Chapter on the Prayer over the Dead

Al-Husayn ibn Said from Ibn Abi Umayr from Ibn Udhaynah from Muhammad ibn Muslim and Zurarah, both of them heard Aba Ja’far عليه السلام, peace be upon him, say: Imam al-Baqir عليه السلام said: “There is no prescribed recitation nor fixed supplication in the prayer over the dead, except that you may supplicate with whatever occurs to you. And the one most deserving among the dead for whom supplication should be made, is he for whom the prayer begins with the blessings upon the Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم, may Allah سبحانه وتعالى bless him and his family.”

Muhammad ibn Yaqub from a number of our companions from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Uthman ibn Abd al-Malik al-Hadrami from Abu Bakr al-Hadrami, he said: Abu Ja’far عليه السلام said: “O Aba Bakr (al-Hadrami), do you know how many takbirs are in the ‘Prayer over the dead’ (Salat al-Mayyit)?” I said: “No.” Imam عليه السلام said: “Five takbirs. Do you know from where the five takbirs were derived?” I said: “No.” Imam عليه السلام said: “Five takbirs were taken from five daily prayers, one from each prayer.”

From him, from Ali ibn Ibrahim from his father from Ibn Abi Umayr from Muhammad ibn Muhajir from his mother, Umm Salamah, she said: I heard Aba Abdillah عليه السلام say: “When the Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, prayed over a deceased person, He صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم would pronounce the takbir and recite the tashahhud. Then Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم would pronounce the takbir again, send blessings upon the Prophets, and supplicate. Then Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم would pronounce the takbir and supplicate for the believers. Then Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم would pronounce the fourth takbir and supplicate for the deceased. Then Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم would pronounce the (final and fifth) takbir and depart. But when Allah سبحانه وتعالى, Mighty and Majestic, forbade Him صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم from praying over the hypocrites, Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم would pronounce the takbir and recite the tashahhud. Then Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم would pronounce the takbir and send blessings upon the Prophets عليه السلام, peace be upon them. Then he would pronounce the takbir and supplicate for the believers. Then he would pronounce the fourth takbir and depart, and He صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم would not supplicate for the deceased.”

Muhammad ibn Yaqub from a number of our companions from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Abi Nasr from Musa ibn Bakr from Abu al-Hasan عليه السلام, peace be upon him, he said: Imam al-Kadhim عليه السلام said: “When you perform the prayer (of deceased) over a woman, stand at her head, and when you perform the prayer (of deceased) over a man, stand at his chest.”

From him, from Ali ibn Ibrahim from his father from Abdillah ibn al-Mughirah from some of our companions from Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him, he said: Commander of the Faithful عليه السلام, peace be upon him, said: “Whoever prays (Salat Al Mayyit) over a woman, let him not stand at her middle, but rather at the part corresponding to her chest. And if he prays (Salat Al Mayyit) over a man, then let him stand at his middle.”

Ali ibn al-Hasan from Ahmad ibn Idris from Muhammad ibn Salim from Ahmad ibn al-Nadr from Amr ibn Shimr from Jabir from Abu Ja’far عليه السلام, peace be upon him, he said: Imam al-Baqir عليه السلام said: “The Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, may Allah سبحانه وتعالى bless him and his family, used to stand (for Salat Al Mayyit) in the case of a man; opposite the navel, and in the case of women; lower than that, before the chest.”

