The Kafan
The
Kafan (shroud) that a mayyit is dressed/ wrapped in
is vitally important. As a matter of fact, the Kafan is key to
maintaining the modesty and decorum of the deceased. Additionally, the
obligatory ceremonial formalities like ghusal, i.e.
bathing the deceased, arranging the hearse, time and venue of Salaat-ul-janaza,
the grave-sight, death certificate, etc. are also important arrangements requiring
urgent attention.
Hadhrat
Jabir (Radiyallahu
Anhu)
reports that Nabi (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said:
"When anyone of you enshrouds your brother (dress with kafan),
then enshroud with the best." (Muslim)
Dressing
up the “mayyit” (corpse) does not mean using the most expensive cloth.
Besides this being unwise, use of expensive fabrics will also be deemed to be “israaf”
(wasteful) and ridiculous spending. In fact, some Ulama declare it as “haram”
(impermissible) to use expensive cloth as Kafan.
The
use of the term, "best Kafan”, thus implies that:
1.
The kafan is clean.
2.
The cloth is sufficient to cover the “mayyit”.
3.
It should be preferably white.
Hadhrat
Ibn Adi’s (Rahmatullah
Alayh)
understanding
of "best Kafan”, is that when the deceased meet one another,
they will all be dressed in good clean cloth.
Ulama
have written that it is “Mustahab” (recommended) to use an average
quality cloth as the Kafan.
NB: A shaheed
(martyr) will be buried as is, without any shroud. However, if the
shaheed is wearing
extra clothing, then it should be removed. On the other hand, if the shaheed
is not properly dressed, then additional cloth needs to be used.
It
is also masnoon (recommended) to keep one's kafan ready in
one's lifetime. Insha Allah, this will serve as a reminder.
One
great luminary Mufassir Hadhrat Maulana
Ahmed Ali Lahory (Rahmatullah Alayh) had prepared his kafan
and labeled the wrapper … "Kafan of
Ahmed Ali".