This article is excerpted from the book “Namaz-e-Mustafa ﷺ” by Abu Hamzah Abdul Khaliq Siddiqi.
❖ Definition and Significance of Salat al-Janazah
The funeral prayer (Salat al-Janazah) is a specific form of prayer offered for a deceased Muslim, seeking forgiveness, mercy, and elevation of ranks for them in the Hereafter.
Virtue:
Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“Whoever follows a funeral and offers the prayer will earn one Qirat (of reward), and whoever stays until the burial will earn two Qirats, and two Qirats are like two great mountains.”
Saheeh Muslim, Book of Funerals, Hadith: 2189
🕌 Permissibility of Performing Salat al-Janazah in the Mosque
- The Prophet ﷺ performed the funeral prayer for Suhail ibn Bayda in the mosque.
Saheeh Muslim: 973 - ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar رضي الله عنهما offered the funeral prayer for ‘Umar ibn Khattab رضي الله عنه in the mosque.
Muwatta Imam Malik: 542 - The wives of the Prophet ﷺ prayed the funeral prayer for Sa‘d ibn Abi Waqqas رضي الله عنه in the mosque.
Saheeh Muslim: 973/2253 - Imam Abu Dawood and Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal frequently performed funeral prayers in the mosque.
Masa’il Abi Dawood: p. 157 - Imam Shafi‘i also supported the permissibility of Salat al-Janazah in the mosque.
Kitab al-Umm: 7/211
📜 Method of Performing Salat al-Janazah
① After the first Takbeer: Recite Ta‘awwudh (تعوذ), Surah al-Fatiha (سورہ الفاتحہ), and a portion of the Qur’an.
② After the second Takbeer: Recite Salat al-Ibrahimiyya (درود ابراہیمی).
③ After the third Takbeer: Make supplications for the deceased.
④ After the fourth Takbeer: Conclude with Taslim (Salam).
Surah al-Fatiha is obligatory in Salat al-Janazah just as in other prayers.
- Abdullah ibn Abbas رضي الله عنهما recited it during the funeral prayer and said:
“I recited it so that you know it is Sunnah.”
Saheeh Bukhari: 1335 - In Sunan al-Nasa’i, Ibn Abbas recited Surah al-Fatiha and another Surah aloud and declared it to be Sunnah.
Sunan al-Nasa’i: 1988, 1989
🤲 Sunnah Supplications in Salat al-Janazah
① First Supplication:
Narrated by Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه:
The Prophet ﷺ would say:
أللهم اغفر لحينا وميتنا ، وشاهدنا وغائبنا ، وصغيرنا وكبيرنا ، وذكرنا وأنثانا . أللهم من أحييته منا فأحيه على الإسلام ، ومن توفيته منا فتوفه على الإيمان . أللهم لا تحرمنا أجره ولا تضلنا بعده.
“O Allah, forgive our living and our dead, those present and those absent, our young and our old, our males and our females…”
Abu Dawood: 3201 – Tirmidhi: 1024 – Ibn Majah: 14978
② Second Supplication:
أللهم اغفرله وارحمه، وعافه واعف عنه، وأكرم نزله ووسع مدخله ، واغسله بالماء والثلج والبرد ، ونقه من الخطايا كما نقيت الثوب الأبيض من الدنس، وأبدله دارا خيرا من داره ، وأهلا خيرا من أهله وزوجا خيرا من زوجه، وأدخله الجنة وأعذه من عذاب القبر (وقه فتنة القبر وعذاب النار)
“O Allah, forgive him, have mercy upon him… protect him from the punishment of the grave and the torment of the Fire.”
Saheeh Muslim: 2232, 2234
③ Third Supplication:
أللهم إن فلان بن فلان فى ذمتك وحبل جوارك ، فقه من فتنة القبر وعذاب النار ، وأنت أهل الوفاء والحق . اللهم اغفرله وارحمه إنك أنت الغفور الرحيم.
“O Allah, so-and-so (mention the deceased and his father) is under Your protection… You are the Forgiving, the Merciful.”
Abu Dawood: 3202
📌 Funeral Prayer for Children
① Validity:
The Prophet ﷺ said even a stillborn child is prayed upon, and mercy is sought for his parents.
Abu Dawood: 3180
② Supplication:
Al-Hasan al-Basri used to say:
اللهم اجعله لنا سلفا ، وفرطا ، وذخرا و اجرا
“O Allah, make him a forerunner, a reward, and a stored treasure for us.”
Saheeh Bukhari (Mu‘allaq)
📌 Key Issues Related to Salat al-Janazah
① Raising the hands with each Takbeer is Sunnah.
‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar رضي الله عنهما used to do so.
Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah: 3/296 – Al-‘Ilal by Daraqutni: 13/42
② The prayer may be performed silently or aloud.
Saheeh Muslim: 2232, 2234 – Sunan al-Nasa’i: 1989
③ Saying one Salam to conclude the funeral prayer is permissible.
Sunan Daraqutni: 191 – Al-Kubra of Bayhaqi: 4/43 – As-Sughra: 1/359
④ The Imam should stand at the head for a male and at the middle for a female.
Saheeh Sunan Ibn Majah: 1214
