51/0. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 2774a — Funeral Prayer and Divine Command
Characteristics of The Hypocrites And Rulings Concerning Them
Hadith About Funeral Prayer and Allah’s Final Command
Sahih Muslim : 2774a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 2774a
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو أُسَامَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عُمَرَ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، قَالَ لَمَّا تُوُفِّيَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ أُبَىٍّ ابْنُ سَلُولَ جَاءَ ابْنُهُ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَسَأَلَهُ أَنْ يُعْطِيَهُ قَمِيصَهُ يُكَفِّنُ فِيهِ أَبَاهُ فَأَعْطَاهُ ثُمَّ سَأَلَهُ أَنْ يُصَلِّيَ عَلَيْهِ فَقَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم لِيُصَلِّيَ عَلَيْهِ فَقَامَ عُمَرُ فَأَخَذَ بِثَوْبِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَتُصَلِّي عَلَيْهِ وَقَدْ نَهَاكَ اللَّهُ أَنْ تُصَلِّيَ عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِنَّمَا خَيَّرَنِي اللَّهُ فَقَالَ اسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ أَوْ لاَ تَسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ إِنْ تَسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ سَبْعِينَ مَرَّةً وَسَأَزِيدُهُ عَلَى سَبْعِينَ " . قَالَ إِنَّهُ مُنَافِقٌ . فَصَلَّى عَلَيْهِ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ { وَلاَ تُصَلِّ عَلَى أَحَدٍ مِنْهُمْ مَاتَ أَبَدًا وَلاَ تَقُمْ عَلَى قَبْرِهِ}
Ibn 'Umar Narrated from:
When 'Abdullah b. Ubayy b. Salul died. His son 'Abdullah b. 'Abdullah (b. Ubayy) came to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and begged him that he should give him his shirt which he would use as a coffin for his father, he gave him that. He then begged that he should conduct funeral prayer for him.Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) had hardly got up to observe the prayer for him that 'Umar stood up and caught hold of the garment of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and said: Allah's Messenger, are you going to conduct prayer for this man, whereas Allah has forbidden you to offer prayer for him?Thereupon Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: Allah has given me an option as He has said:" You may beg pardon for them or you may not beg pardon for them, and even if you beg pardon for them, seventy times" (ix. 80), and I am going to make an addition to the seventy. He was a hypocrite and Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) offered prayer for him and Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, revealed this verse:" Do not offer prayer for any one of them at all and do not stand upon their graves for (offering prayer over them)" (ix. 84).
[1] At-Tawbah 9:80. [2] At-Tawbah 9:84.Reference : Sahih Muslim 2774aIn-book reference : Book 51, Hadith 4USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 38, Hadith 6680
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 2774a
This Hadith about funeral prayer and hypocrisy describes the death of Abdullah b. Ubayy b. Salul. His son asked Allah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم for his shirt to shroud his father, and the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم gave it. He then asked the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم to offer the funeral prayer. Umar objected and reminded him of the verse about seeking forgiveness for them. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم replied that he had been given an option and would add beyond seventy. Then he prayed for him. After that, the verse was revealed: “Do not offer prayer for any one of them at all and do not stand upon their graves.” The teaching is not personal harshness; it is the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم acting until a clear final command came.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم responded to a son’s request with generosity.
- Umar’s concern came from careful attention to Allah’s words.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم acted within what he understood before the later command.
- When Allah’s command became clear, it set the final boundary.
