Assalaam alaikum, my brothers and sisters in Islam. As we all know, Death is a reality every soul must taste. No matter how wealthy, poor, young, or old you are, we are all going to return to our Lord. The next step after confirming the death of the deceased is to prepare him or her for burial. Our prophet taught us the right way on how to pray Salatul Janazah (funeral prayer in Islam) for our deceased, which we’ll learn today.
The funeral in Islam is part of what should not be delayed unnecessarily, as it is part of honoring the deceased and fulfilling their rights as our brothers. Delaying the burial and prayer without necessity is contrary to the Sunnah and disrespectful to the deceased. Islam teaches us to hasten with all that benefits the soul, and funeral prayer in Islam is no exception. The Prophet ﷺ said:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Hurry up with the dead body for if it was righteous, you are forwarding it to welfare; and if it was otherwise, then you are putting off an evil thing down your necks.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari, 1315)
The Messenger of Allah said to him: “O Ali! Three are not to be delayed: Salat when it is due, the funeral when it is presented, and (marriage) for the single woman when someone compatible is found.” (Jami` at-Tirmidhi, 1075)
Salatul Janazah (Funeral Prayer in Islam), a final act of love, supplication, and it is Fard Kifayah (that is, communal responsibility). If some Muslims perform it, the burden is lifted from the rest. But the entire community is held accountable if no one prays over the deceased. The reward that comes with this act is very great, and yet we still find a lot of people who don’t know how to pray Salatul Janazah. Our Prophet (ﷺ) said..
“Whoever attends the Janazah prayer until it is finished will get a reward of one Qiraat, and whoever stays until the burial is completed will get two Qiraats.” (Bukhari & Muslim)
The meaning of one Qiraat in the above hadith is like a mountain of good deeds! Yet, many Muslims who still don’t know how to pray Salatul Janazah correctly are missing out on this big reward. The most important question for those who don’t know how to pray Salatul Janazah is, what if you are asked to lead the prayer when there are few Muslims around and the deceased is a Muslim, what will you do? Now it’s time to learn.
Step-by-step guide on how to pray salatul janazah (Funeral prayer in Islam)
Knowing how to pray Salatul Janazah properly is an essential duty for every one of us. It’s a final farewell, final honour, and a collective du’a on behalf of our deceased brother or sister. Unlike the five daily prayers, there is no ruku’, no sujood, and no adhan or iqamah in the funeral prayer in Islam. The Imam stands level with the deceased’s head (if male) or middle (if female). Here is the step-by-step guide below.
1. Make the Intention (Niyyah)
Before starting, silently make your intention in the heart. No need to speak it aloud
2. First Takbir – Say ‘Allahu Akbar’
After forming the intention, the Imam loudly says: “Allahu Akbar”, and everyone follows by raising their hands and folding them over the chest. Then, silently recite Surah Al-Faatihah, the opening chapter of the Qur’an. This is the same Surah we recite in every unit of Salah.
3. Second Takbir – Say ‘Allahu Akbar’
After the recitation of Al-Faatihah, the Imam again says “Allahu Akbar” and others will say their own too. What followed is sending salutations upon the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, similar to what we say in the last Tashahhud during regular prayers:
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ.
اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ.Transliteration:
Allāhumma ṣalli ‘alā Muḥammadin wa ‘alā āli Muḥammad,
kamā ṣallayta ‘alā Ibrāhīma wa ‘alā āli Ibrāhīm, innaka Ḥamīdun Majīd.
Allāhumma bārik ‘alā Muḥammadin wa ‘alā āli Muḥammad,
kamā bārakta ‘alā Ibrāhīma wa ‘alā āli Ibrāhīm, innaka Ḥamīdun Majīd.
4. Third Takbir – Say ‘Allahu Akbar’
After the Salawat, the Imam again says “Allahu Akbar” and others follow. Now, it’s time to make dua for the deceased (Dua al-Janazah).
Dua for an adult:
“Allahummaghfir lihayyina wa mayyitina, wa shahidina wa gha’ibina, wa sagheerina wa kabeerina, wa dhakarina wa unthana. Allahumma man ahyaytahu minna fa-ahyihi ‘alal-Islam, wa man tawaffaytahu minna fa tawaffahu ‘alal-iman.”
(O Allah, forgive our living and our dead, those present and those absent, our young and our old, our males and our females. O Allah, whoever You keep alive, let him live upon Islam, and whoever You cause to die, let him die upon faith.)
Dua for a child:
“Allahummaj’alhu lana faratan, waj’alhu lana ajran wa dhukhran, waj’alhu lana shafi’an wa mushaffa’an.”
(O Allah, make him a source for our salvation, a reward and treasure for us, and make him an intercessor whose intercession is accepted.)
Check all the recommended duas for the deceased during Salatul Janazah here.
5. Fourth Takbir – Say ‘Allahu Akbar’
After making du’a, the Imam says “Allahu Akbar” for the fourth time, and others follow. There is no specific du’a here according to the majority of scholars. Just remain silent for a moment here and end with Tasleem.
6. End with Tasleem (Salam)
Turn your head to the right and say “Assalaamu alaykum wa rahmatullah” (as in regular Salah).
These are the step-by-step guides on how to pray Salatul Janazah for our deceased who is a Muslim. The funeral prayer in Islam has to be done this way, and the next step is to lay our deceased in his or her grave.
We ask Allah to grant us good endings. Make us die as Muslims and Muslimahs and make us enter Jannah by His mercy and oneness. Aameen
