Sahih al-Bukhari #1320
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 عَفَّانُ بْنُ مُسْلِمٍ، حَدَّثَنَا دَاوُدُ بْنُ أَبِي الْفُرَاتِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ بُرَيْدَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي الأَسْوَدِ، قَالَ قَدِمْتُ الْمَدِينَةَ وَقَدْ وَقَعَ بِهَا مَرَضٌ، فَجَلَسْتُ إِلَى عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ فَمَرَّتْ بِهِمْ جَنَازَةٌ فَأُثْنِيَ عَلَى صَاحِبِهَا خَيْرًا فَقَالَ عُمَرُ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ وَجَبَتْ. ثُمَّ مُرَّ بِأُخْرَى فَأُثْنِيَ عَلَى صَاحِبِهَا خَيْرًا، فَقَالَ عُمَرُ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ وَجَبَتْ. ثُمَّ مُرَّ بِالثَّالِثَةِ، فَأُثْنِيَ عَلَى صَاحِبِهَا شَرًّا فَقَالَ وَجَبَتْ. فَقَالَ أَبُو الأَسْوَدِ فَقُلْتُ وَمَا وَجَبَتْ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ قَالَ قُلْتُ كَمَا قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " أَيُّمَا مُسْلِمٍ شَهِدَ لَهُ أَرْبَعَةٌ بِخَيْرٍ أَدْخَلَهُ اللَّهُ الْجَنَّةَ ". فَقُلْنَا وَثَلاَثَةٌ قَالَ " وَثَلاَثَةٌ ". فَقُلْنَا وَاثْنَانِ قَالَ " وَاثْنَانِ ". ثُمَّ لَمْ نَسْأَلْهُ عَنِ الْوَاحِدِ.
I came to Medina when an epidemic had broken out. While I was sitting with `Umar bin Al-Khattab a
funeral procession passed by and the people praised the deceased. `Umar said, "It has been affirmed to
him." And another funeral procession passed by and the people praised the deceased. `Umar said, "It
has been affirmed to him." A third (funeral procession) passed by and the people spoke badly of the
deceased. He said, "It has been affirmed to him." I (Abu Al-Aswad) asked, "O chief of the believers!
What has been affirmed?" He replied, "I said the same as the Prophet (ﷺ) had said, that is: if four persons
testify the piety of a Muslim, Allah will grant him Paradise." We asked, "If three persons testify his
piety?" He (the Prophet) replied, "Even three." Then we asked, "If two?" He replied, "Even two." We
did not ask him regarding one witness.
Narrated by Narrated Abu Al-Aswad:
Context
In this hadith, `Umar bin Al-Khattab reflects on the significance of public praise for the deceased during funeral processions. He mentions that the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) taught that if four people testify to a Muslim's goodness, they will enter Paradise. This underscores the importance of community recognition and the value of good deeds.
Modern Application
This teaching is relevant today as it encourages individuals to speak positively about others and acknowledge their good deeds. It fosters a sense of community and support, reinforcing the importance of uplifting one another.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Divine Revelation and Funeral Rites because it relates to the teachings on the significance of public testimony regarding a person's character.
Related Ayahs
سُورَةُ المَائـِدَةِ
Al-Maaida (The Table)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ شَهَٰدَةُ بَيْنِكُمْ إِذَا حَضَرَ أَحَدَكُمُ ٱلْمَوْتُ حِينَ ٱلْوَصِيَّةِ ٱثْنَانِ ذَوَا عَدْلٍۢ مِّنكُمْ أَوْ ءَاخَرَانِ مِنْ غَيْرِكُمْ إِنْ أَنتُمْ ضَرَبْتُمْ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَأَصَٰبَتْكُم مُّصِيبَةُ ٱلْمَوْتِ ۚ تَحْبِسُونَهُمَا مِنۢ بَعْدِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ فَيُقْسِمَانِ بِٱللَّهِ إِنِ ٱرْتَبْتُمْ لَا نَشْتَرِى بِهِۦ ثَمَنًۭا وَلَوْ كَانَ ذَا قُرْبَىٰ ۙ وَلَا نَكْتُمُ شَهَٰدَةَ ٱللَّهِ إِنَّآ إِذًۭا لَّمِنَ ٱلْءَاثِمِينَ
O you who have believed, testimony [should be taken] among you when death approaches one of you at the time of bequest - [that of] two just men from among you or two others from outside if you are traveling through the land and the disaster of death should strike you. Detain them after the prayer and let them both swear by Allah if you doubt [their testimony, saying], "We will not exchange our oath for a price, even if he should be a near relative, and we will not withhold the testimony of Allah. Indeed, we would then be of the sinful."
