When someone dies in Islam

What to do when someone you love dies

The death of a loved one can be a life-altering experience. Every person who experiences the loss of a loved has their own unique pain or set of circumstances to contend with. It can be a time of great difficulty, and in the same breath, great solace, as we often gain Khalwa (seclusion) with Allah SWT.

In the Islamic tradition, Muslims are encouraged to ponder on our death and the death of those we love each day. As prepared as some of us may be however, it can still be a very challenging time as we grapple with the reality of no longer being with those who are dear to us.

Islam is rich on the subject of death. There are many deeply compassionate teachings on how we are supposed to understand and treat death – at the root of every teaching is the understanding that we are returning to our maker.

Muslims believe that when a human being dies, their soul returns to their creator, awaiting the Day Of Judgement. In Islam, we can take solace in knowing that we will be united with those we love, and that death is just the beginning of the journey to our permanent home in the afterlife.

Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) experienced countless moments of grief throughout his lifetime, losing those dearest to him at nearly every phase of his life. Allah’s (SWT) prophets all have their moments of grief documented in the Qur’an and Hadith, showing us that in this very real human experience, we are not alone.

It is important to remember that grief is a natural reaction to the loss of a loved one and can feel different at different times to everyone – grieving is not a linear process. There is often no end date, only different ways of coping. Allah (SWT) has blessed us with many ways to understand death and our grief that may bring us peace during our times of difficulty.

Hadith on the death of loved ones

When a Muslim dies, they are no longer able to commit good acts in the hope of reward in the hereafter. However, a hadith that brings comfort to many Muslims when a loved one passes to the next world is the following:

This hadith teaches us that we can still commit good acts on their behalf for Allah’s (SWT) sake. It’s also a way of showing our Sabr (patience) and our love for those who have returned to Allah (SWT).

Dua for the deceased

When we learn of a fellow Muslim’s passing, we are encouraged to say the following:

Transliteration: ‘Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un’

Translation: ‘Surely to Allah we belong and to Him we will all return’.

There are many different du’as that you can make for the deceased, and those made from the heart take special precedence. Asking Allah (SWT) for forgiveness for the deceased, for protection from the grave and humiliation of the Day Of Judgement, and for Jannah (heaven) are common things to ask for when someone has passed away.

Here is a sound and common example:

Transliteration:

Allaahummaghfir li (name of the person) warfa’ darajatahu fil-mahdiyyeena, wakhlufhu fee ‘aqibihi fil-ghaabireena , waghfir-lanaa wa lahu yaa Rabbal-‘aalameena, wafsah lahu fee qabrihi wa nawwir lahu feehi

Translation:

O Allah, forgive (name of the person) and elevate his station among those who are guided. Send him along the path of those who came before, and forgive us and him, O Lord of the worlds. Enlarge for him his grave and shed light upon him in it.

Sadaqah for the deceased

Sadaqah (charity) is an important component of someone’s legacy once they have passed. The deceased person may have donated Waqf or Sadaqah Jariyah during their lifetime, which is an ongoing charity that benefits them in the afterlife and benefits people who remain.

Donating Sadaqah on behalf of someone you love who has passed away is a way of honouring their legacy in this life. When done sincerely for the sake of seeking the pleasure of Allah (SWT), it will earn them rewards while they can no longer do so themselves. Muslims were encouraged by the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) to donate Sadaqah on behalf of those who have passed:

“When a man dies, his good deeds come to an end, except three: Ongoing charity, beneficial knowledge, and a righteous child who will pray for him.” 

Hadith | Sahih Muslim

3 deeds that continue after death

The following hadith outlines three deeds that continue after death:

“When a man dies, his good deeds come to an end, except three: Ongoing charity, beneficial knowledge, and a righteous child who will pray for him.” 

Hadith | Bukhari

A Muslim can prepare for death by fostering one, two or all three of these greatly beneficial deeds during one’s lifetime.

Learn everything there is to know about leaving an ongoing charity here.

Making an Islamic will

All Muslims have a duty to prepare for death. Creating a will is to ensure that one’s affairs are taken care of in this life, and in the next life. One of the unique wisdoms of doing so is to make it easier for those who are left behind, which has a compounding effect on the rest of society. We are care-takers of the earth and of each other.

In a famous hadith, the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

“It is not permissible for any Muslim, who has something to bequeath, to stay for two nights without having his last will and testament written and kept ready with him.”

Hadith | Bukhari

You can learn everything you need to know about creating your Islamic will here.