❖ Question:
In the funeral prayer (Salat al-Janazah), should the recitation be silent (sirri) or audible (jahri)?
❖ Answer:
Both silent and audible recitation in the funeral prayer are permissible, however, reciting silently is more correct based on stronger evidence.
❖ Evidence for Silent Recitation
It is narrated from Abu Umamah ibn Sahl ibn Hunayf, that a companion of the Prophet (ﷺ) informed him:
«أن السنة فى الصلاة على الجنازة أن يكبر الإمام ثم يقرأ بفاتحة الكتاب سرا فى نفسه ثم يختم الصلاة فى التكبيرات الثلاث»
[Sharh Ma‘ani al-Athar 1/500; Mustadrak al-Hakim 1/360; Bayhaqi 4/40]
“The Sunnah in the funeral prayer is that the Imam says the takbeer, then recites Surah al-Fatihah silently to himself, and completes the prayer with the remaining three takbeers.”
Imam al-Hakim and Imam al-Dhahabi (رحمهما الله) both authenticated this narration as being in accordance with the criteria of al-Bukhari and Muslim.
❖ Evidence Used by Those Supporting Audible Recitation
Those who support audible (jahri) recitation cite the narration of ‘Awf ibn Malik (رضي الله عنه):
«صلى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم على جنازة فحفظت من دعائه وهو يقول: اللهم اغفر له وارحمه وعافه واعف عنه»
[Sahih Muslim 963]
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ offered the funeral prayer for a deceased, and I memorized from his supplication the following words: ‘O Allah! Forgive him, have mercy on him, grant him safety and pardon him.'”
This hadith indicates that the companion memorized the Prophet’s ﷺ supplication, suggesting that the recitation was audible at least in part.
❖ Conclusion
Thus, while audible recitation can be inferred indirectly from certain narrations, silent recitation is explicitly established in hadith. Therefore, reciting silently in the funeral prayer is more preferable and aligns more clearly with the Sunnah.
