Question #1:
What should he who sits beside the dying person do? Is the recitation of surah “Yâ-Sîn” to the dying confirmed by the Sunnah or not?
Answer #1:
In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Merciful
All praise is due to Allah, Lord (Sovereign) of the worlds. May Allah shower praise, salute and bless our Prophet Muhammad, as well as his family and all of his companions... Visiting the sick is one of the rights that Muslims have towards each other. It is desirable that the one who visits the sick person calls him to repentance and tells him what is his responsibility in terms of recommendation. He invites him to occupy his time by remembering Allah - Glory and purity to Him - because the sick person needs this type of thing. If he is in agony and it is clear to the person that he is dying, he should be encouraged to repeat: “La Ilâha Illa Allah” like the Prophet (May Allah shower him with praise and salute him) ordered it. He evokes Allah to the dying person by speaking loudly enough for him to hear him, so that he remembers it and evokes Allah in turn.
The men of science said: “It is not necessary to order him because it is possible that his chest will tighten, if he is forced and refuses to repeat: “La Ilâha Illa Allah”, this would therefore result in an unfortunate outcome. . It is preferable that he reminds him of this by whispering this formula to him, that is to say by pronouncing it near him.” And the men of knowledge then said: “If he has encouraged him in this sense, let him remember it and pronounce: “La Ilâha Illa Allah”, then he must observe silence and not converse with him after that so that his last words are: “La Ilâha Illa Allah”. If he speaks again – that is to say, he is dying – then we must encourage him to repeat the formula a second time so that his last words are: “La Ilâha Illa Allah”. » End of quote
As for reciting [surah] “Yâ-Sîn” to the dying, this is considered by many scholars to be a Sunnah and this in accordance with the words of the Prophet (May Allah shower him with praise and salute him) : “Recite “Yâ-Sîn” to your dying people.” However, some scholars have questioned its authenticity and called it weak. As for those who considered it authentic, its reading is considered to be a Sunnah and for those who considered it weak, this is not the case – that is to say the reading of [the surah] “Yâ-Sîn” – is not a Souna.
