Sahih al-Bukhari #1318
Funerals (Al-Janaa'iz)
The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ بُكَيْرٍ، حَدَّثَنِي اللَّيْثُ، عَنْ عُقَيْلٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ ـ رضى الله عنهم ـ أَنَّهُ قَالَ لَمَّا مَاتَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ أُبَىٍّ ابْنُ سَلُولَ دُعِيَ لَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم لِيُصَلِّيَ عَلَيْهِ، فَلَمَّا قَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَثَبْتُ إِلَيْهِ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، أَتُصَلِّي عَلَى ابْنِ أُبَىٍّ وَقَدْ قَالَ يَوْمَ كَذَا وَكَذَا كَذَا وَكَذَا ـ أُعَدِّدُ عَلَيْهِ قَوْلَهُ ـ فَتَبَسَّمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَقَالَ " أَخِّرْ عَنِّي يَا عُمَرُ ". فَلَمَّا أَكْثَرْتُ عَلَيْهِ قَالَ " إِنِّي خُيِّرْتُ فَاخْتَرْتُ، لَوْ أَعْلَمُ أَنِّي إِنْ زِدْتُ عَلَى السَّبْعِينَ فَغُفِرَ لَهُ لَزِدْتُ عَلَيْهَا ". قَالَ فَصَلَّى عَلَيْهِ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ثُمَّ انْصَرَفَ، فَلَمْ يَمْكُثْ إِلاَّ يَسِيرًا حَتَّى نَزَلَتِ الآيَتَانِ مِنْ {بَرَاءَةٌ} {وَلاَ تُصَلِّ عَلَى أَحَدٍ مِنْهُمْ مَاتَ أَبَدًا} إِلَى {وَهُمْ فَاسِقُونَ} قَالَ فَعَجِبْتُ بَعْدُ مِنْ جُرْأَتِي عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَوْمَئِذٍ، وَاللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ.
When `Abdullah bin Ubai bin Salul died, Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) (p.b.u.h) was called upon to offer his funeral
prayer. When Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) stood up to offer the prayer, I got up quickly and said, "O Allah's
Apostle! Are you going to pray for Ibn Ubai and he said so and so on such and such occasions?" And
started mentioning all that he had said. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) smiled and said, "O `Umar! Go away from
me." When I talked too much he said, "I have been given the choice and so I have chosen (to offer the
prayer). Had I known that he would be forgiven by asking for Allah's forgiveness for more than
seventy times, surely I would have done so." (`Umar added): Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) offered his funeral
prayer and returned and after a short while the two verses of Surat Bara' were revealed: i.e. "And
never (O Muhammad) pray for any of them who dies . . . (to the end of the verse) rebellion (9.84)" --
(`Umar added), "Later I astonished at my daring before Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) on that day. And Allah and
His Apostle know better."
Narrated by Narrated `Umar bin Al-Khattab:
Context
In this hadith, `Umar bin Al-Khattab expresses his concern when the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) prepares to pray for the deceased Abdullah bin Ubai, who had spoken ill of him. The Prophet (ﷺ) reassures `Umar that he has chosen to pray for him, highlighting the importance of mercy and forgiveness. Shortly after, a revelation clarifies the limits of such prayers.
Modern Application
This story serves as a reminder for Muslims today to practice forgiveness and mercy, even towards those who may have wronged them. It encourages individuals to focus on compassion and understanding in their interactions with others.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Divine Revelation and Funeral Rites because it illustrates the balance between mercy in prayer for the deceased and the subsequent divine guidance regarding such actions.
Related Ayahs
سُورَةُ التَّوۡبَةِ
At-Tawba (The Repentance)
4 ayahs
وَلَا تُصَلِّ عَلَىٰٓ أَحَدٍۢ مِّنْهُم مَّاتَ أَبَدًۭا وَلَا تَقُمْ عَلَىٰ قَبْرِهِۦٓ ۖ إِنَّهُمْ كَفَرُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ وَمَاتُوا۟ وَهُمْ فَٰسِقُونَ
And do not pray [the funeral prayer, O Muhammad], over any of them who has died - ever - or stand at his grave. Indeed, they disbelieved in Allah and His Messenger and died while they were defiantly disobedient.
ٱسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ أَوْ لَا تَسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ إِن تَسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ سَبْعِينَ مَرَّةًۭ فَلَن يَغْفِرَ ٱللَّهُ لَهُمْ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ كَفَرُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلْفَٰسِقِينَ
Ask forgiveness for them, [O Muhammad], or do not ask forgiveness for them. If you should ask forgiveness for them seventy times - never will Allah forgive them. That is because they disbelieved in Allah and His Messenger, and Allah does not guide the defiantly disobedient people.
عَفَا ٱللَّهُ عَنكَ لِمَ أَذِنتَ لَهُمْ حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكَ ٱلَّذِينَ صَدَقُوا۟ وَتَعْلَمَ ٱلْكَٰذِبِينَ
May Allah pardon you, [O Muhammad]; why did you give them permission [to remain behind]? [You should not have] until it was evident to you who were truthful and you knew [who were] the liars.
لَّقَد تَّابَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَى ٱلنَّبِىِّ وَٱلْمُهَٰجِرِينَ وَٱلْأَنصَارِ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّبَعُوهُ فِى سَاعَةِ ٱلْعُسْرَةِ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا كَادَ يَزِيغُ قُلُوبُ فَرِيقٍۢ مِّنْهُمْ ثُمَّ تَابَ عَلَيْهِمْ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ بِهِمْ رَءُوفٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۭ
Allah has already forgiven the Prophet and the Muhajireen and the Ansar who followed him in the hour of difficulty after the hearts of a party of them had almost inclined [to doubt], and then He forgave them. Indeed, He was to them Kind and Merciful.
سُورَةُ النِّسَاءِ
An-Nisaa (The Women)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
وَلَيْسَتِ ٱلتَّوْبَةُ لِلَّذِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ ٱلسَّيِّـَٔاتِ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا حَضَرَ أَحَدَهُمُ ٱلْمَوْتُ قَالَ إِنِّى تُبْتُ ٱلْـَٰٔنَ وَلَا ٱلَّذِينَ يَمُوتُونَ وَهُمْ كُفَّارٌ ۚ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ أَعْتَدْنَا لَهُمْ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًۭا
But repentance is not [accepted] of those who [continue to] do evil deeds up until, when death comes to one of them, he says, "Indeed, I have repented now," or of those who die while they are disbelievers. For them We have prepared a painful punishment.
Common Words
107 total85 unique14 repeated
لهم6x
ولا3x
على3x
ٱلله3x
ٱلذين3x
منهم2x
كفروا2x
بٱلله2x
ورسوله2x
وهم2x
لا2x
تستغفر2x
حتى2x
تاب2x
تصل1x
أحد1x
مات1x
أبدا1x
تقم1x
قبره1x
Related Hadiths
About Sahih al-Bukhari
This hadith is #1318 from Sahih al-Bukhari, in the Book of Funerals (Al-Janaa'iz). It is graded Sahih and narrated by Narrated `Umar bin Al-Khattab:.