Question

Is there any specific virtue mentioned in the Hadith for carrying the janazah?

Answer

1) Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (radiyallahu ‘anhu) says:

“Whomsoever follows a janazah, then he should certainly carry all sides of the bier, for verily this is from the Sunnah. [After carrying all four sides], he may continue to carry the bier or he may leave it”

(Kitabul Athar of Imam Muhammad ibn Hasan Ash Shaybani, vol. 1, pg. 273, Hadith: 236, Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith: 1478, Musannaf ‘Abdur Razzaq, Hadith: 6517 and Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah -with a reliable chain-, Hadith: 11397)

Note

This Hadith is recorded as the statement of Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (radiyallahu ‘anhu) and should be reported as such. However the nature of this narration is not such that Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn Mas’ud could have said from his own side, so it will be understood that he heard this from Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam)

2) Sayyiduna Abud Darda (radiyallahu ‘anhu) says:

“To receive the full reward of attending a janazah, one should leave with the janazah from its home, carry all four sides of the bier and scoop sand into the grave”

(Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, Hadith: 11399)

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best,

Answered by: Mawlana Suhail Motala

Approved by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar

Checked by: Mawlana Haroon Abasoomar