✦ The Complete Method of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ’s Funeral Prayer According to the Reports of the Noble Companions (رضي الله عنهم) ✦
It is said by some scholars that the Companions (رضي الله عنهم) performed the funeral prayer of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ after his demise. Kindly explain in detail the method they followed and the words recited during his Janāzah prayer.
Alḥamdulillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ʿAmma baʿd!
A narration from Sayyidunā Abū ʿUsayb or Abū ʿUsaym (رضي الله عنه) states:
“After the passing of the Prophet ﷺ, people asked: 'How should we offer his funeral prayer?' It was said: 'Enter the chamber group by group.'”
Abū ʿUsayb (رضي الله عنه) further said:
“People would enter through one door, offer the Janāzah prayer, and exit from the other door.”
(Musnad Aḥmad, vol. 5, p. 81, ḥadīth 21047 – Isnāduhū Ṣaḥīḥ; al-Mawsūʿah al-Ḥadīthiyyah, vol. 34, p. 365)
This authentic narration clearly proves that the Sahabah (رضي الله عنهم) offered the funeral prayer of the Prophet ﷺ properly and in an organized manner.
It is also recorded with a Ṣaḥīḥ chain in Ṭabaqāt Ibn Saʿd (vol. 2, p. 289).
Some have claimed that no funeral prayer was offered, and that only salutations (ṣalawāt) were sent. However, this assertion has no evidence with a sound chain of narration.
In contrast, a narration from Sayyidunā Abū Umāmah (رضي الله عنه) clearly outlines the sunnah method of Salāt al-Janāzah:
“The sunnah for the funeral prayer is to say the takbīr, then recite Sūrah al-Fātiḥah, then send salutations (ṣalawāt) upon the Prophet ﷺ, then make duʿāʾ for the deceased, and the recitation is done only after the first takbīr. Then (the prayer is concluded) by silently saying salām to the right.”
(al-Muntaqā Ibn al-Jārūd: 540; Muṣannaf ʿAbd al-Razzāq: 6428 – Ṣaḥīḥ Isnāds; al-Ḥadīth, Hazro: vol. 3, p. 26)
This narration makes it clear that the Companions knew the proper method of Janāzah prayer and practiced it accordingly.
It is evident like daylight that the Sahabah (رضي الله عنهم) always adhered to what they recognized as the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ. Therefore, anyone who claims that they did not offer his Janāzah prayer but only recited salutations must bring forth evidence with a sound chain of narration—which currently does not exist.
As for who led the funeral prayers of the Prophet ﷺ, no authentic narration specifies a particular person. The Sahabah entered individually or in groups and offered the prayer without a single imām leading them.
❖ Source: Fatāwā ʿIlmiyyah, Volume 1, Kitāb al-Janāʾiz, Page 563
❀ Question:
It is said by some scholars that the Companions (رضي الله عنهم) performed the funeral prayer of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ after his demise. Kindly explain in detail the method they followed and the words recited during his Janāzah prayer.
❀ Answer:
Alḥamdulillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ʿAmma baʿd!
❖ The Funeral Prayer of the Prophet ﷺ – Testimony of the Companions
A narration from Sayyidunā Abū ʿUsayb or Abū ʿUsaym (رضي الله عنه) states:
“After the passing of the Prophet ﷺ, people asked: 'How should we offer his funeral prayer?' It was said: 'Enter the chamber group by group.'”
Abū ʿUsayb (رضي الله عنه) further said:
“People would enter through one door, offer the Janāzah prayer, and exit from the other door.”
(Musnad Aḥmad, vol. 5, p. 81, ḥadīth 21047 – Isnāduhū Ṣaḥīḥ; al-Mawsūʿah al-Ḥadīthiyyah, vol. 34, p. 365)
This authentic narration clearly proves that the Sahabah (رضي الله عنهم) offered the funeral prayer of the Prophet ﷺ properly and in an organized manner.
It is also recorded with a Ṣaḥīḥ chain in Ṭabaqāt Ibn Saʿd (vol. 2, p. 289).
❖ Refuting the Claims of No Janāzah Prayer
Some have claimed that no funeral prayer was offered, and that only salutations (ṣalawāt) were sent. However, this assertion has no evidence with a sound chain of narration.
In contrast, a narration from Sayyidunā Abū Umāmah (رضي الله عنه) clearly outlines the sunnah method of Salāt al-Janāzah:
“The sunnah for the funeral prayer is to say the takbīr, then recite Sūrah al-Fātiḥah, then send salutations (ṣalawāt) upon the Prophet ﷺ, then make duʿāʾ for the deceased, and the recitation is done only after the first takbīr. Then (the prayer is concluded) by silently saying salām to the right.”
(al-Muntaqā Ibn al-Jārūd: 540; Muṣannaf ʿAbd al-Razzāq: 6428 – Ṣaḥīḥ Isnāds; al-Ḥadīth, Hazro: vol. 3, p. 26)
This narration makes it clear that the Companions knew the proper method of Janāzah prayer and practiced it accordingly.
❖ The Practice of the Sahabah in Light of the Sunnah
It is evident like daylight that the Sahabah (رضي الله عنهم) always adhered to what they recognized as the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ. Therefore, anyone who claims that they did not offer his Janāzah prayer but only recited salutations must bring forth evidence with a sound chain of narration—which currently does not exist.
❖ Question of Imāmah in the Funeral Prayer
As for who led the funeral prayers of the Prophet ﷺ, no authentic narration specifies a particular person. The Sahabah entered individually or in groups and offered the prayer without a single imām leading them.
