Monday, September 7, 2026

40 Wills from Madina: Love for the Prophet ﷺ, Funeral Rulings and Islamic Guidance

Excellence of Ṣalāt-'Alan-Nabī صَلَّى اللّٰہ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم

The Beloved and Blessed Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰہ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has stated, 'Recite Ṣalāt upon me, Allāĥ عَزَّوَجَلَّ will send mercy upon you.'

(Al-Kāmil li Ibn 'Adī, vol. 5, pp. 505)

صَلُّوا عَلَى الْحَبِيْب صَلَّى اللّٰہ تَعَالٰی عَلٰی مُحَمَّد

اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰہ عَلٰی اِحْسَانِہٖ!  At this time, whilst sitting in the sacred Masjid of the Beloved and Blessed Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰہ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم after Ṣalāt-ul-Fajr, I am blessed with the privilege of writing 'اَرْبَعِيْنَ وَصَایَا مِنَ الْمَدِيْنَةِ الْمَنَوَّرَة' i.e. '40 Wills from Madīna-tul-Munawwaraĥ'. It is my last morning in Madīna-tul-Munawwaraĥ دَامَتْ بَرَکَاتُہَا الْعَالِیَة today. The sun is about to pay Salām to the majestic mausoleum of the most Beloved and Blessed Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰہ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. Alas! If I am not blessed with burial in Jannat-ul-Baqī' by tonight, I will have to depart from Madīnaĥ. Tears are welling up in my eyes and my heart is dejected.

Afsos chand ghařiyāṅ Ṭaybaĥ kī reĥ gaī ĥayṅ
Dil mayṅ judāī kā gham ṭūfān machā rahā hay

Alas! A few moments of my stay in Madīnaĥ are left
Grief of separation is causing a storm in my heart

My heart is sinking and my smile has vanished! The thought of separation from Madīnaĥ has grieved me. Soon I will have to leave Madīnaĥ with a heavy heart. The mournful moments of departure from Madīnaĥ are fast approaching! It is as if I feel like an infant who is separated from his mother's lap and who keeps on looking back with wistful eyes crying and longing for his mother to call him back, place him in her lap, cradle him to her bosom and put him to sleep by singing a lullaby.

Mayṅ shikastaĥ dil liye baujĥal qadam rakĥtā ĥuwā
Chal pařā hūṅ Yā Shaĥanshāĥ-e-Madīnaĥ al-wadā'

With a broken heart, I am now departing with heavy steps
I bid farewell to you, O King of Madīnaĥ.

With a broken heart, I am now making my 40 wills that are directed towards all the brothers and sisters of Dawat-e-Islami. My offspring and other family members should also pay attention to these wills of mine. If only I am blessed with martyrdom under the shade of the Green Dome and the Minarets in Madīna-tul-Munawwaraĥ whilst beholding the most Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰہ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. And, if only I am blessed with burial in Jannat-ul-Baqī'. Otherwise, alas, wherever I am predestined to be…

1.     If I am found taking my last breaths, perform all rites in accordance with the Sunnaĥ. Turn my face towards the Holy Qiblaĥ and read out Sūraĥ Yāsīn to me. Continue to recite the Kalimaĥ Ṭayyibaĥ aloud till my departing soul comes to my chest.

2.     After my soul leaves my body, perform all rites according to the Sunnaĥ e.g. hastening in shrouding and burial; because delaying these things in order to gather a large number of people is not Sunnaĥ. The rulings described in Part-IV of the book Baĥār-e-Sharī'at should be acted upon. Specially it is strongly emphasized to avoid making Nauḥā (i.e., wailing) as it is Ḥarām and leads to Hell.

3.     The size of the grave should be in conformity with the Sunnaĥ. Make a Laḥad as it is Sunnaĥ¹.

4.     Make earthen-walls in the grave without using fire-baked bricks. However, if it is unavoidable to make brick-walls inside the grave, then plaster the interior sides with mud.

