70 Questions on Funeral Regulations – Shaykh Ibn Uthaymīn

Question 1:

What should someone sitting beside a dying person do? Is the recitation of Surah Yā-Sīn beside the dying person confirmed by the Sunnah or not?

Answer 1:

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Especially Merciful.

All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds. May Allah send praise, peace, and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and all his companions… Visiting the sick is among the rights Muslims have upon one another. It is recommended that the one who visits the sick person calls him to repentance and reminds him of what is required from him in terms of advice. He should encourage him to occupy his time with the remembrance of Allah — Glorified and Exalted is He — because the sick person is in need of such things. If he is in the throes of death and it becomes clear that he is about to die, he should be encouraged to repeat: “Lā ilāha illā Allāh,” as the Prophet (may Allah praise and bless him) commanded. He should mention Allah near the dying person loudly enough for him to hear, so that he may remember and engage in the remembrance of Allah himself.

The scholars said: “He should not command him forcefully, because his chest might tighten if he feels compelled, and if he refuses to repeat ‘Lā ilāha illā Allāh,’ this could lead to a bad ending. Instead, it is better to remind him by gently prompting the phrase near him.” The scholars then said: “If he encourages him in this way, and the dying person remembers and says: ‘Lā ilāha illā Allāh,’ then he must remain silent and avoid speaking with him afterward, so that his last words will be: ‘Lā ilāha illā Allāh.’ If he speaks again — meaning the dying person — then he should be encouraged again to repeat the phrase so that his final words will be: ‘Lā ilāha illā Allāh.’” End of quote.

As for reciting Yā-Sīn beside the dying person, many scholars consider this to be Sunnah, based on the statement of the Prophet (may Allah praise and bless him): “Recite Yā-Sīn over your dying ones.” However, some scholars questioned its authenticity and classified the hadith as weak. For those who consider it authentic, its recitation is Sunnah; but for those who classify it as weak, then its recitation is not considered Sunnah.

Height: 14.8 cm
Width: 21 cm
Number of pages: 132
Author: Shaykh Muhammad Ibn Sālih al-‘Uthaymīn