Is writing on the Kafan (funeral shroud) allowed in Islam? Also what is Ahad Nama?

Quran

Hadith

Islamic Text

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ

In the Name of Allah Most Merciful Most Kind

Short Answer

Writing on the Kafan (funeral shroud) is not allowed because people write the name of Allah (Most High) and that must be respected. As for the Ahad Nama, this is a paper that people bury with the deceased. It is not permitted because it contains the name of Allah (Most High) and his beloved Messenger ﷺ, and such writing has to be respected. It is not respectful to bury it with a decaying corpse.

Explanation

وَمَنْ يُعَظِّمْ شَعَائِرَ اللَّهِ فَإِنَّهَا مِنْ تَقْوَى الْقُلُوبِ

And whoever venerates that which Allah has sanctified, it is certainly from the piety of hearts. (Surah al-Haj, 22).

 

The verse above emphasises the importance of venerating that which Allah Most High has sanctified. Thus, the names of Allah(Most High), religious writings and scripture must be duly respected. Therefore, writing on the Kafan or burying an Ahad Nama with the deceased cannot be permitted. As the body will decompose and impurities will exit. These impurities will soil the Kafan and the Ahad Nama.

If the name of Allah (Most High) is written on the Kafan then the impurity soiling it will be a complete violation of sanctity. No Muslim could find such a situation acceptable in any way. Rather all Muslims will find it deeply intolerable. So why do so many Muslims adhere to these practices? They obviously do not think about it what they are doing. They do not study and simply adhere to norms.

 

What is Ahad Nama

Ahad Nama (عَهْدَ نَامَهْ) refers to a piece of paper upon which people write religious statements. These statements include the Name of Allah (Most High) and His Messenger ﷺ. It is subsequently buried with the deceased. Even if one were to cover this with a plastic covering, it still would not be permitted. Since, our respect for the name of Allah (Most High) is such that we will not place it near impurities even if it is covered.

Writing on the Kafan will be even worse than the Ahad Nama, since it cannot be covered or distanced in any manner. Despite the obvious and deep disrespect present with such practices, they remain widespread. This is the danger of following religious culture without question. Rather one should always return to the Quran and Sunnah. Thereafter one should seek the sound classical understanding of Quran and Sunnah.

 

The tradition works

One of the main reasons that we follow Madhabs and have an established tradition in Sunni Islam is that it protects us from misguidance. Even when we find some scholars making mistakes, others will correct them. This highlights one of the dangers of sectarianism. They put too much emphasis upon a scholar or a small group of scholars.

We see an example of the Hanafi Madhab eradicating a significant error in the Nusoos (texts) below. One of the significant scholars of the Hanafi Madhab made serious errors regarding the issue of Ahad Nama. However, he was corrected by another authoritative scholar.

 

أَوْصَى بَعْضُهُمْ أَنْ يُكْتَبَ فِي جَبْهَتِهِ وَصَدْرِهِ – بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَن الرَّحِيم – فَفُعِلَ ثُمَّ رُئِيَ فِي الْمَنَامِ فَسُئِلَ فَقَالَ: لَمَّا وُضِعْت فِي الْقَبْرِ جَاءَتْنِي مَلَائِكَةُ الْعَذَابِ، فَلَمَّا رَأَوْا مَكْتُوبًا عَلَى جَبْهَتِي بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَن الرَّحِيم قَالُوا: أَمِنْت مِنْ عَذَابِ اللَّهِ. (الدر المختار شرح تنوير الأبصار)

One of them requested that the following be written on his forehead and chest: In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. It was done and then he was seen in a dream and was asked (about his situation). He said: When I was placed in the grave, the angels of punishment came to me, when they saw the words, In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful, written on my forehead, they said: You are safe from Allah’s punishment. (Imam Ala al-Deen al-Haskafi 1088H, al-Durr al-Mukhtar).

Not only does Imam al-Haskafi appear to support writing the names of Allah (Most High) upon the deceased, but he also seems to be justifying it through a dream. This is surprising. To see a great scholar make such errors will be unsettling for those who are not very familiar with the academic tradition.

In reality, it is not uncommon to see great scholars making surprising errors. It may well be a test for them. However, other scholars raise these concerns and correct their mistakes. This process ultimately prevents the Ummah from going astray.

However, those people who reject the Sunni tradition and prefer sectarianism will inevitably be misguided. Since, they do not follow the full tradition of Ahl al-Sunnah. And thus are not protected in the same manner. They follow a small group of scholars and elevate them to an unacceptable place.