5.     If possible, recite Sūraĥ Yāsīn, Sūraĥ Al-Mulk and Durūd-e-Tāj and blow on the interior side of the slabs.

6.     Purchase the shroud in conformity with the Sunnaĥ with my own money. In the case of me being destitute, purchase it with the Ḥalāl money of any correct beliefs-holding Sunnī Muslim.

7.     Any bearded and turbaned, firmly Sunnaĥ-following Islamic brother should give Ghusl (ritual bath) to me in conformity with the Sunnaĥ. (I will consider it disrespect if a Sayyid gives Ghusl to my dirty body.)

8.     During Ghusl, the Satr-e-'Awrat must be covered properly. If two brown or any other dark-coloured shawls are wrapped around the body area from the navel to the complete knees, the risk of the shape of Satr being exposed will probably be eliminated. However, water must flow on every part of the body including every hair from its root to tip.

¹ There are 2 types of graves: (1) Coffin type (2) Laḥad. To make a Laḥad, a grave is dug first and then, a shelf is made into the bottom of right wall towards the Qiblaĥ for placing the corpse in it. Digging a Laḥad is Sunnaĥ. If the ground is suitable, then the Laḥad should be made, but if the ground is soft then, there is no harm in preparing the coffin type grave. The gravedigger may suggest that the slab be laid in a slanting position after placing the corpse inside the grave but you should not listen to him.

9.     If the shroud is wet with Zamzam or water of Madīnaĥ or with both, it will be a privilege for me. If only some Sayyid Sahib adorns my head with a green turban!¹

10. After Ghusl, write "بِسْمِ اللّٰہِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ" with the Shahādaĥ finger (i.e., the index finger of the right hand) on the forehead before covering the face in the shroud.

11. In the same way, write (لَآ اِلٰہَ اِلَّا اللّٰہُ مُحَمَّدٌ رَّسُوْلُ اللّٰہ) (صَلَّى اللّٰہ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم) on the chest.

12. And, near the heart, write '(يَا رَسُوْلَ اللّٰہ) (صَلَّى اللّٰہ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم)'.

13. On the part of the shroud between the navel and the chest, write: يَا اِمَام اَحْمَد رَضَا رَحْمَةُ اللّٰہ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ، يَا اَبُوْ حَنِيْفَة رَحْمَةُ اللّٰہ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ، يَا غَوْثِ اَعْظَمِ دَسْتگِيْر رَحْمَةُ اللّٰہ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ and يَا شَيْخ ضِيَاءِ الدِّيْن رَحْمَةُ اللّٰہ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ with the index finger of the right hand.

14. Write 'مَدِيْنَه مَدِيْنَه' on the part of the shroud from above the navel to the head (excluding the part that will remain under the back). Remember! All this will be written with the index finger of the right hand without using any pen or ink, etc. If only some Sayyid writes this.

¹ Only scholars and saints can be buried with their heads turbaned. It is prohibited to bury an ordinary deceased person with turban tying around his head.

15. Place the seeds of dates of Madīnaĥ over my eyes.

16. Act upon all the relevant Sunan while carrying the bier [i.e., the frame on which the deceased is carried at a funeral].

17. In the funeral procession, all Islamic brothers should recite the Na'at 'Ka'bay kay Badr-ud-Dujā Tum pay Karořoṅ Durūd' written by Imām Aḥmad Razā Khān عَلَيْهِ رَحْمَةُ الرَحْمَان. (Other Na'ats may also be recited but only the ones written by the scholars of the Aĥl-e-Sunnat.)

18. The funeral Ṣalāh should be led by any correct beliefs-holding and practicing Sunnī scholar or by any Sunnaĥ-conforming Islamic brother or by any of my sons, if capable. However, it is my wish that Sādāt-e-Kirām be preferred.

19. If only Sādāt-e-Kirām lower me in the grave with their blessed hands, leaving me under the mercy of اَرْحَمُ الرَّاحِمِيْن!¹

20. Make an arch-like space in the Qiblaĥ-facing wall of the grave towards the face, and place in it an 'Aĥd Nāmaĥ' written by some Sunnaĥ-following Islamic brother. Also place the holy print of the blessed shoes of the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰہ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, picture of the Green Dome, Shajaraĥ, Naqsh-e-Ĥarkāraĥ and other Tabarrukāt [i.e. holy relics].

