11/24. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 960a — Death Is a Matter of Consternation
Standing for funerals
Death Is a Matter of Consternation Hadith
Sahih Muslim : 960a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 960a
وَحَدَّثَنِي سُرَيْجُ بْنُ يُونُسَ، وَعَلِيُّ بْنُ حُجْرٍ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ، - وَهُوَ ابْنُ عُلَيَّةَ - عَنْ هِشَامٍ الدَّسْتَوَائِيِّ، عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ أَبِي كَثِيرٍ، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مِقْسَمٍ، عَنْ جَابِرِ، بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ قَالَ مَرَّتْ جَنَازَةٌ فَقَامَ لَهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَقُمْنَا مَعَهُ فَقُلْنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّهَا يَهُودِيَّةٌ . فَقَالَ " إِنَّ الْمَوْتَ فَزَعٌ فَإِذَا رَأَيْتُمُ الْجَنَازَةَ فَقُومُوا " .
Jabir bin `Abdullah Narrated from:
There passed a bier and the Prophet (ﷺ) stood up for it and we also stood up along with him. We said: Messenger of Allah, that was the bier of a Jewess. Upon this he remarked: Verily, death is a matter of consternation, so whenever you come across a bier stand up.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 960aIn-book reference : Book 11, Hadith 100USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 2095
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 960a
This hadith gives a strong reason for standing when a funeral passes. Jabir ibn 'Abdullah reports that a bier passed by, so the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) stood up and the companions stood with him. They said that it was the bier of a Jewish woman. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) replied, “Verily, death is a matter of consternation, so whenever you come across a bier stand up.” The main topic is respect at the sight of death, not the identity of the deceased. This narration is often searched as death is a matter of consternation hadith, Jewish funeral bier hadith, and standing for funeral procession hadith. The text keeps the lesson broad: when you see a bier, stand.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) stood when a bier passed by.
- The companions also stood with him.
- The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) explained that death is a matter of consternation.
- The instruction was to stand when coming across a bier.