Al-Husayn ibn Said from al-Hasan from Zurah from Sama’ah he said: I asked Imam al-Sadiq عليه السلام about the funeral processions of men and women, when they are brought together. Imam عليه السلام said: “The man is placed slightly ahead of the woman, and the woman is placed slightly lower than that, at the level of his feet. And the imam (of Salat Al Mayyit) stands at the head of the deceased and prays over both of them together.” And I asked Imam عليه السلام about the prayer over the deceased. Imam عليه السلام said: “Five takbirs. You say when you pronounce the takbirs; ‘I bear witness that there is no God but Allah سبحانه وتعالى, alone, without any partner, and I bear witness that (Prophet) Muhammad صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم is His سبحانه وتعالى servant and messenger. O’ Allah سبحانه وتعالى, send blessings upon (Prophet) Muhammad صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم and the family of Muhammad صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم and upon the Imams عليه السلام of guidance. And forgive us and our brothers who preceded us in faith, and do not place in our hearts any resentment toward those who have believed. Our Lord عز وجل, indeed You عز وجل are Kind and Merciful. O’ Allah سبحانه وتعالى, forgive our living and our dead, among the believing men and believing women, and unite our hearts upon the hearts of our best ones, and guide us, by Your permission, to the truth concerning that over which there is disagreement indeed, You عز وجل guide whom You عز وجل will to a straight path.’ If the second takbir interrupts you, it does not harm you, so say: ‘O’ Allah سبحانه وتعالى, this is Your servant, the son of Your servant, and the son of Your bondwoman. You عز وجل know him best. He is in need of You عز وجل, and You عز وجل are free of need from him. O’ Allah سبحانه وتعالى, overlook his bad deeds, And increase his good deeds, And forgive him, And have mercy on him, And illuminate his grave for him, And prompt him with his proof, And join him with his Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم. Do not deprive us of his reward, and do not subject us to trial after him.’ Say this when you complete the five takbirs. And when you finish, give salam to your right. (said in taqiyyah, mentioned later)

Al-Hasan ibn Mahbub from Abu Walad he said: I asked Aba Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him, about the takbirs over the deceased. Imam عليه السلام said: “Five takbirs. You say when you pronounce the takbir: ‘I bear witness that there is no God but Allah سبحانه وتعالى, alone, with no partner. O’ Allah سبحانه وتعالى, send blessings upon (Prophet) Muhammad صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم and the family of Muhammad صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم.’ Then you say: ‘O’ Allah سبحانه وتعالى, this shrouded one lying before us is Your servant and the son of Your servant. You عز وجل have seized his soul and he is now in need of Your mercy, and You عز وجل are free from needing to punish him. O’ Allah سبحانه وتعالى, we know nothing of his outward condition except good, and You عز وجل are most knowledgeable of his inward state. O’ Allah سبحانه وتعالى, if he was a doer of good, then multiply his good deeds, and if he was a wrongdoer, then overlook his misdeeds.’ Then you pronounce the second takbir, and you do the same after each takbir.”

Muhammad ibn Yaqub from a number of our companions from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Muhammad ibn Sinan from Abdillah ibn Muskan from al-Halabi, he said: Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him, said: “There is no taslim (salutation of peace) in the prayer over the deceased (Salat Al Mayyit).”

From him, from Ali ibn Ibrahim from his father from Ibn Abi Umayr from Hammad ibn Uthman from al-Halabi and Zurarah from Abu Ja’far عليه السلام and Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon them both, said: Imam عليه السلام said: “There is no taslim (salutation of peace) in the prayer over the deceased (Salat Al Mayyit).”

Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ismail ibn Sa’ad al-Ashari from Abu al-Hasan al-Ridha عليه السلام, peace be upon him, he said: I asked Imam al-Ridha عليه السلام about the prayer over the deceased (Salat Al Mayyit). Imam عليه السلام said: “As for the believer, five takbirs; and as for the hypocrite, four and there is no salam in it.”

As for what was narrated by Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Isa from Muhammad ibn Ismail ibn Buzay from his uncle Hamzah ibn Buzay from Ali ibn Suwayd from al-Ridha عليه السلام, peace be upon him, as we understand, he said: Imam al-Ridha عليه السلام said: “In the prayer over the deceased (Salat Al Mayyit), you recite in the first (takbir) Surah al-Fatihah; in the second (takbir), you send blessings upon the Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم, may Allah سبحانه وتعالى bless him and his family; in the third (takbir), you supplicate for the believing men and believing women; in the fourth (takbir), you supplicate for your deceased; and the fifth (takbir) is the one by which you conclude.”

Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Muhammad ibn Ismail ibn Buzay from his uncle from Ali ibn Suwayd al-Sai: Abu al-Hasan al-Awwal عليه السلام, peace be upon him, (narrated) the like of that.

Muhammad ibn Yaqub from Ali ibn Ibrahim from his father from Ibn Abi Umayr from Ibn Udhaynah from Muhammad ibn Muslim, Zurarah, Mamar ibn Yahya, and Ismail al-Jufi from Abu Ja’far عليه السلام, peace be upon him, he said: Imam al-Baqir عليه السلام said: “There is no recitation in the prayer over the deceased (Salat Al Mayyit), nor any fixed supplication. You may supplicate with whatever occurs to you. And the one most deserving, among the dead, to be prayed for is the believer, and the prayer should begin with blessings upon the Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, may Allah سبحانه وتعالى bless him and his family.”

Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Yahya from Ghayath in a mursal form, and it was also narrated by Sa’ad from Abu Ja’far from his father from Abdillah ibn al-Mughirah from Ghayath ibn Ibrahim from Abu Abdillah عليه السلام from Imam Ali عليه السلام, peace be upon him: Imam al-Sadiq عليه السلام said: “That Imam Ali عليه السلام would not raise his hands in the funeral prayer, except once - meaning with the (first) takbir.”

Ali ibn al-Husayn ibn Babawayh, may Allah سبحانه وتعالى have mercy on him, narrated from Sa’ad ibn Abdillah and Muhammad ibn Yahya, both from Salamah ibn al-Khattab. He said: Isma’il ibn Ishaq ibn Aban al-Warraq narrated to me from Imam Ja’far عليه السلام from his father, Imam al-Baqir عليه السلام, peace be upon them. He said: Imam al-Sadiq عليه السلام said: “The Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام, peace be upon him, used to raise his hand at the first takbir over the deceased (Salat Al Mayyit), then would not do so again until He عليه السلام completed (the prayer).”

Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Isa narrated from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Abdur Rahman ibn al-Arzami from Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him. He said: I prayed behind Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him, over a deceased person (Salat Al Mayyit), and Imam عليه السلام said five takbirs, raising His عليه السلام hand in each takbir.

Muhammad ibn Yaqub narrated from a number of our companions from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Muhammad ibn Isa from Yunus. He said: I asked Imam al-Ridha عليه السلام, peace be upon him: “May I be your ransom, the people raise their hands in the takbir over the deceased (Salat Al Mayyit) in the first takbir and do not raise them after that. So should I limit myself to (raising hands in) the first takbir as they do, or should I raise my hands in every takbir?” Imam عليه السلام said: “Raise your hands in every takbir.”

Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Sa’id ibn Uqda narrated in the book ‘al-Rijal’. He said: Ahmad ibn Umar ibn Muhammad ibn al-Hasan narrated to me. He said: My father narrated to us. He said: Muhammad ibn Abdillah ibn Khalid, the client (mawla) of Banu al-Sayyida, narrated to us that: (Muhammad ibn Abdillah ibn Khalid) prayed behind Imam Ja’far ibn Muhammad عليه السلام, peace be upon him, over a deceased person (Salat Al Mayyit), and he saw Imam عليه السلام raising his hands in every takbir.

Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Yahya narrated from Abu Ja’far from his father from Hafs ibn Ghiyath from Imam Ja’far عليه السلام from his father, Imam al-Baqir عليه السلام, peace be upon them both: Imam al-Sadiq عليه السلام narrated from Imam al-Baqir عليه السلام: “Indeed, Imam Ali عليه السلام, peace be upon him, when He عليه السلام prayed over a deceased person (Salat Al Mayyit), would not leave his place of prayer until He عليه السلام saw it being carried by the hands of the men.”

Ali ibn al-Husayn from Muhammad ibn Yahya from Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Yahya from Abu al-Jawza, al-Munabbih ibn Abdillah from al-Husayn ibn ‘Alwan from Amr ibn Khalid from Zayd ibn Ali from his forefathers: Imam Ali عليه السلام said regarding the prayer (Salat Al Mayyit) over a child. Imam عليه السلام used to say: “O’ Allah سبحانه وتعالى, make him a predecessor (salafan) and a forerunner (faratan) and a reward (ajran) for his parents and for us.”