21. If only I am buried in Jannat-ul-Baqī'! Otherwise, bury me in the neighbourhood of some Beloved of Allah. If it is not possible either, then bury me anywhere the Islamic brothers like, but do not bury me in a seized piece of land as it is Ḥarām to do so.

22. Call out the Ażān near my grave.

¹ i.e., the most Merciful of all those who show mercy.

23. If only some Sayyid Sahib performs Talqīn¹!

24. After I am buried, if possible, those loving me should sit around my grave for 12 days or for at least 12 hours, and keep pleasing my heart by reciting the Holy Quran, Na'ats, Ḥamd and Ṣalāt-'Alan-Nabī. اِنْ شَاۤءَاللّٰہ عَزَّوَجَلَّ I will get used to my new abode. Offer Ṣalāh with Jamā'at during this period as well as on all other occasions.

¹ Excellence of Talqīn: The Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰہ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said: When your Muslim brother dies and you have buried him, one of you should stand at the head side of the grave and say, 'O son/daughter of so and so!' He will listen but will not reply. Again say, 'O son/daughter of so and so!' He will sit upright. Say once again, 'O son/daughter of so and so!' He will say, 'Advise me. May Allāĥ عَزَّوَجَلَّ have mercy on you.' But you will not hear him. Then you say:

اُذْكُرْ مَا خَرَجْتَ عَلَيْهِ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا: شَهَادَةَ اَنْ لَآ اِلٰہَ اِلَّا اللّٰہُ وَ اَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُوْلُہٗ (صَلَّى اللّٰہ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم)، وَاَنَّكَ رَضِيْتَ بِاللّٰہِ رَبًّا وَّبِالْاِسْلَامِ دِيْنًا وَّبِمُحَمَّد (صَلَّى اللّٰہ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم) نَبِيًّا وَّبِالْقُرْاٰنِ اِمَامًا

Recall the [belief] with which you departed from the world, i.e., testifying that none is worthy of worship except Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ and Muhammad صَلَّى اللّٰہ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم is His distinguished bondman and Prophet, and that you were pleased with Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ as your Rab (Creator), Islam as your religion, Muhammad صَلَّى اللّٰہ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم as your Prophet and the Holy Quran as your Imām.

Munkar and Nakīr will hold each others' hands and say, 'Let's go, it's no use to sit beside the one whom people have taught the answer.' Someone asked the Beloved and Blessed Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰہ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, 'If we don't know his mother's name, (then)?' The Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰہ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم replied, 'Refer to Ḥawwā (عَلَيْهَا السَّلَام).'

(Ṭabarānī Kabīr, vol. 8, pp. 250, Ḥadīš 7979)

Note: In place of 'son of so and so' mention the name of the deceased with his mother's name, e.g., 'O Muhammad Ilyās, son of Amīnaĥ'. If you do not know the name of the deceased's mother, mention the name of Ḥawwā (رَضِیَ اللّٰہ تَعَالٰی عَنْہَا) in place. Perform Talqīn in Arabic only.

25. If I have debt, etc., pay it off with my own assets. In case I leave no assets, my offspring, if alive, or some other Islamic brother should pay the debt off, doing me a favour. Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ will grant you great reward. (Make the following announcement in various Ijtimā'āt: If Muhammad Ilyas 'Attar Qadiri hurt anyone's feelings or violated someone's rights, please forgive him. If he owes someone money, etc., either contact his heirs immediately or forgive him.)

26. If Dua of forgiveness and Īṣāl-e-Šawāb is made to me abundantly and permanently, it will be great benevolence to me.

27. Everyone should stay steadfast in the doctrine of the Aĥl-e-Sunnat based on the true Islamic teachings of Imām-e-Aĥl-e-Sunnat Maulānā Shāĥ Imām Aḥmad Razā Khān عَلَيْہِ رَحْمَةُ الرَحْمَان.

