Shari‘ah Ruling on the Time, Place, and Required Number for Salat al-Janazah
Taken from: Fatāwā Arkān-e-Islām
Is it Necessary to Specify the Time and Place for Salat al-Janazah?
Determining the Time for Salat al-Janazah
In Shari‘ah, there is no fixed, prescribed time for performing Salat al-Janazah. This is because death can occur at any time. Whenever a person dies, they should be given ghusl, shrouded, and their funeral prayer should be performed — whether during the day or at night.
The burial may take place at any part of the day or night, except for three prohibited times:
Three Prohibited Times for Burial
❶ At sunrise – until the sun has risen to the height of a spear.
❷ At zenith (midday) – when the sun is at its highest point until it begins to decline.
(Note: Burial is not permissible for about ten minutes before zenith.)
❸ At sunset – when the sun is about to set and there is approximately the time it takes for a spear’s length before it sets.
Performing burials at these times is not permissible; rather, it is haram.
The proof is the ḥadīth of ʿUqbah ibn ʿĀmir رضي الله عنه:
«ثَـلَاثُ سَاعَاتٍ نهاناَ رَسُولُ اللّٰهِ أَنْ نُُّصَلِّیَ فِيهِنَّ أَوْ أَنْ نَقْبُرَ فِيهِنَّ مَوْتَانَا»
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb Ṣalāt al-Musāfirīn, Bāb al-Awqāt allati Nuhī ʿan al-Ṣalāh Fīhā, 1/568, Ḥadīth 831)
Translation:
“There are three times during which the Messenger of Allah ﷺ forbade us to offer prayer and to bury our dead.”
Required Number for Salat al-Janazah
There is no fixed minimum number for Salat al-Janazah. Even if only one person prays it, the prayer is considered valid.
Ruling on Performing Salat al-Janazah in a Graveyard
It is permissible to perform Salat al-Janazah in a graveyard. The scholars are agreed that Salat al-Janazah is an exception to the general prohibition of offering prayers in graveyards.
Similarly, performing Salat al-Janazah at the grave is also permissible. This is proven from an authentic ḥadīth: the Prophet ﷺ performed Salat al-Janazah over the grave of a woman who used to clean the mosque.
When she died during the night, the Companions رضي الله عنهم buried her immediately. When the Prophet ﷺ was informed, he said:
«دُلُّوْنِی عَلٰی قَبْرِهِ»
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Janā’iz, Bāb al-Ṣalāh ʿalā al-Qabr Baʿda Mā Yudfan, Ḥadīth 1337;
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Janā’iz, Bāb al-Ṣalāh ʿalā al-Qabr, Ḥadīth 956)
Translation:
“Show me her grave.”
The Companions showed him the grave, and he ﷺ performed Salat al-Janazah there.
