21/40. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 1901 — Prophetic Care at the Grave
A Shirt As A Shroud
Hadith About Prophetic Care at the Grave
Sunan an-Nasai : 1901
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 1901
أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ الْجَبَّارِ بْنُ الْعَلاَءِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْجَبَّارِ، عَنْ سُفْيَانَ، عَنْ عَمْرٍو، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ جَابِرًا، يَقُولُ أَتَى النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَبْرَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أُبَىٍّ وَقَدْ وُضِعَ فِي حُفْرَتِهِ فَوَقَفَ عَلَيْهِ فَأَمَرَ بِهِ فَأُخْرِجَ لَهُ فَوَضَعَهُ عَلَى رُكْبَتَيْهِ وَأَلْبَسَهُ قَمِيصَهُ وَنَفَثَ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ رِيقِهِ وَاللَّهُ تَعَالَى أَعْلَمُ .
Jabir Narrated from:
The Prophet came to the grave of 'Abdullah bin Ubayy when he had been placed in his grave and stood over it. He commanded that he be brought out to him and placed on his knees, and he dressed him in his shirt and blew on him (for blessing). And Allah knows best.
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 1901In-book reference : Book 21, Hadith 84English translation : Vol. 3, Book 21, Hadith 1902
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 1901
This hadith about the Prophet at a grave describes a very specific moment. Jabir narrated that the Prophet came to the grave of Abdullah bin Ubayy after he had already been placed in it. The Prophet stood over the grave, ordered that the body be brought out, placed him on his knees, dressed him in his own shirt, and blew on him for blessing. The main lesson in this narration is the Prophet’s personal care in a funeral setting. The text does not give a long explanation of the reason, so the safest reading is to stay with what is stated: he came, stood, acted with direct attention, and Allah knows best.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet personally attended to a burial matter when he came to the grave.
- The narration shows a special act of clothing the deceased in the Prophet’s shirt.
- The report ends with Allah knows best, reminding readers to avoid guessing beyond the text.
