When a person passes
away, their rank with Allah can be elevated as a result of someone seeking
forgiveness for him. Abu Huraira, (RA) narrated that a person after death would
experience an increase in rank with Allah, and as they ascend, they would ask Allah,
"Oh my Lord, what is this? Where is this coming from? Why am I
elevating?" Allah would reply, "Your son sought forgiveness for you”.
This connection highlights the beauty of supplicating for the deceased. It is
essential to remember that istighfar, seeking forgiveness, is crucial when making
dua for the deceased. It was the beginning of almost every dua the Prophet
(Pbuh) made for the deceased.
Although
one may not know the ultimate standing of the deceased with Allah, one must assume
well of Allah, Having a good expectation of Allah i.e Husnul Zann is crucial.
Imam al-Bukhari's Sahih mentions the hadith of Abu Dhar (RA), which states that
whoever says "la illaha illAllah" will enter Jannah, even if they committed
adultery and stole. This highlights the Husnul Zhann of Allah, the good
expectation of Allah, that even the worst sins cannot belittle the power of Istighfar.
Istighfar is either a form of expiation or a form of elevation, and it is a
powerful tool in increasing one's good. Additionally, it is crucial to remember
that one’s most sincere dua is during one’s most desperate times, such as when
burying a loved one.
It is very important to make sincere duas
for the deceased. One shouldn’t forget the vulnerable state of the deceased as
they await the angels to question them. It is crucial to prioritize making duas
for them and seeking forgiveness on their behalf. The responsibility falls on
the living as the deceased cannot make these duas for themselves. It is more
important than merely mentioning their good qualities. There are several famous
duas that one can make for the deceased, the most well-known being from Awf ibn
Malik (RA). This dua can be recited at the Janazah, graveyard, and in the
immediate aftermath of death. The dua includes asking for forgiveness, mercy,
safety, honor, and purification for the deceased. In addition, it is important
to mention the attributes of Allah and invoke His mercy in the duas for the
deceased.
One of the powerful duas to recite during
times of death is when the Prophet (Pbuh) said, "Oh Allah, this servant of
yours, the son of a servant of yours, is now in need of your mercy. And you are
not in need of punishing that person." This comprehensive and concise dua
continues by asking Allah to increase the good deeds of the deceased if they
were righteous and to overlook their shortcomings if they fell short. Another
dua is important to be mindful of when making dua, is the one the Prophet (Pbuh)
made for Abu Salamah (RA) when he passed away. This dua starts by asking Allah
to forgive him, elevate his ranks among those who are rightly guided, make his
grave spacious, put light in his grave, and grant him succession in his
descendants who have been left behind.
The close examination of this hadith
depicts a specific sequence. The first thing to pray for is the person's
ultimate destination, as their experience in the barzakh is just a stepping
stone towards it. So, the initial step is to raise their status among the
rightly guided. Following that, pray for their grave to be spacious and
well-lit, and then ask Allah to take care of their descendants. When praying
for the loved ones, one doesn’t need to limit themselves to a set script. One
should remember the sequence and attributes of his du'a, including the hamd and
salawaat, but also pray from his heart in his own words, as if he himself is the
person in need of desperate assistance. This is particularly important in those
critical initial moments when the person is in urgent need of the duas.
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