Muhammad ibn Yaqub narrated from Ali ibn Ibrahim from his father from Ibn Abi Umayr from Umar ibn Udhaynah from al-Fudayl ibn Yasar from Abu Ja’far عليه السلام, peace be upon him. He said: Imam al-Baqir عليه السلام said: “When you pray (Salat Al Mayyit) over a believer, supplicate for him and strive in supplication. And if he was a Waqifi, deemed weak (mustad'af), then perform the takbir and say: ‘O’ Allah سبحانه وتعالى, forgive those who repented and followed Your path, and protect them from the punishment of the blazing fire.’”

Muhammad ibn Yaqub narrated from a number of our companions from Sahl ibn Ziyad from al-Hasan ibn Mahbub from Abdillah ibn Ghalib from Thabit Abu al-Miqdam. He said: I was with Abu Ja’far عليه السلام, peace be upon him, when there came a funeral for some people from among his neighbors, so Imam عليه السلام attended it. I was (standing) close to Imam عليه السلام, and I overheard Imam عليه السلام say: “O’ Allah سبحانه وتعالى, surely You عز وجل created these souls, and You عز وجل cause them to die, and You عز وجل bring them to life, and You عز وجل are more knowing of their secrets and their open matters than we are, and of their final abode and their place of deposit. O’ Allah سبحانه وتعالى, this is Your servant, and I know no evil of him, but You عز وجل are more knowing of him. We have come to You عز وجل interceding for him after his death, so if he is deserving, then accept our intercession for him and resurrect him with those whom he used to follow.”

Muhammad ibn Yaqub narrated from Ali ibn Ibrahim from his father from Ibn Abi Umayr from Hammad ibn Uthman from al-Halabi from Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him. Imam al-Sadiq عليه السلام said: “When Abdillah ibn Ubayy ibn Salul died, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم, blessings of Allah سبحانه وتعالى be upon him and his family, attended his funeral. So Umar said to the Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى: “O’ Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, did Allah سبحانه وتعالى not forbid you from standing by his grave?” The Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم remained silent. Then Umar said (repeated): “O Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, did Allah سبحانه وتعالى not forbid you from standing by his grave?” So Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم said to Umar: “Woe to you! And what do you know of what I said (over his grave)? Indeed, I said (over his grave); ‘O’ Allah سبحانه وتعالى, fill his insides with fire, and fill his grave with fire, and expose him to fire.’” Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him, said: “So there appeared from the Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, may Allah سبحانه وتعالى bless him and his family, that which He صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم used to conceal.”

And from him, from a number of our companions, from Sahl ibn Ziyad and Ali ibn Ibrahim from his father, all from Ibn Mahbub from Ziyad ibn Isa from Amir ibn al-Simt from Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him: Imam al-Sadiq عليه السلام said: “A man from among the hypocrites died, so Imam al-Husayn ibn Ali عليه السلام, peace be upon him, went out walking with him. A servant of Imam عليه السلام met him, so al-Husayn عليه السلام, peace be upon him, said to him: ‘Where are you going, O’ so-and-so?’ He (the servant) replied: “I am fleeing from (attending) the funeral of this hypocrite, so that I do not pray over him.” So Imam al-Husayn عليه السلام, peace be upon him, said to him (the servant): “Stand to my right side and whatever you hear me say, then say (repeat) the same.” When the guardian (of the dead hypocrite) said the takbir over him, Imam al-Husayn عليه السلام, peace be upon him, said: ‘O’ Allah سبحانه وتعالى, curse so-and-so, Your (this) servant, with a thousand united curses, not divided. O’ Allah سبحانه وتعالى, disgrace Your (this) servant among Your servants and in Your lands, and expose him to the heat of Your fire, and make him taste the severest of Your punishments, for he used to be loyal to Your enemies and show enmity to Your friends (Imams عليه السلام), and he hated the family of Your Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم.”