The Dying

Instructing The Dying Person

g1.5 If the visitor sees the person is dying,

he should make him desirous of Allah's mercy (since hope should predominate over fear in this state)

and should turn him to face the qibla by laying him on his right side, or if impossible, on his left.

If this too is impossible, he is laid on his back (with his face and feet towards the direction of qibla by laying him on his right side, or if impossible, on his back (with his face and feet towards the direction of qibla by proping up his head a little, feet meaning the bottoms of them).

The visitor should then instruct the dying person to say" There is no god but Allah,"letting him hear it( so he can repeat it) but without irritating insistence, and without telling him "Say...." When he says it, then he is let be until he himself speaks of something else.It is recommended that the person instructing him to say it be neither his heir nor enemy.

Immediate Measures After Death

"Reliance of the traveller"

g1.6 It is recommended:

that the kindliest to him of his unmarriageable kin (mahram) close his eyes.
to close his jaws (with a wide bandage tied above his head so his mouth is not left open);
to make his joints flexible (by bending the forearm to the upper arm, calf to thigh, thigh to stomach, and then straightening them, and to similarly flex the fingers in order to facilitate washing and shrouding him. If the joints are flexed at this point, they remain flexible, but if not, it becomes impossible afterwards)
to (gently) remove his clothes, and to cover him with a light cloth (tucking the edge under his head and feet so they do not become uncovered);
and to place something heavy on his stomach (to prevent bloating).

g1.7 It is recommended to hasten in paying off the debts of the deceased (or having them waived (by creditors). It is recommended to hurry in implementing his bequests, and in readying him for burial (haste being recommended (in readying him and burying him) when it is unlikely that the body will rapidly change, but obligatory when this is likely).

g1.8 When someone dies suddenly (or is believed to have died), the body is left until it is certain he is dead (by a change in odor or the like).

g1.9 Washing the dead person, shrouding him, praying over him, carrying him, and burying him are communal obligations.