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Shia Burial

Preparing the Deceased

Supplications During Ghusl and Kafan

In short

The dua recited while washing the deceased.

What those preparing the deceased can recite.

Supplications during preparation

Recommended

It is recommended (mustahab) for the person washing the deceased to recite this dua when turning the body from one side to the other during the ghusl. Al-Islam.org reports from Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (a) that a believer who washes a deceased believer and recites it is forgiven a year of sins, except major sins. Use the words in brackets for a woman.

For a man

اَللّٰهُمَّ إِنَّ هٰذَا بَدَنُ عَبْدِكَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِ، وَقَدْ أَخْرَجْتَ رُوحَهُ مِنْهُ، وَفَرَّقْتَ بَيْنَهُمَا، فَعَفْوَكَ عَفْوَكَ

Allāhumma inna hādhā badanu ʿabdikal-muʾmini, wa qad akhrajta rūḥahu minhu, wa farraqta baynahumā, fa-ʿafwaka ʿafwak.

O Allah, this is the body of Your believing servant. You have taken his soul from it and separated the two. So we ask Your forgiveness, Your forgiveness.

For a woman

اَللّٰهُمَّ إِنَّ هٰذَا بَدَنُ أَمَتِكَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنَةِ، وَقَدْ أَخْرَجْتَ رُوحَهَا مِنْهُ، وَفَرَّقْتَ بَيْنَهُمَا، فَعَفْوَكَ عَفْوَكَ

Allāhumma inna hādhā badanu amatikal-muʾminati, wa qad akhrajta rūḥahā minhu, wa farraqta baynahumā, fa-ʿafwaka ʿafwak.

O Allah, this is the body of Your believing servant. You have taken her soul from it and separated the two. So we ask Your forgiveness, Your forgiveness.

What people say after death

Narration

The first title in a faithful believer's Record of Deeds is what people say about him after his death. If they say good things, then his Record is good; but if they say evil things, then his Record is evil.

More detail

Prophet Muhammad (saw), Al-Amali, p. 47 — as cited in the Najafyia guide.

Sources and review

Primary jurisprudential reference: the rulings of Sayyid Ali al-Husayni al-Sistani. Review status: Approved.