Islamic Fiqh > Funerals > The talqin of the dying: recommendations at the time of death
What to do beside a dying Muslim: turn him toward the qibla, suggest the declaration of faith, comfort him, then the first steps after death.
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Updated on 07 September 2026 at 3:44 PM
The dying person is the one whom death and its angels have reached: the one whose death is near. The jurists described signs of agony among those specialists recognize: the feet relax so that they no longer stand, the nose curves, the temples sink in, the skin of the face spreads and shows no contraction.
It is recommended to turn the dying person toward the qibla at the moment his gaze fades, and not before, so as not to frighten him. He is turned lying on his right side, facing the qibla, in consideration of his position in the grave; if the place is too narrow, on his left side facing the qibla, and if that is impossible, on his back, his head slightly raised so that his face is toward the qibla. This practice is agreed upon by the four imams: al-Nawawi records the consensus that it is recommended to present the dying person to the qibla. Al-Bara ibn Ma'rur had recommended his family to turn him toward the qibla at his death; the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "He has reached the fitra", returned his third to his son and prayed over him (reported by al-Hakim, who judged it authentic).
It belongs to whoever attends the dying person to suggest to him the words: "la ilaha illallah". The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "Suggest to your dying: there is no deity but Allah; whoever's last words will be there is no deity but Allah will enter Paradise on a day of his eternity, whatever he suffered before" (reported by Muslim, with the addition of Ibn Hibban). Al-Nawawi teaches that this is a recommendation on which the scholars are unanimous. It is not repeated endlessly nor insisted upon, for fear that he might be troubled by his state and say what does not befit him: once he has said it, it is repeated only if he speaks again, so that his words end with it. The talqin should come from a trustworthy, unsuspicious person, so as not to embarrass the dying one. If words of disbelief escape the dying person, he is not judged a disbeliever: he is treated like the dead of the Muslims, considering the loss of mind overwhelming him.
The recitation of surah Yasin beside the dying person is a widespread practice, on the strength of the hadith reported by Ahmad: "Yasin is the heart of the Quran; whoever recites it seeking the face of Allah and the hereafter will be forgiven; recite it for your dying"; the chain of this hadith is debated among the scholars.
The sunna includes being present beside the dying person to remind him, comfort him, close his eyes when the time comes, and fulfill his rights: this is agreed upon by the scholars. After death, one hastens the preparation of the washing and the burial, in line with the Prophet's recommendation to hasten the funerals (reported by al-Bukhari); one attends to his debts, informs his relatives and acquaintances, then come the ghusl, the kafan and the funeral prayer, developed in the following pages.