Question

What is the translation/meaning of the following:

فزجر النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم أن يقبر الرجل بالليل حتى يصلى عليه

 

Answer

This Hadith is regarding a Sahabi who passed away and was enshrouded with a sheet that was not large enough to cover his body. He was buried at night. Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) delivered a khutbah the next day and rebuked them for burying him at night which resulted in him being unable to lead the Janazah Salah.

(Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 943)

 

Translation of the part in question

Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) reprimanded them that a person be buried at night, until he (Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) performs the Janazah.

Hafiz Ibn Hajar (rahimahullah) has preferred this translation.

(Fathul Bari, Hadith: 1340, Fathul Mulhim, Hadith: 2155)

 

‘Allamah Nawawi (rahimahullah) says, the word ‘يصلّى’ is read with a fathah on the Lam, i.e. ‘يُصَلَّى’. The translation in this case would be, ‘Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) reprimanded them that a person be buried at night, so that [a large group of people can be present for the Janazah during the day. At night only a few people would attend the Janazah Salah].

(Sahih Muslim with Al Minhaj, Hadith: 2182)

 

Note: Kindly contact a reputable Mufti/Darul Ifta for a Fiqh ruling on this issue.

 

 

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

 

Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala

 

Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar

 

Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar