4. Facing Qiblah

Turning the body of one who is dying so that he or she faces the Qiblah [Makkah] has no foundation in the practise of the Prophet (r) and his companions. The body should be turned to face Makkah when it is placed in the grave, according to the Prophet’s instructions. However, at the time of dying, there were not such instructions. Turning the body, became a custom after the time of the Prophet’s companions, but was objected to by the scholars of that time. For example, Sa‘eed ibn al-Musayyib,14 one of the leading scholars among 12 Sahih Muslim vol.2, p.436, no.2002. 13 There is an unauthentic hadith narrated by Ma‘qil and collected in Sunan Abu Dawud, vol.2, p.889 no.3115 and Sunan Ibn-i-Majah, vol.2, p.367 no.1448. See also Mishkat Al-Masabih, vol.1, p.338. It is declared unauthentic in Da‘eef Sunan Abee Daawood, p.316, no.683. 14 Sa‘eed ibn al-Musayyib ibn Hazn (634-713CE), from the Madeenite tribe of Makhzoom, was one of the seven leading legal scholars of Madeenah. He was known as the most knowledgeable

the students of the Prophet’s companions, openly expressed his dislike for this practise. Zar‘ah ibn ‘Abdir-Rahmaan reported that he saw Aboo Salamah ibn ‘Abdir-Rahmaan with Sa‘eed ibn al-Musayyib when he was on his deathbed. When Sa‘eed lost consciousness, Aboo Salamah instructed that his bed be turned towards the Ka‘bah. When Sa‘eed regained consciousness he asked, ‘Did you move my bed?” When they replied that they had done so, he looked at Aboo Salamah and said, ‘I think it was done with your knowledge?” He replied, “I told them to do so.” Then Sa‘eed instructed them to return his bed to its original position.”15