Prophet Muhammad ﷺ too has advised against taking ill against those who are dead. This is mentioned in Sahi al-Bukhārī (Book 81: To make the Heart Tender (Ar-Riqaq) / كتاب الرقاق / Chapter 42: The stupors of death / باب سَكَرَاتِ الْمَوْتِ / as Hadith 6446, given herein under:
Narrated `Aisha:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Do not abuse the dead, for they have reached the result of what they have done."
Arabic Text:
حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْجَعْدِ، أَخْبَرَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ مُجَاهِدٍ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لاَ تَسُبُّوا الأَمْوَاتَ، فَإِنَّهُمْ قَدْ أَفْضَوْا إِلَى مَا قَدَّمُوا ".
The hadith essentially emphasizes that once someone has passed away, their deeds are concluded, and it is not for the living to judge or criticize them, as the final judgment belongs to Allah.
Explanation of the Hadith in Light of the Quran:
The Quran offers guidance on how to deal with life, death, and judgment, and this hadith aligns with the broader Islamic teachings about the afterlife and the final reckoning. Here are some relevant Quranic verses that support the essence of this hadith:
- Responsibility for Deeds: The Quran reminds us that each person is responsible for their own deeds and will be judged by Allah accordingly. Once someone has passed away, they can no longer alter their deeds or face further consequences from others. Allah says:
"Every soul will be (held) in pledge for what it has gained." (Quran 74:38)
This verse emphasizes individual accountability, meaning that once a person dies, the outcome of their actions is sealed, and no one else can change or pass judgment on that.
- No One Can Judge Except Allah: The Quran also stresses that ultimate judgment belongs only to Allah, and humans are not to judge others beyond their capacity or knowledge. Allah says:
"Indeed, to Us is their return. Then indeed, it is upon Us to count them." (Quran 88:25-26)
This reinforces the concept that Allah will judge everyone according to their actions on the Day of Judgment. Therefore, to speak ill of the dead would be presumptuous and beyond human capacity, as only Allah knows the true state of each individual.
- Encouragement to Speak Well of the Dead: Islam encourages speaking well of those who have passed away, especially those who were righteous. This is not only a sign of respect but also a reminder of the positive aspects of life. The Quran advises in several places to maintain good speech and behavior towards others.
"And speak to people good [words]." (Quran 2:83)
This is a general guideline that can be extended to the dead, where even in death, a person’s reputation should not be harmed by unkind words.
- The Concept of Finality in Death: Death in Islam marks the end of a person's ability to change their fate or circumstances. The deceased cannot amend their wrongs or rectify their mistakes in this life; only Allah can forgive or judge them. As the Quran says:
"And Allah does not wrong anyone, even as much as an atom's weight." (Quran 4:40)
This emphasizes the justice of Allah in His judgment of the deceased, and thus, humans should refrain from making judgments on their behalf.
The Hadith's Moral Lesson:
The hadith reinforces the idea that once someone has passed away, they have already received the consequences of their actions (good or bad). It encourages Muslims to show restraint in their speech and not to speak ill of the deceased. Instead of focusing on criticizing those who are no longer able to defend themselves or amend their actions, the living should focus on their own deeds, striving to earn Allah’s mercy.
In sum, this hadith, when understood in light of the Quran, highlights the importance of humility, respect for the deceased, and the understanding that ultimate judgment belongs only to Allah. It serves as a reminder that the lives of others—especially after death—are not for us to judge, and we should focus on our own conduct, aiming to be mindful of our speech and actions.
Many of us are in the habit of talking ill of others even they are dead. This hadith thus cautions us to shun our difference with the dead or any harm that they may have caused us during their lives. Let us let them proceed to the journey to be judged by Allah on the Day of Judgement. And also let us be good to others so that when we are no more, others speak good of us.
May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door.
وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ
(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”
That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.
May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.
Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.
Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.
Please refer to our exclusive reference page Prophet Muhammad ﷺ about Morality for more etiquettes attributed to Prophet Muhammad.
For more hadiths on varying subjects, refer to our reference page: Sunnah and Hadith of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to know more about Hadiths and Sunnah of Prophet of Allah. You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.
Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references as given above. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors. If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.
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