Honorable Muslims!
According to our noble religion, Islam, a human being is valuable not only while living but also after death and deserves all forms of respect. Just as a newborn is washed, wrapped in swaddling clothes, carried in arms, and welcomed with the call to prayer (adhan), the iqamah, and supplications, a deceased person is also washed, shrouded, carried with honor, and bid farewell with salâ and prayers. For death is not an annihilation but the beginning of eternal life. For a Muslim, death is the first station on the journey to attaining Allah’s infinite grace and blessings. It is the gateway to paradise and a blessed reunion with loved ones.

Dear Believers!
There are religious and humanitarian duties that we must fulfill for our deceased brothers and sisters. Among these duties, the foremost is washing and shrouding the deceased while observing the boundaries of privacy. Another duty is performing the funeral prayer (Salat al-Janazah) and then sending our brother or sister on their eternal journey with reverence and humility. The funeral prayer is performed with men in the front rows and women behind them. Islam does not prescribe arguing at the funeral, bidding farewell with clapping or music, or decorating the prayer area with wreaths and pictures. Another responsibility we have is to pray for the forgiveness of the deceased’s sins, supplicate for them, and bear witness to their righteousness. The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) emphasized the importance of testimony about the deceased, saying:

*"If you speak well of someone, they will deserve paradise; if you speak ill of them, they will deserve hell. Indeed, you are Allah’s witnesses on earth."*¹

Esteemed Muslims!
Offering condolences, expressing patience, sharing in the sorrow of the bereaved, and reciting the Qur’an to bring them comfort are all manifestations of Islamic brotherhood. However, we must also observe certain principles in offering condolences. According to Islam, condolences should not last longer than three days. It is inappropriate for the bereaved family, already struggling with grief, to undertake excessive expenses or prepare meals for visitors. Instead, it is a Sunnah for relatives and neighbors to provide food for the family of the deceased during the mourning period. Indeed, when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) learned of the martyrdom of his cousin Ja’far ibn Abi Talib in the Battle of Mu'tah, he said:

*"Prepare food for the family of Ja’far, for a great calamity has befallen them."*²

Dear Believers!
Unfortunately, we have become indifferent to the reality of death, which disrupts the pleasures of life. With each passing day, we drift further from the funeral etiquette prescribed by Islam. Some people continue their entertainment and leisure activities even when there is a funeral in their building or neighborhood. Others, in pursuit of television ratings and social media engagement, repeatedly broadcast the images of the deceased, deepening the sorrow of grieving families. However, a Muslim cannot be indifferent to the suffering around them. They cannot ignore the pain of those who have lost their loved ones, nor can they act as if nothing has happened. A Muslim should never engage in words or actions that may further distress the bereaved.

Honorable Muslims!
Let us make every effort to bid farewell to our departed brothers and sisters in accordance with the teachings of Islam. Let us remember them with goodness and honor. Let us give charity on their behalf and engage in acts of kindness in their name. Let us build works that will keep their names alive and be a source of prayers for them. In doing so, we can ensure that the record of their good deeds remains open even after their passing.

Next Thursday marks the second anniversary of the devastating earthquake that affected eleven provinces of our country. On this occasion, I pray for Allah’s mercy upon all our departed brothers and sisters. May Allah, the Almighty, protect our nation, our people, and all of humanity from all forms of calamities.

I conclude my sermon with the following verse, which explains the purpose of life and death:

*"Say: My prayer, my sacrifice, my life, and my death are all for Allah, the Lord of all worlds."*³

¹ Muslim, Jana'iz, 60.
² Tirmidhi, Jana'iz, 21.
³ Al-An’am, 6:162.

Presidency of Religious Affairs – Directorate of Religious Services

Source: https://dinhizmetleri.diyanet.gov.tr/Documents/Ebediyet%20Yolcusunu%20Ug%CC%86urlarken.pdf