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What is the ruling on those who say when following a funeral procession, Laa ilaaha ill-Allah, al-daayim wajh-Allah (There is no god but Allah and that which abides is the Countenance of Allah)? They say that audibly, and at the time of burial they say “Yaa Rahmaan, yaa Rahmaan (O Most Merciful, O Most Merciful).” What is the ruling on that? What is the Sunnah when following a funeral procession and when burying the deceased?.
Praise be to Allah.
These words are innovated. There is no doubt that there is no god but Allah and that nothing will abide forever except Allah, but the fact that it is said in this manner as described in the question is bid’ah, because every way of drawing close to Allah or of worshipping Allah that was not done by the salaf (early generations of Islam) is an innovation (bid’ah). Similarly, saying “Yaa Rahmaan, yaa Rahmaan” at the time of burial is also an innovation.
The Sunnah for the one who follows a funeral procession is to ponder and think about his fate and that he is now walking behind the bier, but one day he will be the one whose bier is being followed as this bier is being followed, so he should ponder his own deeds.
At the time of burial, when the burial of the deceased was finished, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) would stand at the graveside and say: “Pray for forgiveness for your brother and ask for him to be made steadfast, for now he is being questioned.” This is what is prescribed in Islam. End quote.
Shaykh Muhammad ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him).