Funeral Prayer (Janazah)

والصَّلَاةُ والسَّلاَمُ عَلَى سَيّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ أَشْرَفِ اْلمُرْسَلِيْنَ وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ الطَّيّبِيْنَ الطَّاهِرِيْن

Upon the death of a Muslim, Muslims are obligated to pray for him. Just like in the obligatory prayers, one must have wudu’.

However, the Funeral prayer does not have ruku^ or sujud. It is recommended that the dead person be laid in front of the imam.

How to Perform the Janazah (Funeral) Prayer

1. Stand facing the Qiblah with your chest.

2. Have the intention: “I intend to pray the Funeral prayer for this dead Muslim” while saying: Allahu ‘Akbar.

3. Recite the Fatihah softly, then say Allahu ‘Akbar.

4. Say

اللّهُمَّ صَلِ على مُحَمَّد

Allahumma salli ^ al a Muhammad. It is better if you recite the whole Salatul-Ibrahimiyyah, then say Allahu ‘Akbar .

5. Make supplication for the dead Muslim

اللهم اغفِر له و ارحَمهُ

Allahumma-ghfir lahu wa rhamh(u). It is better to include other Muslims and to say:

اللهمَّ اغفر لِحينا و مَيّتِناَ و شاهِدنا وغائبِنا و صغيرنا وكبيرِنا وذَكَرِنا وأُنثَانَا

اللهم مَن احيتَهُ منَّا فأَحيهِ على الإسلام ومَن تَوَفَّيتَهُ مِنَّا فَتَوفَّهُ على الإيمان – رواه الترمذي

Allahumma-ghfir li hayyin a wa mayyitina, wa shahidin a wa gha’ibin a wa saghirin a wa kabirina, wa dhakarin a wa ‘unthana. Allahumma man ahyaytahu minn a fa ahyihi ^ala l-‘Islam, wa man tawaffaytahu minn a fa tawaffahu ^ala l-’Iman .

This means: “0 Allah, forgive our dead and alive, our present and absent, our young and old, our male and female [Muslims]. 0 Allah, whomever among us You gave life, let him live with Islam. Whomever among us You took life from, let him die with Iman (Faith)”. Then say Allahu ‘Akbar.

6. It is recommended to say:

اللهمَّ لا تَحرِمنا أجره و لا تَفتِنا بعده

Allahumma la tahrimn a ajrahu wa la taftinn a ba^dah(u) , which means: “0 Allah, do not deprive us of the reward of our praying for him, and do not test us after him”.

7. Say as-salamu ^alaykum. It is recommended to say: as­-salamu ^alaykum wa rahmatu l-Lah while turning the head to the right, then to say it while turning to the left.

Upon consoling a Muslim for the death of his Muslim beloved you say:

أعظَم اللهُ أجرَكَ وأحسَنَ عَزاءَكَ وغَفَرَ لِمَيتِكَ

A^dhama l-Lahu ajrak(a), wa ahsana ^aza’ak(a), wa ghafara li mayyitik, which means: “May Allah reward you greatly, give you good patience, and forgive your deceased (loved) one”.

However, upon consoling a Muslim concerning the death of a non-Muslim relative, you say:

أعظَم اللهُ أجرَكَ و صَبَّرَكَ

A^dhama l-Lahu ajrak(a), wa sabbarak, which means: “May Allah reward you greatly and give you patience.”