The Complete Sunnah Method and Shar‘i Details of Salat al-Janazah
Taken from: Fatāwā Arkān-e-Islām
Introduction
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, Ammā Baʿd!
Salat al-Janazah is an important act of Islamic worship performed in a specific manner. Below is the complete Sunnah method according to the practice of the Prophet ﷺ.
If the Deceased is a Man
- Place the body so that the Imam stands near the head of the deceased.
- The method is the same whether the deceased is an adult or a child.
First Takbīr
- Imam says the first takbīr.
- Recite Sūrat al-Fātiḥah.
- It is permissible to recite a short sūrah after al-Fātiḥah; some scholars consider this Sunnah.
Second Takbīr
- Imam says the second takbīr.
- Recite Durūd Ibrāhīm:
«اَللّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَی مُحَمَّدٍ وَّعَلَی آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَی إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَی آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ اَللّٰهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَی مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَی آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَی إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَی آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ»
(Aḥkām al-Janā’iz: p. 155)
Third Takbīr
- Imam says the third takbīr.
- Recite the du‘ā’s proven from the Prophet ﷺ for this position, such as:
«اَللّٰهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِحَيِّنَا وَمَيِّتِنَا وَشَاهِدِنَا وَغَائِبِنَا وَصَغِيرِنَا وَكَبِيرِنَا وَذَكَرِنَا وَأُنْثَانَا…»
(Sunan Ibn Mājah, Ḥadīth 1498)
«اَللّٰهُمَّ لَا تُحْرِمْنَا أَجْرَه وَلَا تُضِلَّنَا بَعْدَه وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا وَلَه»
(Sunan al-Nasā’ī, Ḥadīth 1985)
Fourth Takbīr
- Imam says the fourth takbīr.
- Some scholars recommend reciting the following du‘ā’:
﴿رَبَّنَا ءاتِنَا فِى الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِى الآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ﴾ (al-Baqarah: 201) - End the prayer with salām to the right.
Fifth Takbīr
- If the Imam says a fifth takbīr, it is also valid.
- The Prophet ﷺ has been reported to have prayed with five takbīrs.
- Best practice: sometimes offer four, sometimes five, to revive both Sunnahs, although the Prophet’s ﷺ common practice was four takbīrs.
If the Deceased is a Woman
- Imam should stand near the middle of the body.
- The rest of the procedure is the same as for a man.
If There Are Multiple Janazahs
Order them as follows:
① Adult men closest to the Imam.
② Then boys.
③ Then adult women.
④ Then young girls.
Arrange so that the man’s head is aligned with the middle of the woman’s body, allowing the Imam to stand in the correct Sunnah position.
Clarification Regarding Standing Beside the Imam
- Some people believe those presenting the body must stand beside the Imam.
- Some even think it is necessary for one or two people to stand there — this is incorrect.
- Sunnah: the Imam should stand alone.
If There is No Space in the First Row
- Those presenting the body should not form a new row between the Imam and the first row.
- Instead, they should join any available space in existing rows.
- Creating a new row in front may cause disorder in the rows and is not preferred.
