5e] Conveying Rewards to the Deceased (Isaale Sawaab)

5e]
"Takbeer" He said, "The grave became too narrowfor this pious man till
Allah made it spacious because of it (the recitation). " (Ahmed,
Mishkaat)
Hadeeth 30
Narrated on the authority of Ibn Shamasa Mahri : He said: We went to
Amr b. al-As and he was about todie. He said: When I die, let neither
female mourner nor fire accompany me. When youbury me, fill my grave
well with earth, then stand around it for the time within which a
camel is slaughtered and its meat is distributed so that I may enjoy
your intimacy and (in your company) ascertain what answer I can give
to the messengers (angels) of Allah. (Muslim - part of a longer
Hadeeth.)
It is desirable that after burial the people sit at graveside for the
durationof slaughtering a camel and distributing its meat, and that
during that time the sitters busy themselves with reciting Qur'an,
supplicating for the deceased, exhortation,and the stories of the
HolyProphets etc. Imam Shafiesaid that it is better to recite the Holy
Qur'an andall those present should also recite - and it is better if
the entire Qur'an is recited. Also documented by Imam Nawawi in
Riyadh-us-Saleheen.
It is the opinion of most scholars that when visiting the graveyard, a
person should recite the following Surahs because of their individual
excellence, and then convey the reward of recitation: Surah Fateha
(one of the best prayers), Surah Yaseen (the heart ofthe Holy Qur'an),
Surah Ikhlas (equal to one third of Holy Qur'an in reward) and Surah
Mulk (intercedes for the reader till the reader is forgiven).
PLANTING OF TREES (HADEETH # 31)
Hadeeth 31
Ibn Abbas (Allah be well pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of
Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) happened to pass by two graves
and said: They (their occupants) are being tormented, but they are not
tormented for a grievous sin. One of them carried tales and theother
did not keep himself safe from being defiled by urine. He then called
for a fresh twig andsplit it into two parts, andplanted them on each
grave and then said: Perhaps, their punishmentway be mitigated as long
as these twigs remain fresh .(Muslim)
Imam Nawawi said in commenting on the above in his Sharh Sahih Muslim
(al-Mays ed. 3/4:206): "The scholars have declared desirable --
mustahabb -- the recitation of the Qur'an over the grave due to the
above Hadeeth, because ifrelief from punishment is hoped for through
the glorification of date-palm stalks, then the recitation of the
Qur'an is more deserving yet, and Allah knows best." This Hadeethalso
constitutes a legal basis for the planting of trees at the site of
graves .
Among the Companions Hazrat Abu Barza al-Aslami (Allah be well pleased
with him) and Hazrat Burayda (Allah be well pleased with him) asked to
be buried together with two fresh stalks. Imam Suyuti mentioned this
in "Sharh al-sudur".
PERFORMING SACRIFICE (HADEETH # 32 - 33)
Hadeeth 32
Reported S. 'A'isha (Allah be well pleased with her): Allah's
Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded that a ram with
black legs, black belly and black (circles) round the eyes should be
brought to him, so that heshould sacrifice it. He said to 'A';isha:
Give me the large knife, and then said: Sharpen it on a stone. She did
that. He then took it (the knife) and then the ram; he placed it on
the ground and then sacrificed it, saying: Bismillah, Allah-humma
Taqabbal min Muhammadin wa Al-i-Muhammadin, wa min Ummati Muhammadin
(In the name of Allah," O Allah, accept on behalf of Muhammad and the
family of Muhammad and the Umma of Muhammad") . (Muslim)
The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) slaughtered 100
sheep during his farewell Hajj and made intention for himself and all
those (alive, deceased and to come) who bring faith on his Holy
Prophethood. (Nasbur Raaya, Allama Zailee)
The evidence here is that the Holy Prophet sacrificed animals and
donated its reward to his entire Ummah -; which includes both the
living and the dead - i.e. all those who existed in his time and to
all those who were to come after him, until the last day.
Hadeeth 33
Hazrat Hanash (Allah be well pleased with him) said: I saw Ali (Allah
be well pleased with him) sacrificing two rams; so I asked him: What
is this Hereplied. The Apostle of Allah enjoined upon me to sacrifice
on his behalf, so that is what I am doing. (Abu Daud)
Whilst most Muslims do offer sacrifice for themselves, their
relatives(alive and deceased) etc. they should also remember the above
Hadeeth, and offer a sacrifice on behalf of the Holy Prophet (peace
and blessings be upon him). May Allah grant us Tawfeeq - Aameen.
GATHERING FOR QUR'AN RECITATION & ZIKR (HADEETH # 34 - 36) :->