28. Avoid the company of religious bigots¹ like the plague, as keeping their company is a great obstacle in having a good end, and leads to destruction in the Hereafter.

29. Stick to the Sunnaĥ and devotion to the Beloved and Blessed Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰہ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم.

30. Never get heedless in offering the obligatory acts such as daily Ṣalāĥs, fasts of Ramadan, Zakāĥ, Hajj, other Wājibāt (mandatory) acts and the Sunnaĥ.

31. IMPORTANT WILL: Always remain loyal to the Markazī Majlis-e-Shūrā of Dawat-e-Islami. Follow every such instruction of its every member as well as your every Nigrān that is in conformity with Sharī'aĥ. I am fed up with anyone opposing the Shūrā or Dawat-e-Islami's any other responsible brother without a Shar'ī permission, no matter how close relative to me he is.

¹ i.e., those holding corrupt beliefs

32. Every Islamic brother should take part in the area visit for the call towards righteousness at least once a week from beginning to end, and should travel with the Madanī Qāfilaĥ at least for 3 days every month, 30 days every 12 months and at least 12 months continuously in his lifetime. In order to attain steadfastness in a reformed character, Islamic brothers and sisters should fill in the Madanī In'āmāt booklet daily and submit it to their relevant responsible person every month.

33. Keep on disseminating the message of the Sunnaĥ and devotion to the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰہ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم in the world.

34. Continue struggling against false beliefs, bad deeds, unreasonable love for the world, Ḥarām earnings and prohibited fashions, etc. Furthermore, keep on calling people towards righteousness with sincerity and Madanī sweetness.

35. Avoid being angry and short-tempered like the plague; otherwise, it will become difficult for you to perform religious services.

36. It is a Madanī request to my heirs to avoid earning worldly wealth through my books and cassettes of speeches.

37. Follow the rulings of the Sharī'aĥ regarding my inheritance.

38. I have forgiven, in advance, anyone who swears at me, causes any harm, injures me or hurts my feelings.

39. No one should avenge those causing harm to me.

40. If someone martyrs me, I have personally forgiven my rights to him. I also request my heirs to forgive my assassin. If, by virtue of the intercession of the Prophet of Raḥmaĥ, the Intercessor of the Ummaĥ صَلَّى اللّٰہ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, I am blessed with some great privilege on the Day of Judgement, اِنْ شَاۤءَاللّٰہ عَزَّوَجَلَّ I will even take my assassin to Heaven provided that he died as a Muslim.

 (If my martyrdom takes place, do not cause any violence nor give any call to protest. If a 'strike' results in stoning the shops, vehicles and other possessions of the Muslims and forcing them into stopping trading, no Muftī of Islam can declare such violations of people's rights as permissible. This sort of strike is a Ḥarām act leading to Hell.)

May the most Merciful Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ forgive me, a great sinner, for the sake of His Beloved and Blessed Rasūl صَلَّى اللّٰہ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. Yā Allāĥ عَزَّوَجَلَّ! For as long as I remain alive, keep me devoted to the love of the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰہ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم and the remembrance of Madīnaĥ. May I keep calling people towards righteousness! May I be blessed with the intercession of the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰہ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم and forgiveness! May I be blessed with the neighbourhood of Your Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰہ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم in Jannat-ul-Firdaus! If only I remain engrossed in beholding the Blessed Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰہ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. Yā Allāĥ عَزَّوَجَلَّ! Send innumerable Ṣalāt and Salām on Your Beloved and Blessed Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰہ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم and forgive his entire Ummaĥ.

اٰمِیْن بِجَاہِ النَّبِیِّ الْاَمِیْن صَلَّى اللّٰہ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم

Yā Ilāĥī jab Razā khuwāb-e-girāṅ say sar uṭĥāye
Dawlat-e-baydār-e-'ishq-e-Mustafa kā sāt̠ĥ ho

صَلُّوْا عَلَى الْحَبِيْب صَلَّى اللّٰہ تَعَالٰی عَلٰی مُحَمَّد

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