Chapter on Instructing the Dying (Talqin al-Muhtadarin)

Ali ibn Ibrahim, from his father, from Ibn Mahbub, from Ali ibn Ri'ab, from Zurara, who said: Abu Ja'far عليه السلام attended the funeral of a man from Quraysh, and I was with Him عليه السلام. Among those present was 'Ata. A woman began wailing loudly, so 'Ata said: "She must either stop or we will leave." The woman did not stop, so 'Ata left. I said to Abu Ja'far عليه السلام: "'Ata has left (the funeral)." Imam عليه السلام said: "Why?" I replied: "Because this woman was wailing, and he told her to stop or he would leave, but she did not stop, so he left." Abu Ja'far عليه السلام said: "Let us proceed. If we abandon the truth whenever we see something false mixed with it, we would never fulfill the rights of Muslims." When Imam عليه السلام finished the prayer over the deceased, the deceased's guardian said to Abu Ja'far عليه السلام: "Return with Allah’s سبحانه وتعالى reward and mercy, for you are unable to walk further." But Abu Ja'far عليه السلام refused to leave. I said to Him عليه السلام: "He has permitted you to leave, and I have a question I need to ask you." Imam عليه السلام replied: "Continue on. We did not come with his permission, nor will we leave with his permission. Rather, this is an act of seeking virtue and reward. A person is rewarded based on how much he follows the funeral procession."