Supplications During the Washing of the Deceased
There are no specific supplications that a Muslim is required to recite while washing the deceased. However, it is recommended to pray for the deceased using established prayers and to speak positively about them, focusing on the blessings of both this life and the hereafter. Additionally, the washer should frequently engage in seeking forgiveness and mentioning Allah during the washing process.
It is also encouraged for the person performing the washing to communicate any positive observations, such as seeing the deceased’s face glowing and appearing serene with a pleasant fragrance. Conversely, it is deemed inappropriate to share any unpleasant observations, such as a darkened face or foul odor. This aligns with the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), who said, “Mention the good traits of your deceased, and refrain from discussing their faults.” Furthermore, as narrated by Abu Rafi’, the Prophet (peace be upon him) stated: “Whoever washes a deceased person and keeps it a secret will be forgiven forty times.”
Recommended Prayers for the Deceased
There are numerous established prayers that are recommended for the deceased during the washing and other similar occasions, including the following:
- “O Allah, forgive him and have mercy on him, grant him well-being and pardon him, honor his resting place, and expand his entrance. Wash him with water, snow, and hail, and cleanse him of sins as a white garment is cleansed of dirt. Replace his home with a better home and his family with a better family, and grant him entrance into Paradise, and protect him from the punishment of the grave and the fire.”
- “O Allah, this is so-and-so, the son of so-and-so, under Your protection and in the sanctuary of Your care. Please protect him from the trials of the grave and the torment of Hellfire, for You are the True Guardian, and You are the Keeper of Truth. O Allah, forgive him and have mercy on him; You are the Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.”
- “O Allah, forgive our living and our dead, those present among us and those absent, our young and our old, our males and our females. O Allah, whomever You give life among us, let them live in Islam, and whomever You take away from us, take them away in faith.”
- “O Allah, You are their Lord, You created them, You guided them to Islam, and You know their secrets and public actions; we have come as intercessors, so forgive them.”
Saying Prayers for the Deceased at Burial
It is recommended to pray for the deceased during the burial as prescribed by Imam Shafi’i. He advised to say: “O Allah, he has returned to You, surrounded by his family and relatives. He has departed from those who loved him and has transitioned from the breadth of this world to the darkness and constriction of the grave. He has come to You, and You are the best of those to be approached. If You punish him, it is for his sins; if You forgive him, You are indeed deserving of forgiveness. You are rich beyond need of punishing him, while he is in dire need of Your mercy. O Allah, acknowledge his good deeds, forgive his misdeeds, protect him from the torment of the grave, and unite him, by Your mercy, in safety from Your punishment. Shield him from every terror until he reaches Paradise. O Allah, replace him among his heirs in the realm of the living, elevate him among the righteous, and bestow Your bountiful mercy upon him, O Most Compassionate of the merciful.”
Teaching the Deceased After Burial
Some scholars recommend instructing the deceased after burial. Imam Nasr al-Maqdisi stated: “After completing the burial, stand at the head of the grave and say: ‘O so-and-so, son of so-and-so, remember the covenant on which you departed from this world: There is no deity but Allah, alone without partner; Muhammad is His servant and messenger; the Hour is approaching without doubt; and Allah resurrects those in the graves. Say: I am pleased with Allah as my Lord, with Islam as my religion, with Muhammad (peace be upon him) as my prophet, with the Kaaba as my Qibla, with the Quran as my guide, and with the Muslims as my brethren. My Lord is Allah; there is no deity but Him; He is the Lord of the Mighty Throne.’