Chapter on Guiding the Dying, Positioning Them at Death, Procedures for Their Final Moments, Washing Them, and Placing Them in Shrouds

The Shaykh (Al-Mufid), may Allah سبحانه وتعالى support him, narrated to me from Abu al-Qasim Ja‘far ibn Muhammad, from Muhammad ibn Ya‘qub, from a group of our companions, from Sahl ibn Ziyad, from Muhammad ibn Sinan, from Muhammad ibn ‘Ajlan, from Abu ‘Abdullah عليه السلام: Imam عليه السلام said: "Lower him (the deceased) gently into the grave. When you place him in his niche (Lahd), the person closest to him should stand near his head, mention the name of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, send blessings upon the Prophet (may Allah سبحانه وتعالى bless him and his family), seek refuge from the accursed Satan, and recite: Surat al-Fatiha, Surat al-Falaq (first of the al-Mu‘awwidhatayn), Surat al-Nas (second of the al-Mu‘awwidhatayn), Surat al-Ikhlas (Qul Huwa Allahu Ahad), and Ayat al-Kursi. If possible, he should uncover the cheek of the deceased and place it on the earth. Then, he should recite the testimony of faith (Tashahhud) and mention what he knows until he completes the recitation for the deceased."