Chapter on the Prayer over the Dead

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.”