالْأَمْوَاتِ، اللهم ادْفَعْ عَنَّا الْبَلَاءَ وَالْغَلَاءَ وَالْوَبَاءَ وَالْفَحْشَاءَ وَالْمُنْكَرَ وَالْبَغْيَ وَالسُّيُوْفَ الْمُخْتَلِفَةَ وَالشَّدَائِدَ وَالْمِحَنَ، مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَمَا بَطَنَ، مِنْ بَلَدِنَا هَذَا خَاصَّةً وَمِنْ بُلْدَانِ الْمُسْلِمِيْنَ عَامَّةً، إِنَّكَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيْرٌ  عِبَادَ اللهِ، إنَّ اللهَ يَأْمُرُ بِالْعَدْلِ وَالْإحْسَانِ وَإِيْتَاءِ ذِي الْقُرْبَى ويَنْهَى عَنِ الفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنْكَرِ وَالبَغْيِ، يَعِظُكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُوْنَ. فَاذكُرُوا اللهَ الْعَظِيْمَ يَذْكُرْكُمْ وَلَذِكْرُ اللهِ أَكْبَرُ

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