What are the virtues of bathing the deceased and attending his janazah?
In the name of Allah, the most Beneficent, the most Merciful.
Answer
It is narrated by Saiduna Abu Hurairah (Radiallahu Anhu) that the Prophet of Allah (Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam) has said, "Whoever follows the funeral procession and offers the funeral prayer for it, will get a reward equal to one Qirat, and whoever attends it till burial, will get a reward equal to two Qirat.'' It was asked, "What are two Qirat?'' He (Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam) replied, "Equal to two huge mountains.''
(Sahih Bukhari p.12 v.1)
Saiduna Abu Hurairah (Radiallahu Anhu) has also reported that the Prophet of Allah (Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam) has said, "Whosoever attends the funeral of a Muslim believing and hoping for the reward from Allah and remains with it until the prayer is offered over it and the burial is completed, he will return with a reward of two Qirat; each Qirat is equivalent to Mount Uhud; and whosoever offers his prayer over it and returns before its burial, he will come back with one Qirat.”
(Sahih Bukhari p.177 v.1)
It is narrated by Saiduna Ali Radiallahu Anhu that the Prophet of Allah (Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam) has said “Whoever bathes the deceased & shrouds the body & perfumes it & carries it and reads the Janazah Salah over it and he does not spread (anything bad) which he sees, he will be forgiven of his sins as if he were born a new.”
(Sunan Ibn Majah p.105 v.1)
Only Allah Knows Best
Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
