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The Prophet (SAW) said: ” Shame on him, shame on him. They asked him, “Who, O Messenger of Allah?”. He said: “He who meets his two parents or either of them alive and he does not make Paradise through them by loving and caring for them)
*Funeral (Fidau) prayer in Islam (photo credit: ar.inspiredpencil.com)
PEGASUS REPORTERS, LAGOS | DECEMBER 13, 2024
In the last couple of days, I have received messages about Fidau Prayer from people who hold me in high esteem. People are seeking to know if Fidau Prayer has a basis in the Qur’ān and the Hadīth.
The Qur’ān and the Hadīth encourage children to pray for their late parents. See Qur’ān 17:24 (Say, My Lord: Have mercy upon both of them as they cared for me when I was young). The Prophet (SAW) also mentioned that one of the good deeds that benefit a Muslim after his death is prayers from a good child that he leaves behind.
The Qur’ān does not stop us from praying for our departed ones, whether they are our parents, brothers, sisters, uncles, or aunts, provided that they die in Islam.
But does it have to be a 3rd-day, 8th-day, or 40th-day prayer? The answer is NO.
Here are the most important things to do after a Muslim dies. Clear his debts from the money that he leaves behind or get a member of his family to take responsibility for his debts. Bathe him, shroud him, gather a minimum of 40 people to observe Janāzah Prayer on him, and bury him. You can seek forgiveness for him immediately after burying him. The Prophet (SAW) used to say these words to his companions after burying a Muslim “Ask Allah for forgiveness and firmness for your brother, because he will now be questioned in his grave).
The issue of Fidau Prayer was an invention of African scholars to replace old burial rites or pagan funeral practices in African communities. It was also a source of income for scholars of yesteryear.
Must a child organize a Fidau Prayer after the death of his parents? The answer is NO. Does a child need to pray for his late mother or father? The answer is Yes. Does he need to bring people together before praying for his parents? The answer is NO. Does he sin if he brings people together to offer prayers for his late parents without turning it into a party or a ceremony? The answer is NO. However, keeping to the correct Islamic burial guidelines listed above is better.
Can people start just focusing on taking care of their parents and other loved ones when they are still alive rather than wasting money on burial ceremonies? It is funny to see children who neglected their parents or children who are struggling financially put up parties or ceremonies in memory of their late parents. Some of these children completely forgot the need to care for their parents when they were alive. Why are people more committed to Fidau Prayer than the actual care that they have to give their parents or other loved ones when they are alive? Who tells you it is Fidau Prayer that your mother and father need? How about the care that they both deserve before they die?
The truth is that the best prayers for a dead Muslim are the prayers that his good children offer on his behalf. Such prayers can make Allah forgive him and elevate his position. Parents should educate their children about Islam so that they do not have to believe that Fidau Prayer or a burial ceremony is all that they owe their parents.
No Muslim child is under any obligation to hold a Fidau Prayer for his parents. What is important or the debt that he owes his late parents is the personal prayers that he offers to Allah on their behalf. This does not mean that Muslims should not pray for their dead Muslim relatives, but it does not have to be a ceremony or a Fidau Prayer session.
Muslims should stop wasting their resources on Fidau Prayer. They should use their resources to support good causes as Sadaqah for their late relatives.
More often than not, children forget to pray for their late parents again after the 3rd day or the 8th-day Fidau Prayer. Muslim clerics need to emphasize to their mosque congregation that they do not have to make praying for their late parents an annual activity. They should do it regularly, particularly after the Five Daily Prayers and during Tahajjud at night.
Poverty is an issue among Muslims today. We have many orphans who need a good education. We have widows who require empowerment. We have grossly under-empowered youths. We have unemployed graduates of conventional Arabic and Qur’anic schools. Why don’t we channel our resources to areas such as these? Why can’t you take responsibility for the education of one or two orphans as Sadaqah for your late mother or father? Why can’t you renovate the dilapidated mosque in your neighbourhood in memory of your parents? Why can’t you replace the tattered rugs or mats of a mosque in memory of your late parents? Why can’t you adopt a meaningful cause as Sadaqah for your late parents? Why are you enamoured with burial ceremonies or Fidau Prayer?
Do a Sadaqah that continues to benefit your parents after death and offer regular prayers on their behalf. This is the best way to care for your late parents.
The Prophet (SAW) said: ” Shame on him, shame on him. They asked him, “Who, O Messenger of Allah?”. He said: “He who meets his two parents or either of them alive and he does not make Paradise through them by loving and caring for them)
This Hadith above indicates that to make Paradise through your parents, you have to love them and care for them when they are still alive.
May Allah give us the grace to see the truth as truth and follow it, and falsehood as falsehood and keep away from it. Āmīn.
Author: Abdul-Ganiyy Raji is NASFAT National Da’wah Officer/ National Mission Board Secretary
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May we have more of this kind of ustaz. We need more reforms to return our Deen to the pristine one as brought by Prophet Muhammad (salallaahu alaihi was salam). We just have to stop those hungry aluifas that are ahlu bidiah men in spiritual cassock that sees Islam as a business venture. Shukran, sir.