Dought & clear - Who is most entitled to lead the funeral prayer over the deceased?.

If the deceased appointed someone to lead the funeral prayer for him
after his death, does he take precedenceover the imam of the mosque in
that case?
Praise be to Allah.
The one who is most entitled to lead the funeral prayer over the
deceased is the imam of the mosque, whether or not the deceased left
instructions that a particular person lead the funeral prayer over
him. If the imam of the mosque gives up that right and allows the one
whom the deceased had named to lead the prayer, there is nothing wrong
with that. But if he holds onto his right, then he has the right to do
so, because of the hadeeth of Abu Mas'ood al-Ansaari (may Allah be
pleased with him), in which it says: "…No man should lead another
manin prayer in his place of authority, or sit in his place of honour
in his house, without his permission."
It was narrated that Saalim ibn Abi Hafsah said: I heard Abu Haazim
say: I was present on theday al-Hasan ibn 'Ali died, and I saw
al-Husayn ibn 'Ali pokingSa'eed ibn al-'Aas in the shoulder and
saying: Go forward (to lead the prayer); were it not that it is
Sunnah, you would not be asked to go forward."
Saalim is da'eef (i.e., a weak narrator), but a similar report was
narrated by an-Nasaa'i and Ibn Maajah with another isnaad from
AbuHaazim. Ibn al-Mundhir said in al-Awsat: There is no hadeeth of a
higher category concerning thismatter apart from this, because the
funeral of al-Hasan was attended by a large number of theSahaabah and
others.
End quote from Talkheesal-Habeer, 2/88 by al-Haafiz Ibn Hajar (may
Allah have mercy on him).
It says in Fath al-Qadeer (2/117): The one who is most entitled to
lead the funeral prayer for the deceased is the ruler, if he is
present, because giving anyone else precedence over him is akind of
disrespect towards him. If he is not present, then the qaadi (judge)
should lead the prayer, because he is in a position of authority. Ifhe
is not present then the imam of the neighbourhood should lead the
prayer, because the deceased accepted him (as imam) when he was alive.
Next in order of preference comes the next of kin… End quote.
Shaykh Ibn Baaz (may Allah have mercy on him) was asked:
If the deceased had left instructions that a particular person should
offer the funeral prayer for him, does this persontake precedence over
the regular imam?
He replied: The regular imam is more entitled to offer the funeral
prayer than the one whom the deceased had requested,because the
Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: "No man
should lead another man in prayer in his place of authority", and the
imam of the mosque is the person of authority in his mosque.
End quote from Majmoo'al-Fataawa, 13/137
And Allah knows best.

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Islamic Stories - The Story of Alqamah

At the time of the Prophet (peace be upon him), there was a young man
named Alqamah. Hewas very diligent in obeying Allah by engaging in
prayer and fasting and spending in charity. Then he fell ill and his
illness became serious. His wife went to the Prophet and said,"My
husband, Alqamah, is on his deathbed. I therefore came to tell you,
Messenger of Allah, about his condition." The Prophet (then) sent for
Ammar or Suhaib and Bilal, and told them to go to him (Alqamah) and
have him repeat theShahadah. Thereupon they went to him and found him
in the agony of death. They asked himto say, "La illaha illa Allah,"
but his tongue was unable to pronounce it. At that, they came and told
the Messenger of Allah that he was unable to repeat the Shahadah.
The Prophet asked, "Is either of his parents alive?" He was
told,"Messenger of Allah, his mother is, but she is veryold." The
Prophet sent her a message that if it was convenient for her (that is,
is she was able to go out), she should come to him; otherwise she
should stay in her house and the Prophet would come to her.
The Prophet's messengercame to her and informed her of the Prophet's
message. She said, "May my life be a ransom for him, it is my pleasure
to go to him!" She then stood up, leaning on her walking stick, and
came to the Prophet and greeted him. The Prophet returned her greeting
and said to her, "Umm Alqamah, tell me the truth, for otherwise Allah
Most High will reveal the truth to me! What is the situation
concerning your son, Alqamah?" She replied,"Messenger of Allah, he
prays much, fasts a greatdeal, and spends a great amount in charity."
The Prophet said, "And what about yourself?" She said, "Messenger of
Allah, I am angry with him." He said, "Why?" She replied, "Messenger
of Allah, he has preferred his wife to me and has disobeyed me." Then
Allah's Messenger said, "Umm Alqamah, surely your anger has prevented
Alqamah's tongue from pronouncing the Shahadah."
He then turned to Bilal and said, "Bilal, go out and collect a
quantity of firewood." She said,"Messenger of Allah, what do you plan
to do?" He replied, "I will burn him in front of your eyes." She
said,"Messenger of Allah, he is my son! My heart cannot bear your
burning him in front of me!" He said, "Umm Alqamah, Allah's punishment
is more severe and more lasting!Therefore, if you want Allah to
forgive him, be reconciled to him. By theOne in Whose Hand is mysoul,
the prayer, fasting, and spending in charity (which he has done) are
of no benefit to Alqamahas long as you are angry with him! Thereupon
she said, "Messenger of Allah, I call upon Allah Most High and His
angelsand the Muslims who arepresent to be my witnesses that I am
pleased with my son Alqamah." Allah's Messenger said, "Bilal, go to
him and see whether he is now able to say, "La illaha illa Allah" or
not. It may be that Umm Alqamah is saying something for mysake which
is not in her heart."
Thereupon Bilal went, and while entering the door he heard Alqamah
saying, "La illaha illa Allah." (Concerning this), Bilal remarked, "It
is surely true that while Alqamah's mother was angry with him his
tongue was tied, and now that she is pleased with him his tongue is
freed." Alqamah died thesame day. The Prophet came to him and gave the
order for his washing and shrouding, and then prayed the funeral
prayer for him and buried him. He then stood by the side of his grave
and said, "You company of Muhajireen and Helpers, if anyone favors his
wife over his mother, Allah and His angels and all the peoplecurse
him! Allah does notaccept his spending (in charity) and his
uprightness unless he repents toward Allah, the Glorious and Majestic,
and reconciles with her and attains her pleasure, because
Allah'spleasure consists in her pleasure and Allah's anger consists in
her anger."
Source: Reported in Tabarani and Ahmed.
We must always be respectful and obedient to our parents. However,we
are not to obey themif they order us to disobey Allah and His Prophet.
Other than this, they deserve our utmost attention and respect.

