The Funeral Prayer (Salat Al-Janazah)

The Sunnah (recommended practice) is to carry the bier from its four sides, and any additional carrying (from other angles) after that is considered voluntary.

When someone offers the funeral prayer over a deceased person, they should stand at the head of the body so that if the wind lifts their garment, it will touch the funeral bier. After each takbir, they should make the following supplications: They should say the first Takbir and declare (Testimony of Faith): Ashhadu an lā ilāha illā Allāh waḥdahu lā sharīka lah, wa ashhadu anna Muḥammadan ‘abduhu wa rasūluh, arsalahu bil-ḥaqqi bashīran wa nadhīran bayna yaday al-sā‘ah "I bear witness that there is no god but Allah سبحانه وتعالى, alone with no partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger, sent with truth as a bearer of glad tidings and a warner before the Hour." Then they should say the second takbir and say: Allāhumma ṣalli ‘alā Muḥammad wa āli Muḥammad, wa irḥam Muḥammad wa āli Muḥammad, wa bārik ‘alā Muḥammad wa āli Muḥammad ka-afḍali mā ṣallayta wa bārakta wa tarahhamta ‘alā Ibrāhīm wa āli Ibrāhīm innaka Ḥamīdun Majīd "O’ Allah سبحانه وتعالى, send blessings upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, have mercy upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, and bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, just as You blessed, had mercy upon, and honored Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. Truly, You are Praiseworthy and Glorious." Then they should say the third takbir and say: Allāhumma ighfir lil-mu’minīna wa al-mu’mināt wa al-muslimīna wa al-muslimāt al-aḥyā’ minhum wa al-amwāt. "O’ Allah سبحانه وتعالى, forgive the believing men and women, the Muslim men and women, the living and the dead." Then they should say the fourth takbir and say: Allāhumma ‘abdaka [wa] ibn ‘abdika ibn amatika wa nazala bika wa anta khayru manzūlin bih, Allāhumma innā lā na‘lam minhu illā khayran wa anta a‘lamu bihi minnā, Allāhumma in kāna muḥsinan fazid fī iḥsānih wa in kāna musī’an fatajawaz ‘anhu wa ighfir lah. Allāhumma aj‘alhu ‘indaka fī a‘lā ‘illiyyīn, wakhluf ‘alā ahlihi fī al-ghābirīn, wa irḥamhu biraḥmatika yā arḥama al-rāḥimīn "O’ Allah سبحانه وتعالى, this is Your servant, the child of Your servant and the child of Your maidservant. They have returned to You, and You are the best to return to. O’ Allah سبحانه وتعالى, we know nothing of them except good, but You know them better than we do. If they were a doer of good, increase their goodness; if they committed wrong, forgive and overlook their misdeeds. O’ Allah سبحانه وتعالى, place them among the highest ranks of the elevated ones and grant mercy upon them with Your mercy, O’ Most Merciful of the merciful." Then they should say the takbir for the fifth time, and conclude. The one offering the prayer should not leave their position until they see the body being carried away by the men. The reason for reciting five takbirs in the funeral prayer is because Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Exalted, has imposed five obligations upon the people: prayer (Salat), almsgiving (Zakat), fasting (Saum), pilgrimage (Hajj), and leadership (Wilayah). Thus, Allah سبحانه وتعالى has designated one takbir for each obligation for the deceased.

When offering the funeral prayer for a woman, one should stand near her chest. There is no Tasleem (final salutatory phrase) in the funeral prayer except in cases of taqiyya (precautionary dissimulation to protect oneself).

If someone recites one or two takbirs over a funeral and then another bier is brought to join the first, they may, if they wish, continue with five takbirs over both, or they can finish the first funeral prayer and then start anew for the second. If a person offers the funeral prayer over a deceased individual who is positioned incorrectly, they should correct the position and repeat the prayer.

My father wrote in his message to me: "Know, my son, that the person with the most right to lead the funeral prayer for the deceased is whoever is designated by the deceased's guardian (Wali). If there is a man from the Banu Hashim among the people, he has priority for leading the prayer if designated by the guardian of the deceased. If someone leads without being appointed by the deceased’s guardian, then they are usurping that right."

