Duties of Relatives after Someone’s Death
The duties include performing Ghusl, covering the body with Kafan, performing the Salah of Janazah (funeral prayer), and carrying out the funeral (burying the body).
In carrying out the funeral, three issues are important. First paying respect to the deceased, second, offering condolences to his or her relatives and, third, learning lessons (that we are also going to die one day so we should rectify our path in life).
Imam Baqir (AS) said when a person attend a funeral and prays for the deceased, the angels say the same prayer for him.
Imam Sadiq (AS) said anyone who takes part in the Salah of Janazah for someone, God forgives his sins.
According to Hadiths, the Holy Prophet (PBUH) looked very sad in funerals.
Prophet Moses (AS) asked God about the reward for those attending funerals. God said He would task His angels to accompany them from the grave to paradise.
According to a Hadith from the Holy Prophet (PBUH), the first gift to a believer after his death is that his sins and the sins of those attending his funeral are forgiven.
The Holy Prophet (PBUH) also said: Visit patients and take part in funerals because they would remind you of the hereafter.
Read More:
In another Hadith, the Holy Prophet (PBUH) said for every step that someone takes when attending a person’s funeral, God gives him 100 million Thawabs (rewards) and forgives 100 million wrongdoings.
So many rewards and so much forgiveness are granted due to the constructive effects that a funeral can have because it awakens people and reminds them of the fact that this would be their end as well.
It has been narrated that during a funeral, Imam Ali (AS) heard someone laughing. It made him sad, saying death is not for others but will be everyone’s fate. “I am surprised at someone who sees death with his own eyes and yet remains negligent and forgetful.”
And Imam Sadiq (AS) said: When you go to a funeral, imagine that you are in the coffin and you are begging God to bring you back to the world. Now imagine that God has granted your request and returned you to the world. So be careful what you do.