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Islamic Stories - A Home for a Home in Paradise

Abdullah ibn Jahsh (may Allah be pleased with him) was among those who
were the first to accept Islam. When the persecution of the Quraysh
got severe, the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him)
gave permission for his companions to emigrate to Madinah. Emigrating
was not a new experience for Abdullah. He and some members of his
immediate family had migrated before to Abyssinia. This time, however,
his migration was on a far bigger scale. His family and relatives,
men, women and children, migrated with him. In fact, his whole clan
had become Muslims and accompanied him.
Abdullah's clan were not long gone when the alerted Quraysh leaders
came out and made the rounds of the districts in Makkah to find out
which Muslims had left and who had remained. Among these leaders were
Abu Jahl and Utbahibn Rabi'ah. Utbah looked at the houses of the Banu
Jahsh through which the dusty winds were blowing. He banged on the
doors and shouted: "The houses of the Banu Jahsh have become empty and
are weeping for its occupants." Abdullah bin Jahsh had the most
beautiful and expensive house. He sacrificed this house for the
pleasure of Allah. Seeing it abandoned, Abu Jahl entered the house and
took all its contents.
Later, when Abdullah ibnJahsh heard what Abu Jahl had done to his
house, he mentioned it to the Prophet, peace beupon him, who
said:"Aren't you satisfied, O Abdullah, with what Allah has given you
instead, a house in Paradise?"
"Yes, messenger of Allah," replied Abdullah. From that moment he never
had any regret forthat house and became completely satisfied withthe
beautiful palaces that are awaiting for him in Paradise.

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Impeccable life of Allah's Beloved Prophet

