Ten Important Rulings and Sunnah Methods of Funeral Prayer
1 — Reward for Accompanying the Funeral and Offering Prayer
Hadith:
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Whoever follows the funeral of a Muslim, with faith and seeking reward, stays with it until the prayer is offered and burial is completed, will have two qirats of reward — each qirat is like Mount Uhud. Whoever offers the prayer and returns before burial will have one qirat.”
(Bukhari 47, Muslim 945)
2 — Intercession by the Presence of Sincere Believers
Hadith:
- “If a Muslim dies and forty people, who do not associate anything with Allah, pray over him, Allah will accept their intercession for him.”
(Muslim 948) - “If a hundred Muslims pray over a deceased and all intercede for him, their intercession will be accepted.”
(Muslim 947)
3 — Guarantee of Paradise through Righteous Testimony
Hadith:
“If four Muslims testify to a Muslim’s goodness, Allah will admit him to Paradise.”
It was asked, “What if three?” He said: “Three as well.”
It was asked, “What if two?” He said: “Two as well.”
(Bukhari 1368)
4 — Position of the Imam in the Funeral Prayer
- For a man: Stand facing the head.
- For a woman: Stand facing the middle.
Evidence:
- Anas ibn Mālik (رضي الله عنه) prayed over a man standing at his head and over a woman standing at her middle, saying the Prophet ﷺ did the same.
(Tirmidhi 1034, Abu Dawood 3193) - Samurah ibn Jundub (رضي الله عنه) reported that the Prophet ﷺ stood at the middle of a woman who died in childbirth.
(Bukhari 1331, Muslim 969)
5 — Number of Takbirs
- Standard: Four Takbirs (Najashi’s funeral). (Bukhari 1333, Muslim 951)
- Sometimes five Takbirs. (Muslim 957)
6 — Raising Hands with Each Takbir
Hadith:
Ibn ʿUmar (رضي الله عنهما) said:
“The Prophet ﷺ used to raise his hands with each takbir in the funeral prayer, then end with salām.”
(al-ʿIlal by al-Daraqutni 2098)
7 — Reciting Sūrat al-Fātiḥah
Evidence:
- Abu Umāmah ibn Sahl (رضي الله عنه) described the Sunnah: First takbir — Sūrat al-Fātiḥah, then Salat upon the Prophet ﷺ, then duʿa for the deceased, then salām.
(Musannaf ʿAbd al-Razzaq 6248 — graded sahih by Ibn Hajar) - Ibn ʿAbbās (رضي الله عنهما) recited Sūrat al-Fātiḥah aloud in the funeral prayer and said: “I did this so you know it is Sunnah.”
(Bukhari 1335)
8 — Sequence of the Funeral Prayer
① First Takbir — Sūrat al-Fātiḥah
② Second Takbir — Salat Ibrahimiyya
③ Third Takbir — Duʿa for the deceased
④ Fourth Takbir — Salām
9 — Sunnah Duʿas in the Funeral Prayer
a) General Duʿa:
اللّٰهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِحَيِّنَا وَمَيِّتِنَا …
(Abu Dawood 3201 — sahih by Ibn Hibban)
b) Comprehensive Duʿa:
اللّٰهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لَهُ وَارْحَمْهُ وَعَافِهِ …
(Muslim 963)
c) Specific Duʿa (using name of deceased):
اللّٰهُمَّ إِنَّ فُلَانَ ابْنَ فُلَانٍ فِي ذِمَّتِكَ …
(Abu Dawood 3203, Ibn Majah 1498)
10 — Practical Sunnah Method
- Stand in proper position according to gender.
- Say Allahu Akbar and recite Sūrat al-Fātiḥah.
- Say Allahu Akbar and send Salat upon the Prophet ﷺ.
- Say Allahu Akbar and make duʿa for the deceased.
- Say Allahu Akbar and end with salām.
