[Q 399] Reading Quran Near Deceased

QUESTION:

Salam! Recently a family member passed away.

Yasin shareef was prayed near the body.

Does the body need to be in a state of ghusal for someone to pray or does he need to move to another room until ghusal is done.

ANSWER:

Reciting Surah Yaseen near the deceased is a rewarding and beloved act. It has been encouraged in the blessed Hadiths. Even if the deceased has not yet been given ghusal (ritual washing), it is still permissible to recite near the body. However, it should be ensured that the entire body of the deceased is covered with a cloth, and the recitation should be done in a low voice rather than loudly.

A Hadith states:

عَنْ مَعْقِلِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ ‏ “‏ اقْرَءُوهَا عِنْدَ مَوْتَاكُمْ يَعْنِي ‏{يس}‏

Translation: Ma’qil bin Yasar رضي الله تعالى عنه narrates from the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم that he said: “Recite it (i.e., Surah Yaseen) near your deceased.”

(Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith 1448)

Mufti Amjad Ali A’zami رحمه الله تعالى writes:

It is permissible to recite the Qur’an near the deceased as long as the entire body is covered with cloth.

(Bahar-e-Shariat, Volume 1, Part 4, Page 809, Maktaba-tul-Madina)

Answered by: Mubashir Attari (AskMufti Scholar)

Verified by: Mufti Sajid Attari

Translation checked by: Muhammad Zunurain Attari

Date: 20th April 2025