Q 1: Which Prophet's community (Ummah) do you belong to?
A. We belong to the Ummah (community) of Allah's Beloved Prophet
Hadrat Muhammad Mustafa (may Allah's choicest blessings & peace be
upon him).
Q 2: Briefly explain aboutthe Holy Prophet?
A. Our kind lord and master Hadrat Muhammad (may Allah's choicest
blessings & peace be upon him) was born in Makkah city of Arabia. His
father Hadrat Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) had passed away
before his birth. His mother Hadrat Beebee Aminah (may Allah be
pleased with her) also died when the Prophet was yet of six years.
Thus the responsibility of his upbringing automatically devolved upon
his paternal grand father Hadrat Abdul Muttalib (may Allah be pleased
with him). But he also expired when the Prophet attained to the age of
8 years, 2 months and 10 days. Hadrat Haleema nursed and breast fed
the Holy Prophet during his early infancy.
Q 3: At what age did Allah Almighty make himProphet?
A. Though the Holy Prophet Hadrat Muhammad Mustafa (may Allah's
choicest blessings & peace be upon him) formally received Prophet hood
and first
revelation at the age of forty but, in fact, he was the "first" in all
Apostles, Messengers and Prophets as he himself said that "first of
all AllahAlmighty created my Noor (light)".
Q 4: How did the Holy Prophet preach and promote Islaam?
A. At the outset the Holy Prophet preached Islaamto his close
relatives and acquaintances as the ignorance and barbarism reigned
supreme in Arabia and the concept of One God, as the Creator,
Sustainer and Nourisher was alien to their nature and to their soil.
The Muslims worshipped Allah secretly. Even father was afraid of his
son and viceversa due to having embraced Islaam. Gradually, the number
ofmale and female converts to Islamic faith swelled and then Allah
Almighty commanded the Holy Prophet to preach Islaam openly. Hedid so
and Islaam rapidlyspread in whole of Makkah city and even in the
adjoining areas.
Q 5: Who was the first to embrace Islaam?
A. Hadrat Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) was the first in
mento embrace Islaam, Hadrat Khudaija-tul-Kubra (may Allah be pleased
with her) was first in women, Hadrat 'Alee (may Allah be pleased with
him) was inteenagers and in slaves Hadrat Zaid bin Harisah (may Allah
be pleased with him),was first who embraced Islaam.
Q 6: Where did the Holy Prophet live throughout his life?
A. The Holy Prophet preached Islaam for ten years in the holy
Makkah(his birth place). Since Allah Almighty wanted tomake the holy
Madinah, the "bastion" of Islaam so some people of Madinah during
their visit to Makkah embraced Islaam and started preaching Islamic
faith. Thus the first seminary of Islaam was founded in Madinah.
Gradually the Muslims of Makkah migrated to Madinah and at last the
Darling Elect of Allah, Hadrat Muhammad Mustafa (may Allah's choicest
blessings & peace be upon him) also shifted toMadinah and spent his
entire remaining life there. His Roda-e-Aqdas (holy shrine) is in holy
Madinah which is visitedby millions of his lovers and votaries. He
(apparently) passed away at the age of sixty three, but actually he is
alive in his hallowed grave.
Q 7: With which especial favour the Holy Prophet was endowed in Makkah?
A. The Holy Prophet was blessed with "Me'raaj" (ascension to the
heavens) a night in the waking during the fifth year after the
proclamation of his Prophethood. He was taken on "Buraaq" (a white,
very fast, sexless heavenly animal which stepped beyond eyeshot) by
the Chief Angel Hadrat Gibreil from his sacred house to Aqsa mosque
(Jerusalem)and then to the skies,heavens. He visited all the seven
skies, empyrean, heavens and Haud-e-Kauser (an exclusive heavenly body
of water reserved for the Holy Prophet). Hell was presented before him
to see for himself the torments to be meted out to infidels and
sinners. He saw eachand everything. Nothing remained unseen. Even he
saw Allah's Jamaal (splendidly sublime sight) and spoke with Him sans
any intermediary. On this occasion, Salaat (prayer) five times a day
was made obligatory on the believers. Before the night was over he
came back home.
Q 8: Is there any successor to the Prophethood of Hadrat Muhammad
Mustafa (may Allah's choicest blessings & peace be upon him)?
A. No, absolutely not. TheHoly Prophet Hadrat Muhammad Mustafa (may
Allah's choicest blessings & peace be upon him) is"Khaataman
Nabi-yeen" (the Last Prophet). He who believes or considers that there
was or is or will be any Prophet after Hadrat Muhammad Mustafa (may
Allah's choicest blessings & peace be upon him) is infidel and
disbeliever.
Q 9: What rank does the Holy Prophet hold among the Prophets?
A. Our kind lord and master Hadrat Muhammad Mustafa (may Allah's
choicest blessings & peace be upon him) is the highest and leader of
all Apostles, Messengers andProphets. He is a perfect agglomeration of
all those blessed traits, impeccabilities and miracles that were
individually found in theother Prophets. He is the"Darling Elect"
(Beloved) of Allah which aptly vindicates that no other Apostle,
Messenger, Prophet or Angel is so close to Allah as he is.
Q10: What about the belief of those people who describe the Holy
Prophet mere a human being or like their elder brother?
A. He who considers the Holy Prophet mere a human being like himself
or says he is like my elder brother or triesto denigrate him in one
way or the other is apostate and disbeliever. It has been explained at
places in the Holy Qur-aan that nations in the past slidedinto
misguidance and disbelief because they considered and treated their
Prophets as mere humanbeings like themselves.
Q11: What does it mean to believe in the Holy Prophet Hadrat Muhammad
Mustafa (may Allah's choicest blessings & peace be upon him)?
A. Belief in Hadrat Muhammad Mustafa (may Allah's choicest blessings &
peace be upon him) means that we should have unwavering faith in his
being the "Last Prophet"of Allah and no Prophet to succeed or follow
him, he is the best of all mankind and the most truthful and that our
salvation in this world and the world hereafter lies in obeying him.
We ought to love him more than our parents, children, all mankind even
our own self. In fact, our unbounded love and reverence for the Holy
Prophet is "real faith" (Eimaan).
Q12: Which deeds reflect"love" for the Holy Prophet?
A. Following deeds of believers are reflective of "love" for the Holy Prophet:
- Speak high of him withdue reverence.
- Invoke Allah's blessings on him profusely (recite Durood Shareef in
as many numbers as possible).
- Be attentive and respectful when his sublime life is explained
before you and recite Durood Shareef hearing his blessed name. Do
notforget to add "Sallal Laahu 'Alaiehi wa Sallam" to his name if you
write anywhere.
- Have love for his posterity, companions and those who love the Holy Prophet.
- Harbour enmity towards his enemies.
- Say such words while talking about him that befit his dignity and greatness.
- Do not call him "Yaa Muhammad" (O' Muhammad) but as "Yaa Nabi-yal
Laah (O' Prophet of Allah) and"Yaa Rasoolal Laah" (O' the Messenger of
Allah).
- Follow his Sunnah heart and soul.
- Organise and attend"Eid Meelaad-un-Nabee" programs (celebrations of
the Holy Prophet's birth day i.e. 12th Rabi ulAwwal) and recite
Salaat-o-Salaam (invocation of Allah's blessings on him) aloud
enthusiastically.

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