The Prophet Muhammad said, “There is no Muslim man who dies and forty men who do not associate anything with Allah pray the funeral prayer for him, but Allaah will accept their intercession for him.” (Narrated by Muslim)

The Prophet Muhammad said, “Whenever a (Muslim) person dies, and a group of Muslims numbering one hundred pray janazah for him, all interceding on his behalf, their intercession is granted (by Allah) and he is forgiven.” (Narrated by Muslim)

So, the more, the better, right?

Will I be fortunate to even have 40 people who *want* to come to my janazah?

When I first got into this thought, I was first thinking about the breakdown of the community. Being Asian, I'm still part of a wider community in which everyone seems to know everyone - which has it's negatives and it's benefits. I like the benefits. Especially "back home", when I hear stories of how everyone sticks together, cares for one another and helps out each other. I hear that's not really the case even back home now.

I think it's really sad how people have become so individualistic, caring more about their financial gains than their relationships, and just generally keeping themselves to themselves.

A lesson "ayatul birr", "verse of goodness" (Surah baqarah, verse 177) teaches that for us to be good Muslims, we must help people in need...those close to us and those who don't ask us of help (and those who do ask, but the former is mentioned first). But how do we help someone who doesn't tell us they need help? Well we are supposed to *know*! We are supposed to be close enough to people to ask ourselves if they alright, and go beyond the small talk and be comfortable sharing our problems with each other.
We can't do that, without being caring, loving, taking time out for others and being a pretty close community.

I said the Asian version of a close-knit comment has it's flaws, but Islam does not. Islam does not allow people to but in to other people's business, it does not allow us to backbite and only be concerned for others, for the gossip. We just need to be friendly and help each other.

If we're hating on each other now, how many people will care enough to read our janazah?

-the ayatul birr bit is taken from NAK
-I'm not being selfish, just thinkif about being saved at death...this blog is really about the connections...or lack of..that we have in our society, and how that impacts us negatively. Even in our everyday life. But I cbb to write more on that, at this time!

Also there is reward for the person who reads janazah:
The Prophet Muhammad (S) said: “Whoever follows a Muslim’s bier, out of faith and seeking to increase his account of good deeds, until he makes the funeral prayer for it will have a Qeeraat’s worth of reward. And he whoever follows it until it is buried, will get two Qeeraats” He was then asked what two Qeeraats were and he replied, “They are equivalent to two huge mountains; [the smaller of the two is like Mount Uhud].” (Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim)

Oh, also, I'm not saying we're that bad now, but as the years go by, the morals and values of the society change, things deteriorate...

(if doesnt make sense, please note it's 3:48am, and I have no idea why I'm not tired enough to fall asleep!)