Funeral Prayer and Its Educational and Social Aspects (Part Two)
3. Verification and Revision of Plans
When a person intends to perform the takbirs of the funeral prayer, they inevitably check their plans to discern which ones will be beneficial for their hereafter and which ones may be harmful.
This verification and revision of plans is also referred to as the “calculation of deeds” in pure Islamic teachings. When a person sees a dead body, the first thought that often arises is the saying of Allah Almighty: «ثم إن علینا حسابهم» Translation: “Then their calculation is with Us.”
Awareness of an impending reckoning while performing the funeral prayer leads individuals to contemplate their own accountability. They are reminded to consider their reckoning and take steps to lighten the burden of that accounting day.
The calculation of the soul, or the principle of “calculation,” is one of the most significant moral and educational teachings in Islam and embodies key social moral principles. Allah Almighty states: «فوربک لنسئلنهم اجمعین عما کانوا یعملون» Translation: “By your Lord, We will question all of them about what they do.”
The details of a person’s life will be assessed. Allah Almighty says: «و ان کان مثقال حبة من خردل اتینا بها و کفی بنا حاسبین» Translation: “And if there were the weight of a mustard seed, We would bring it forth, and sufficient are We as accountants.”
Consequently, the calculation that a person is encouraged to conduct in this world serves as a means to achieve salvation from the reckoning in the hereafter. Everyone, before appearing in the accounting book of Mahshar, should evaluate their own actions and deeds, measuring their intentions according to the law of Sharia and religion so that their reckoning on the Day of Resurrection will be made easier.
All these reminders are intended to help individuals organize their life plans effectively and align them with the teachings of Islam. Observing the dead body and praying over it brings forth the understanding that one should calculate themselves before they are calculated upon.
4. Preparation to Go to the Afterlife
The emphasis found in verses and hadiths regarding awareness of the afterlife aims to awaken individuals from the sleep of neglect. It encourages them to prepare for the eternal abode and to accumulate good deeds before the opportunity passes.
Preparation for the hereafter should always be at the forefront of a believer’s mind. However, there are times when a person may become heedless of this matter; the most significant reminder in this regard is death and its realities. Witnessing death and seeing a deceased person is a wake-up call that few other events can provoke.
When a dead body is present before someone, and they are about to perform the funeral prayer for their Muslim brother, their heart, mind, and entire being resonate with the understanding that this is not the conclusion of their own story; death will eventually come for them too.
As one attends the funeral of a fellow Muslim, an internal call arises: “Prepare for your journey!” The reminder of death is clear and resonant.
It is essential for every Muslim, regardless of their attempts to succeed in worldly affairs, to constantly prepare themselves for their journey to the hereafter and their transition to the eternal home.
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