سُورَةُ الوَاقِعَةِ
Al-Waaqia (The Inevitable)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
فَأَمَّآ إِن كَانَ مِنَ ٱلْمُقَرَّبِينَ
And if the deceased was of those brought near to Allah,
سُورَةُ النِّسَاءِ
An-Nisaa (The Women)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
2 ayahs
وَمَن يُطِعِ ٱللَّهَ وَٱلرَّسُولَ فَأُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ مَعَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنْعَمَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْهِم مِّنَ ٱلنَّبِيِّۦنَ وَٱلصِّدِّيقِينَ وَٱلشُّهَدَآءِ وَٱلصَّٰلِحِينَ ۚ وَحَسُنَ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ رَفِيقًۭا
And whoever obeys Allah and the Messenger - those will be with the ones upon whom Allah has bestowed favor of the prophets, the steadfast affirmers of truth, the martyrs and the righteous. And excellent are those as companions.
۞ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ كُونُوا۟ قَوَّٰمِينَ بِٱلْقِسْطِ شُهَدَآءَ لِلَّهِ وَلَوْ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِكُمْ أَوِ ٱلْوَٰلِدَيْنِ وَٱلْأَقْرَبِينَ ۚ إِن يَكُنْ غَنِيًّا أَوْ فَقِيرًۭا فَٱللَّهُ أَوْلَىٰ بِهِمَا ۖ فَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا۟ ٱلْهَوَىٰٓ أَن تَعْدِلُوا۟ ۚ وَإِن تَلْوُۥٓا۟ أَوْ تُعْرِضُوا۟ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرًۭا
O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm in justice, witnesses for Allah, even if it be against yourselves or parents and relatives. Whether one is rich or poor, Allah is more worthy of both. So follow not [personal] inclination, lest you not be just. And if you distort [your testimony] or refuse [to give it], then indeed Allah is ever, with what you do, Acquainted.
سُورَةُ النُّورِ
An-Noor (The Light)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
وَٱلَّذِينَ يَرْمُونَ أَزْوَٰجَهُمْ وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُمْ شُهَدَآءُ إِلَّآ أَنفُسُهُمْ فَشَهَٰدَةُ أَحَدِهِمْ أَرْبَعُ شَهَٰدَٰتٍۭ بِٱللَّهِ ۙ إِنَّهُۥ لَمِنَ ٱلصَّٰدِقِينَ
And those who accuse their wives [of adultery] and have no witnesses except themselves - then the witness of one of them [shall be] four testimonies [swearing] by Allah that indeed, he is of the truthful.
Common Words
128 total102 unique16 repeated
أو4x
من4x
إن4x
ٱلله4x
ٱلذين3x
كان3x
يأيها2x
ءامنوا2x
شهدة2x
إذا2x
ٱلموت2x
بٱلله2x
ولو2x
لمن2x
يكن2x
شهداء2x
بينكم1x
حضر1x
أحدكم1x
حين1x
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About Sahih al-Bukhari
This hadith is #1320 from Sahih al-Bukhari, in the Book of Funerals (Al-Janaa'iz). It is graded Sahih and narrated by Narrated Abu Al-Aswad:.