And if a man is cut in half, he should pray funeral prayer over the half that contains the heart; if only the head remains, he should not pray funeral prayer over it.

And if someone attends the funeral prayer for a child, they should say: Allāhumma aj‘alhu li-abawayhi wa lanā farṭan "O’ Allah سبحانه وتعالى, make this child a precursor (one who goes ahead) for their parents and for us”.

It is said in the Salat Al Mayyat prayer for someone whose sect is unknown: Allāhumma inna hādhihi al-nafs anta aḥyaytahā wa anta amattahā, Allāhumma walihā mā tawallat, waḥshurhā ma‘a man aḥabbat "O’ Allah سبحانه وتعالى, this soul You have given life to and You have caused to die, O’ Allah سبحانه وتعالى, grant it what it has turned to, And gather it with those it loved."

This is referring to the arrangement of the funeral prayer for the deceased. The preferred position in the funeral prayer is the last row, and the reason for this is that women used to mix with men during the funeral prayer.

Therefore, people should move back to the last row, as its merit remains as the Prophet عليه السلام described. Furthermore, if a man is invited to both a feast (walimah) and a funeral, he should attend the funeral, as it reminds him of the hereafter, and leave the feast, as it reminds him of worldly matters.

My father wrote in his letter to me: Do not offer the funeral prayer while wearing a sandal with an elevated heel, and do not rush with two deceased people together on one bier. He also said: When two people are praying over a deceased person, one should stand behind the Imam, not next to him. If a man, a woman, a boy, and a slave are all part of the funeral, position the woman closest to the Qibla, followed by the slave, then the boy, and then the man nearest to the Imam. The Imam stands behind the man and prays over them all with a single prayer.

In another narration, it is mentioned: "One may perform tayammum (dry ablution) if they wish."

This means that She stands to the side and does not mix with the men. Similarly, a person in a state of major ritual impurity (junub) should also perform tayammum and then offer the funeral prayer. When the deceased is carried to the grave, it should not be rushed or hurriedly placed into the grave, as the grave is a place with immense awe and trials. The one carrying the body should seek refuge in Allah سبحانه وتعالى from the difficulties of the grave. The deceased should be placed near the edge of the grave for a moment to prepare and then moved closer gradually. The person authorized by the guardian of the deceased may place the body in the grave, either with two people (in pairs) or one at a time. At the sight of the grave, one should say: Allāhumma aj‘alhu rawḍatan min riyaḍi al-jannah wa lā taj‘alhu ḥufratan min ḥufar al-nīrān "O’ Allah سبحانه وتعالى, make it a garden from the gardens of Paradise and not a pit from the pits of Hellfire".

Some have said it is to the chest, while others have said it should be as deep as the height of a man, so that the shroud can cover the head of the deceased in the grave. As for the niche (luhd), it should be wide enough to allow for the deceased to sit up. It is narrated from Imam al-Hadi عليه السلام that it is permissible for the grave to be lined with wooden boards and covered with them over the deceased. Each thing has its place, and the entrance to the grave is at the feet of the deceased. When burying a woman, She should be lowered into the grave from the side, with her husband standing where he can support her hip, while a man is lowered from his feet and slid in gently. My father wrote in his letter to me: When you enter the grave, recite the Surah Al-Fatiha, the two chapters of seeking refuge (Surah Al-Falaq & Surah An-Nas), and the Ayatul Kursi (2:255). When you receive the deceased, say: Bismillāhi wa billāhi wa ‘alā millati Rasūlillāhi ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa ālihi "In the name of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, and by Allah سبحانه وتعالى, and in the religion of the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم and his family." Place the deceased on their right side, facing the Qibla, untie the shroud, place their cheek on the earth, and say: Allāhumma jāfī al-arḍa ‘an janbayhi, wa ṣa‘id ilayka rūḥahu wa laqqihi minka riḍwānan "O’ Allah سبحانه وتعالى, make the earth gentle on their sides, raise their soul to You, and grant them Your pleasure."