Bamteli | Tasrîf ve Ölüm | M. Fethullah Gülen | (2008/03/03)

Question: Although we hear dozens of news stories about deaths every day through the media, we fail to consider that death will one day befall us, and we fail to live as if we were a guest in this world. Does the change in format and lack of explanation in remembering and reminding us of death contribute to this indifference? What are the principles underlying the fact that graves and funeral ceremonies also serve as reminders of death? -An Arab proverb says, "Everything new is delicious." The taste of newness must be utilized in guidance and preaching. (00:50) -Divine condescension means that God Almighty speaks according to the level of understanding of His servants and expresses profound truths in terms that people can understand. (02:00) -Some innovations can be made in the means used to serve religion and faith; the format of certain things can be modified according to the age, conditions, and conjuncture. If you don't change formats from time to time and use different forms to present your message, you will eventually become familiar with it and cause your audience to become bored. In fact, such innovations are, in a way, a requirement for embracing divine moral values. (05:30) "Tasrif" means the eloquent explanation of sublime truths and divine commands, approached from different perspectives through various means; the art of expressing the same understanding, the same message, the same observation through various verses, from form to form, from form to form, from verse to verse, and sometimes the concise expression of a wide variety of verses within a single verse. (06:55) -The death of our Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) and the reminder of his end brought tears to the eyes of the Companions, and some, like Uthman, wept. Because the time of a funeral and burial is a time of reflection and a deep sense of death; the grave and the tomb are places to weep. One of the most important purposes of allowing grave visits is to remind one of death. (11:34) -What should be recited after the deceased? Is it appropriate to recite the Fatiha for the deceased? When and with what considerations should the Yasin be recited? (13:21) -Learning from funerals and grave visits is directly proportional to gaining knowledge about the subject by reading books on death and the afterlife beforehand. (17:03) -Applauding at funerals is a bid'ah within a bid'ah. (22:42) While it is desirable to say a few words of warning to people at the shrine or gravesite, taking stock of the general scenery and atmosphere, there is no evidence that speeches or speeches were made there. Discourses like those we see today, disrespectful shouting, and obscene behavior that expresses nothing but arrogance when one should be at their most serious, are contrary to the essence of religion. (24:57) Those attending the funeral should testify in good faith if they truly knew the deceased as a virtuous person; otherwise, they should remain silent. If a person has consistently insulted religion, insulted and cursed the pious, and shown hostility towards believers throughout their lives, testifying in their favor, saying things like, "We know very well that he was a man destined for Paradise," is tantamount to making a false statement. (26.37) Some innovations related to the grave and funeral are sins to the extent of polytheism. (27.49)