Death is an inevitability thing which will occur to everybody. The death of a loved one sometimes causes misery to the abandoned family. Many people sometimes feel depressed for days because they are sorry and lock themselves from the outside.
Genuinely, how is the guidance of Islam to face of someone’s death? What should the Muslims do when they are in mourning? Here we present 13 how to celebrate death anniversary in Islam.
- Pray and ask forgiveness when hear the news or recognize the death of a Muslim
When we heard the news of Muslim death we ought to say “innalillahi wa inna ilaihi roojiun”. By saying those words we had both prayed for Him and been reminder for us that someday we will go after him. Read more Importance of Saying Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi rajiun
2. Pray and ask forgiveness when janazah prayer
Janazah prayer is fardhu kifayah in Islam. Meaning it’s the obligatory for all Muslim to pray for deceased Muslim but if noboy did it, everybody bear the sin. ) Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:
“Not a corpse is prayed by a group of Muslims who reach 100 people, then they pray for him (pray for good), then their prayer will be permitted”(Muslim)
3. Pray and ask forgiveness when do visitation (ziyarat) of grave
Pay pilgrimage to the deceased grave has a lot of advantage for us. We could pray, ask mercy and blessing, and salvation from the hell for the dead. It will be a great memento for us to do good deeds continuity and keep us away from detrimental things.
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:
“A man’s status will be raised in Paradise and he will ask, ‘How did I get here?’ He will be told, ‘By your son’s du’aa’s (prayers) for forgiveness for you.” (Reported by Ibn Maajah).
4. Pray and ask forgiveness anytime and anywhere which is permitted
We could pray for the deceased one after pray 5 times a day, or after read Al-Qur’an. There is no limited place and time to pray for other people, especially for the dead. But be sure we did that in a right manner and ways.
- Serve the food for the deceased one’s family
The custom applied in most of country that the family of the dead should prepared banquet for the mourners. Furthermore, some people willing to take some loan or even further steal money to hold death anniversary. This is opposed what Rasulullah said in the past.
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:
“Serve the food of the Ja’far family, For there has come a case (death) that preoccupies them. “(Reported by Abu Dawud, At Tirmidzi)
- Do not celebrate death anniversary for days
It is undeniable Allah and Rasulullah told us to read Al-Qur’an, dzikir, and pray. But is right to read Al-Qur’an, dzikir, and prays followed the ancestor’s custom without guidance from Rasulullah SAW. Most of Muslim accomodated death anniversary for days by reading Al-Qur’an, tahlil, shalawat, etc. That is against what Rasulullah did in the past.
- Attend the funeral only for a short time
Ta’ziyah (attend the funeral) which is according to Rasulullah SAW, done on the street or before and after the funeral. It is alright to come to the house of grieving man but not for a long time.
Imam Syafi’i rahimahullah said in Al-Umm:
“I hate gatherings (in the house of the dead) , though not accompanied by crying, because it reminds sadness and burdensome and contrary to atsar (Al-Qur’an and hadith). ”
[AdSense-B]
- Do not wailing and crying too much
Generally, most people feel an excessive sadness when their loved one died. It often makes people crying loud, wailing, and repenting. This is not proper in Islam. Whereas the death is a certain thing and everyone should be ready for it. Funeral event which took too long feared will provoke anger and sadness.
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:
“It’s not our circle, people who slapped cheeks and tore clothes and called out with the call of ignorance. “(Reported by Bukhari)
Also read How to Gain Happiness in Islam
9. Death anniversary is not Rasulullah SAW habit
In the past Rasulullah SAW never hold ceremonial for the deceased one. It is belonged to heresy (bid’ah). So, there is no reason for us to hold funeral agenda for days. It is enough for us to pray and read Al-Qur’an without hold ritual affair for the dead.
10. Do not gathering in the house of mourning man
Meeting in the house of the dead along with feast prepared by householder is not part of Islamic thought. It is feared to leading into wailing, sorrowing, and regretting the past. So, it is not allowed to do so. [AdSense-C]
- There is no legitimate law to accommodate death celebration
We should have known that death anniversary is not the way to show our grateful for the dead one. There are many ways to actualize our thankful than hold disagreeable agenda. We could pray for mercy and forgiveness, pay a visit to their relatives, and do some charity. Read more Rights of Elders in Islam
12. It is against the logic
It is not appropriate to put some trouble for the deceased family. We should cherish them instead of burden them with the feast for the mourner. Whilst they attend to read dzikir, Al-Qur’an, and sholawat, it is still not suitable with what Rasulullah SAW told us.
13. Celebrate anniversary death for days is from Hindu ritual
Death celebration such as the 3rd, 100th, etc is the custom from Hindu. It had been applied by our ancestors for a long time. It is so rare to find people who not hold some ceremonial for the dead. However, if we have known the rule, we should not have held it anymore.
So, we have known 13 how to celebrate death anniversary in Islam. It is not an easy job to get rid of the habit which has rotten in the community. Thus, we can start from ourselves and slowly persuade our family, friend to erase the wrong ritual.