Prayers in Funeral Prayer
Question: Can more than one prayer be made for a Muslim brother in the funeral prayer?
Answer: When a monotheistic Muslim passes away, it is the right of other Muslims to perform his funeral prayer, and it is commanded to pray sincerely in the funeral prayer, as narrated from Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
«اذا صليتم على الميت فانخلصو له الدعاء»
“When you begin the funeral prayer for the deceased, pray for him sincerely.”
Similarly, it is narrated from Abu Umamah bin Sahl (may Allah have mercy on him):
«السنة فى الصلاة على الجنازة ان تكبر ثم تقرأ بأم القرآن ثم تصلي على النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم ثم تخلص الدعاء للميت ولا تقرأ الا فى التكبيرة الأولٰي ثم تسلم فى نفسه عن يمينه»
“The Sunnah in the funeral prayer is that you say Takbeer, then recite Surah Al-Fatiha (then say the second Takbeer), then send blessings upon the Prophet (peace be upon him) (then say the third Takbeer), then pray sincerely for the deceased and do not recite any Qur’an except in the first Takbeer (then say the fourth Takbeer), then turn your head gently to the right and say Salam.”
From these two authentic hadiths, it is understood that in the funeral prayer one should pray sincerely for the deceased, and the word «الدعا» is a verbal noun whose application includes both few and many, therefore more than one prayer can be recited in the funeral prayer. Also, it should be remembered that our common brothers recite this prayer in the funeral prayer:
«اللهم اغفر لحينا وميتنا، وشاهدنا وغائبنا، وصغيرنا وكبيرنا، وذكرنا وانثانا، اللهم من احييته منا فاحيه على الإسلام، ومن توفيته منا فتوفه على الإيمان، اللهم لا تحرمنا اجره ولا تضلنا بعده»
“O Allah! Forgive our living and our dead, those present and those absent, the young and the old, men and women. O Allah! Whomever You keep alive among us, keep him alive upon Islam, and whomever You cause to die among us, cause him to die upon faith. O Allah! Do not deprive us of his reward and do not lead us astray after him.”
It is noteworthy that this prayer is general, not specific for the deceased; it includes prayers for the living and the dead, men and women, young and old, present and absent. Since we are also commanded to pray specifically for the deceased, inevitably along with this prayer, a specific prayer for the forgiveness of the deceased must also be made, as in the narration of Hazrat Awf bin Malik Ashja’i (may Allah be pleased with him):
«اللهم اغفر له وارحمه، وعافه واعف عنه، واكرم نزله ووسع مدخله، واغسله بالماء والثلج والبرد، ونقه من الخطايا كما نقيت الثوب الابيض من الدنس، وابدله دارا خيرا من داره، واهلا خيرا من اهله، وزوجا خيرا من زوجه، وادخله الجنة واعذه من عذاب القبر، او من عذاب النار»
“O Allah! Forgive him, have mercy on him, grant him well-being, pardon him, honor his guest, expand his grave, wash away his sins with water, snow, and hail. Cleanse him of sins as You have cleansed a white garment from dirt. Grant him a better home than his home, better family than his family, and a better wife than his wife, and admit him into Paradise and protect him from the punishment of the grave and the torment of the Fire.”
It is narrated from Shaddad bin Al-Had (may Allah be pleased with him) that a villager came to the Prophet (peace be upon him), accepted Islam, and became his follower. Then he said, “I will migrate with you.” The Prophet (peace be upon him) approved of him among his companions. When a battle occurred, the Prophet (peace be upon him) obtained some spoils of war. He distributed them, took out the villager’s share, and gave it to his companions. The companions used to steal his mounts, and when he came, they gave him his share. He asked, “What is this?” His companion said, “It is your share that the Prophet (peace be upon him) set aside for you.” The villager took his share and came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and asked, “What is this?” The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “I took your share from the spoils of war.” He said, “I did not follow you for this; rather, I followed you so that if an arrow hits me here” (pointing to his throat), “I would die and enter Paradise.” The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “If you speak the truth to Allah, Allah will treat you truthfully.” A short while later, he stood up to fight the enemy and was martyred. He was brought to the Prophet (peace be upon him). The arrow was exactly where he had pointed. The Prophet (peace be upon him) asked, “Is this him?” The companions said, “Yes.” The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “He spoke the truth to Allah, so Allah treated him truthfully.” Then the Prophet (peace be upon him) wrapped him in his own cloak as a shroud, placed him in front, and prayed the funeral prayer over him:
«فكان فيما ظهر من صلاته: اللهم هذا عبدك خرج مهاجرا فى سبيلك فقتل شهيدا انا شهيد على ذلك»
“So from the words of the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) prayer, some of the phrases were: ‘O Allah! This is Your servant who migrated in Your path and was killed as a martyr; I bear witness to this.'”
In this hadith, the words «فكان مما ظهر من صلاته» are noteworthy. The companion narrated some of the words of the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) prayer that were apparent. It is understood that besides these, the Prophet (peace be upon him) made other prayers that were not revealed. Therefore, multiple prayers can be recited in the funeral prayer.
It is narrated from Yazid bin Rukana bin Matlib (may Allah be pleased with him):
«كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قام للجنازة ليصلي عليها قال اللهم عبدك و ابن امتك احتاج الٰي رحمتك وانت غني عن عذابه ان كان محسنا فزد فى حسناته وان كان مسئا فتجا وز عنه، ثم يدعو ما شا ء الله ان يدعو»
“When the Noble Prophet (peace be upon him) stood to lead the funeral prayer, he would supplicate: ‘O Allah! This is Your servant and the son of Your servant, in need of Your mercy, and You are indifferent to punishing him. If he was a doer of good, increase his good deeds, and if he was a sinner, forgive him.’ Then the Prophet (peace be upon him) would supplicate whatever Allah willed.”
From this authentic hadith, it is also understood that the Prophet (peace be upon him) made several prayers in the funeral prayer. The last words of this hadith, “Then he would supplicate whatever Allah willed,” are explicit texts on this issue. From the above authentic evidences, it has become absolutely clear that when performing the funeral prayer for a monotheistic Muslim, more than one prayer can be made. This is proven from the blessed practice of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and is legally correct and valid.
