Attending a funeral after intercourse

Question

Is there a Hadith where our beloved Prophet (sallalahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) has said that if one had sexual intercourse in the night and the next day if there is a funeral he should not get into the grave with the dead body to help the burial

Answer

Imam Bukhari (rahimahullah) has recorded a narration in his Sahih reported by Sayyiduna Anas (radiyallahu ‘anhu) wherein Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) preferred that the person going into the grave of his daughter [Ummu Kulthum radiyallahu ‘anha] had not spent the night with his wife.

(Sahih Bukhari Hadith: 1285)

The Ulama explain that the reason for this was that since this act would be fresh in the person’s mind, Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) did not want any such thoughts to cross his mind whilst lowering her body into the grave.

(Fathul Bari, Umdatul Qari Hadith: 1285. Also see Sharhu Mushkilil Athar; Tuhfatul Akhyar, vol. 2 pg. 543)

 

Note: This explanation does not show prohibition of such a person assisting in the grave. It merely states what is preferred.

 

A different explanation

The Arabic word used in the Hadith is لم يقارف , which some Ulama have interpreted as ‘sin’ ie. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) preferred that someone who didn’t perpetrate a sin the night before should rather go down into the grave. This is because it is preferable for a pious person to assist with the Janazah. If this meaning is taken then the above explanation does not apply. In fact it seems as though Imam Bukhari (rahimahullah) has also preferred this explanation gauging from his Sub heading in Sahih Bukhari.

(Sahih Bukhari Hadith: 1342, Taqrir e Bukhari vol. 4 pg. 75 )

 

 

And Allah Ta’ala knows best

 

Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala

 

Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar

 

Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar