It has been a tradition in society, if there is a death in family, many guests come to our home at night. They want to so hospitality and offer their condolences (see also how to give condolences for death in Islam). They pray the death person and family who is lived.
Commonly in the second until seventh or even 40 days after death, the family who is lived will arrange a Tahlil event and prayer that are sent to death person. There is food or not, it is no problem. But theimportant thing is the tahlil and prayer to add the provision of that death person.
In this chance, we will discuss about the importance of 40 days after death. Please check them out.
Related articles :
- The deceased will get test from Allah SWT
There is a dalil that can be hold in this matter, which reads :
قَالَ طَاوُسَ: إنَّ الْمَوْتَى يُفْتِنُوْنَ فِي قُبُوْرِهِمْ سَبْعًا فَكَانُوْا يَسْتَحِبُّوْنَ أنْ يُطْعِمُوْا عَنْهُمْ تَلْكَ اْلأيّاَمِ إلَى أنْ قَالَ عَنْ عُبَيْدِ ابْنِ عُمَيْرِ قَالَ: يُفْتِنُ رَجُلانِ مُؤمِنٌ وَمُنَافِقٌ فَأمَّا الْمُؤمِنُ فَيُفْتِنُ سَبْعًا وَأمَّا الْمُناَفِقُ فَيُفْتِنُ أرْبَعِيْنَ صَبَاحًا
Imam Thawus said : A died person will get test from Allah in his grave during seven days. For that, they should (who are still alive) arrange banquets (shadaqah) during those days. Ubaid bin Umair said : “ A believer and a hypocrite will face test together in the grave. For a believer will get test during seven days, while a hypocrite will get during fourty days in the morning.” (Al Hawi lil Fatawa as Suyuti, Juz II page 178)
- Remember us about death
The event of 40 days after death remember us about death. Every human will be die. When, where and how are only Allah SWT who know about all of that. So by remembering it, we have to improve our faith to Allah SWT. Insha Allah, we will be die in khusnul khotimah condition. Amen.
- As shadaqah
Imam Suyuthi Rahimahullah in the book of Al-Hawi lil al-Fatawi said :
قال طاووس : ان الموتى يفتنون في قبورهم سبعا فكانوا يستحبون ان يطعموا عنهم تلك الايام
“Thowus said : “Indeed people who have died are defamed in the grave during seven days, then they (the companions of the Prophet) loved to (shadaqah), served food as the replacement of them who have died in those days.”
See also : How to give sadaqah in Islam
- The habit from a long time ago
In the book of Al-Hawi lil al-Fatawi volume II page 194, it is explained as follows :
ان سنة الاطعام سبعة أيام بلغنى أنهامستمر الى الأن بمكة و المدينة فالظاهر أنها لم تترك من عهد الصحابة الى الأن و انهم أخذوها خلفا عن سلف الى الصدر الأول
“Indeed, the sunnah of giving food as shadaqah during seven days is a habit that still stand until now (it is the period of Imam Suyuthi in the 9th century of Hijriyah) in Mecca and Medina. Surely, that habit was never left since the period of companions until now, and that tradition is taken from Salaf Ulama since the first generation, they are companions.”
- It does not come from Hindu
If there are some people who say that the determination that in the 7th, 40 th, 100 th and so on come from Hindu, it is exactly wrong. Because in a hadith from al-Hafizh Ibnu Hajar al-Asqalani, we may to determine special times to do that good deeds and do it continuously. In Hindu, they do many apostasy, but we do dhikr to Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala and other good deeds. [AdSense-B]
- Do benevolence
On that day, Hindus do many polytheism actions and vices. We are as Moslem should fight back them by doing benevolence, such as doing dhikr together to Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala and reading tahlil sentence. In a book of hadith, it is explained that :
عَنِ ابْنِ مَسْعُوْدٍ رضي الله عنه قَالَ قَالَ رَسُوْلُ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم:ذَاكِرُ اللهِ فِي الْغَافِلِيْنَ بِمَنْزِلَةِ الصَّابِرِ فِي الْفَارِّيْنَ. (رواه الطبراني في الكبير والأوسط، وصححه الحافظ السيوطي في الجامع الصغير).
“From Ibn Mas’ud radhiyallahu ‘anhhu, Rasululah shallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam said : “People who do dhikr to Allah between the neglicent to Allah, equality with patient people between people who escape from war.” (Narrated al-Thabrani in al-Mu’jam [9797] and al-Mu’jam al-Ausath [271]. Al-Hafizh al-Suyuthi rated that hadith is shaheeh in al-Jami’ al-Shaghir [4310])
- The law of determining special date is mubah
In this hadith, al-Hafizh Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani said :
“This hadith with some different paths show that permissibility to determine a part of special day to do a good deed and it is done continuously.” (Fath al-Bari, 3/69)
Based on the hadith above, that thing is allowed or mubah. It is something that if we do it, we will not get rewards and sins. If we leave it, we will not get rewards and sins, too. It means that determining special date does not get rewards. We will get rewards if that date is filled by good deeds, such as dhikr.
- Shadaqah during seven days is a sunnah deed
Even, Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal in the book od az-Zuhd stated that shadaqah during seven days is a sunnah deed, because it is a prayer form to the died people who is tested in the grave during seven days.
- It is allowed
In the hadith of Ibn Umar r.a., doing the event of 40 days after death is allowed as long as there is no polytheism deeds that confront with the law of Shari’a. We have to fill it with good deeds as the command of Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala, such as dhikr and reciting Al-Qur’an.
- Strengthen hospitality
By arranging 40 days death, we can strengthen hospitality with others who come to our house. They intentionally spend their time to visit and pray for the dead person. Even, our neighbors will help us to prepare that event.
- Be rounded by Angels
If we hold the event of 40 days after death and fill it with reciting tahlil, angels will around us and pray for us, too. As the word of Rasulullah saw below
لاَيَقْعُدُ قَوْمٌ يَذْكُرُوْنَ عَزَّوَجَلَّ إِلاَّحَفَّتْهُمُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ وَغَشِيَتْهُمُ الرَّحْمَةُ وَنَزَلَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ السَّكِيْنَةُ وَذَكَرَهُمُ اللهُ فِيْمَنْ عِنْدَهُ (رواه مسلم
“Not gather a people while doing dhikr to Allah SWT, except they will be rounded by angels.”
[AdSense-C]
- As a religious advice to pray the death family
Prayer family, especially for parents who have died, is a religious advice for us as Moslem. Because people who have died cannot do benevolences again. They only hopes three things, they are :
- Shadaqah Jariyah
- Meaningful knowledge
- A pious child who always pray or do shadaqah for them (al-hadith)
See also : Rights of parents in Islam after death and alive
- Get forgiveness
A hadith that was narrated by Mi’qal bin Yassar r.a., and in Al-Jami’ush-Shaghir and Misykatul-Mashabih that Rasulullah saw said “Whoever read Yasin only for searching Allah’s blessings, he get forgiveness for his past sins. Because of that, you should read Yasin for people who have died between you.”
See also : Way to seek forgiveness from Allah SWT
Thus the article about 13 importance of 40 days after death in Islam. Hopefully, we always become His believers and keep in His way. Amen.