The correction
وَالْقَوْلُ بِأَنَّهُ يُطْلَبُ فِعْلُهُ مَرْدُودٌ لِأَنَّ مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ لَا يُحْتَجُّ بِهِ إلَّا إذَا صَحَّ عَنْ النَّبِيِّ – صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ – طَلَبُ ذَلِكَ وَلَيْسَ كَذَلِكَ اهـ. (رد المحتار على الدر المختار)

The view that it is to be sought is rejected. Because something like that is not taken as evidence unless it is authentically reported from the Prophet ﷺ  that he requested it. And that is not the case. (Imam Muhammad Ameen bin Abideen 1252H, Radd al-Muhtar).

In the Nass above Imam Ibn Abideen cites Imam Ibn Hajr al-Haytami when refuting what Imam al-Haskafi mentioned in his work. He rejects the practice. Then he explains that such practices require Hadith. Obviously dreams cannot be used to establish religious practices. If we were to accept dreams as religious evidence, then our Deen would be changed beyond recognition.

Thereafter, Imam Ibn Abideen cited Fath al-Qadeer and used it as evidence against the position mentioned by Imam al-Haskafi. He explained that the Hanafis prevented people from writing Quranic verses or the names of Allah (Most High) on  coins or walls. Then how could they ever allow them to be written on the Kafan, on the deceased, or an Ahad Nama. He reiterated that such practices require Hadith.

عَنْ الْفَتْحِ أَنَّهُ تُكْرَهُ كِتَابَةُ الْقُرْآنِ وَأَسْمَاءِ اللَّهِ – تَعَالَى – عَلَى الدَّرَاهِمِ وَالْمَحَارِيبِ وَالْجُدْرَانِ وَمَا يُفْرَشُ، وَمَا ذَاكَ إلَّا لِاحْتِرَامِهِ، وَخَشْيَةِ وَطْئِهِ وَنَحْوِهِ مِمَّا فِيهِ إهَانَةٌ فَالْمَنْعُ هُنَا بِالْأَوْلَى مَا لَمْ يَثْبُتْ عَنْ الْمُجْتَهِدِ أَوْ يُنْقَلْ فِيهِ حَدِيثٌ ثَابِتٌ فَتَأَمَّلْ. (رد المحتار على الدر المختار)

In Fath (he mentioned) that it is disliked (Makruh) to write the Qur’an and the names of Allah (Most High) on coins, prayer niches, walls, and sheets. That is out of respect for it, and for fear of it being trampled or dishonoured in other ways. Thus prohibition here is more appropriate. Unless it is proven from a Mujtahid or a sound Hadith is narrated about it. So reflect upon it. (Imam Muhammad Ameen bin Abideen 1252H, Radd al-Muhtar).

 

Reconciliation 
عَنْ فَوَائِدِ الشَّرْجِيِّ أَنَّ مِمَّا يُكْتَبُ عَلَى جَبْهَةِ الْمَيِّتِ بِغَيْرِ مِدَادٍ بِالْأُصْبُعِ الْمُسَبِّحَةِ – بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَن الرَّحِيم – وَعَلَى الصَّدْرِ لَا إلَهَ إلَّا اللَّهُ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ، وَذَلِكَ بَعْدَ الْغُسْلِ قَبْلَ التَّكْفِينِ. (رد المحتار على الدر المختار)

In Fawaid al-Sharji: Among the things that are written on the forehead of the deceased without ink, with the index finger, is: in the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. And on the chest: There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. That is done after washing (Ghusl) and before shrouding (Kafn). (Imam Muhammad Ameen bin Abideen 1252H, Radd al-Muhtar).

Imam Ibn Abideen is renowned for reconciling apparently contradictory positions found in the Hanafi Madhab. He attempts to do that with the current Masalah (issue). He suggests that those advocating for writing on the Kafan, mean imitating the writing. Thus, they are not to use ink. Rather they imitate writing with the finger. This would undoubtedly be permitted.

 

Conclusion

It is strictly prohibited for a Muslim to disrespect religious scripture or sacred names in any manner. There is no name more sacred than the name of Allah (Most High). Exposing the Holy Name to impurity must be rejected. Whether one is writing on the Kafan, on the deceased’s forehead or placing an Ahad Nama, he or she is certainly exposing the Holy Name of Allah (Most High) to impurity. Therefore, Muslims must desist from such practices immediately.

And Allah Most High Knows Best.

Answered by Shaykh Noorud-deen Rashid (30.07.24)