Riyad as-Salihin · Chapter 163

Praising the Deceased

باب ثناء الناس علي الميت

How the community remembers a person at death is not an empty formality. This chapter explores the weight of the believers' testimony, the idea that when sincere people of faith praise or fault someone who has died, their honest verdict carries real meaning before Allah.

The recurring phrase is striking: you are Allah's witnesses on earth. Read across the two reports and notice that this is about genuine, widely shared testimony among the righteous, not flattery or gossip. It is also a quiet encouragement to live in such a way that those who knew you would truthfully speak well of you.

Hadith 950

Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:

عن أنس رضي الله عنه قال‏:‏ مروا بجنازة، فأثنوا عليها خيراً، فقال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم الله عليه وسلمى الله عليه وسلم الله عليه وسلم ‏:‏ ‏"‏وجبت”، ثم مروا بأخرى، فأثنوا عليها شراً، فقال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلمى الله عليه وسلم الله عليه وسلم الله عليه وسلم ‏:‏ ‏"‏وجبت‏"‏ فقال عمر بن الخطاب رضي الله عنه‏:‏ ما وجبت‏؟‏ قال‏:‏ ‏"‏هذا أثنيتم عليه خيراً، فوجبت له الجنة، وهذا أثنيتم عليه شراً فوجبت عليه النار، أنتم شهداء الله في الأرض” ‏(‏‏(‏متفق عليه‏)‏‏)‏‏.‏

Some Companions happened to pass by a funeral procession (bier) and they praised him (the deceased). The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "He will certainly enter it." Then they passed by another funeral procession and they spoke ill of the deceased. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "He will certainly enter it." `Umar bin Al-Khattab (May Allah be pleased with him) said: "(O Messenger of Allah,) what do you mean by `He will certainly enter it?'' He (ﷺ) replied, "You praised the first person, so he will enter Jannah; and you spoke ill of the second person, so he will enter Hell. You are Allah's witnesses on earth." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

In plain words

When believers sincerely praised one deceased person and spoke ill of another, the Prophet said each would enter the place the people's testimony reflected, calling them Allah's witnesses on earth.

Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 950 In-book reference : Book 6, Hadith 57

Hadith 951

Abul-Aswad (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:

وعن أبي الأسود قال‏:‏ قدمت المدينة، فجلست إلي عمر بن الخطاب رضي الله عنه فمرت بهم جنازة، فأثني علي صاحبها خيراً فقال عمر‏:‏ وجبت، ثم مر بأخرى، فأثني علي صاحبها خيراً، فقال عمر‏:‏ وجبت، ثم مر بالثالثة، فأثني علي صاحبها شراً، فقال عمر‏:‏ وجبت‏:‏ قال أبو الأسود‏:‏ فقلت‏:‏ وما وجبت يا أمير المؤمنين‏؟‏ قال‏:‏ قلت كما قال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلمى الله عليه وسلم الله عليه وسلم ‏:‏ “أيما مسلم شهد له أربعة بخير، أدخله الله الجنة‏:‏ فقلنا‏:‏ وثلاثة‏؟‏ قال‏:‏ “وثلاثة‏"‏ فقلنا‏:‏ واثنان‏؟‏ قال‏:‏ ‏"‏واثنان‏"‏ ثم لم نسأله عن الواحد‏"‏ ‏(‏‏(‏رواه البخاري‏)‏‏)‏‏.‏

I came to Al- Madinah, and while I was sitting beside 'Umar bin Al-Khattab, a funeral procession passed by. The people praised the deceased, and 'Umar bin Al-Khattab said: "He will certainly enter it." Then another funeral procession passed by and the people praised the deceased. 'Umar bin Al-Khattab (May Allah be pleased with him) said: "He will certainly enter it." A third funeral procession passed by and the people spoke ill of the deceased. He said: "He will certainly enter it." I (Abul-Aswad) asked: "O Amir Al-Mu'minin (i.e., Leader of the Believers)! What do you mean by 'He will certainly enter it'?" He replied: "I said the same as was said by the Prophet (ﷺ). He (ﷺ) said, 'If four persons testify the righteousness of a Muslim, Allah will grant him Jannah.' We asked: 'If three persons testify his righteousness?' He (ﷺ) replied, 'Even three'. Then we asked: 'If two?' He (ﷺ) replied, 'Even two.' We did not ask him (regarding the testimony) of one." [Al-Bukhari].

In plain words

Umar recalled the Prophet's teaching that if as few as two upright Muslims sincerely testify to a person's goodness, Allah will grant that person Paradise.

Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 951 In-book reference : Book 6, Hadith 58