❖ Excellence of Attending the Funeral Prayer
Narrated by Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه):The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"Whoever attends the funeral of a Muslim with faith and seeking reward, and stays until the prayer is offered and the burial is completed, he will return with two qirāṭs of reward—each qirāṭ is like Mount Uhud. And whoever offers the prayer but returns before the burial, he returns with one qirāṭ."
— Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Īmān, Ḥadīth 47
Note: Upon hearing this ḥadīth, ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar (رضي الله عنهما) deeply regretted missing such reward and said:“Alas! We have lost many qirāṭs.”
— Muslim: 2195
❖ Accepted Intercession at the Janazah
The Prophet ﷺ said:"If a Muslim's funeral is attended by forty people who do not associate anything with Allah, Allah will accept their intercession on his behalf."
— Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 948
❖ Etiquettes and Sunnah of the Funeral Prayer
✔ Wudhu and Purity:Purification is obligatory, like any other prayer. In case of inability to use water, tayammum is permissible under Qur’ān [Sūrah al-Mā’idah: 6].
✔ Carrying the Janazah:
It is Sunnah for men to carry the body on their shoulders.
— Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 1314
✔ Walking With the Janazah:
Walking ahead, behind, or on either side is permissible, but walking behind is preferred.
— Sunan Abī Dāwūd: 3180
✔ Riding While Accompanying the Janazah:
Discouraged unless necessary. If riding, stay behind the janazah.
— Sunan Abī Dāwūd: 3189
✔ Imam’s Position During Janazah Prayer:
If the deceased is male, the Imam stands near the head.
If female, the Imam stands near the middle (waist).
— Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī: 1043
✔ Imam’s Duty:
It is the Imam’s responsibility to straighten rows before starting the prayer and ensure it is offered with sincerity and humility.
❖ Janazah Prayer While Wearing Shoes
It is permissible to perform the janazah prayer with clean shoes if the area is naturally dusty or graveled.The Prophet ﷺ would pray with footwear:
“I asked Anas ibn Mālik: Did the Prophet ﷺ pray wearing his shoes?” He said: Yes.”
— Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim
❖ Sunnah Method of Janazah Prayer
① After the first takbīr, recite Sūrat al-Fātiḥah.② After the second takbīr, recite Ṣalāt al-Ibrāhīmiyyah.
③ After the third takbīr, make duʿā’ for the deceased.
④ After the fourth takbīr, say salām.
— Musannaf ʿAbd al-Razzāq: 6428
This method is confirmed by several ḥadīths including those related to the funeral of King Najāshī (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 1334) and recitation after the first takbīr (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 1335).❖ Selected Sunnah Supplications for Janazah
From ʿAwf ibn Mālik (رضي الله عنه):اللهم اغفر له وارحمه...
"O Allah, forgive him, have mercy on him... admit him into Paradise and protect him from the punishment of the grave and the Hellfire."
— Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 963
From Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه):
اللهم اغفر لحينا وميتنا...
"O Allah, forgive our living and our dead, those present and those absent..."
— Sunan Ibn Mājah: 1498
From Wāthilah ibn al-Asqaʿ (رضي الله عنه):
اللهم إن فلان بن فلان في ذمتك...
"O Allah, surely so-and-so is under Your protection..."
— Sunan Abī Dāwūd: 3202
From Yazīd ibn ʿAbdullāh:
اللهم عبدك وابن أمتك...
"O Allah, this is Your servant, son of Your servant..."
— al-Mustadrak li’l-Ḥākim: 1328
❖ Janazah Prayer for a Child
From Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه) and Sāʿīd ibn al-Musayyib, regarding children’s funerals:اللهم اجعله لنا فرطا وسلفا...
"O Allah, make him a forerunner for us and a source of reward."
— Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī
اللهم أعده من عذاب القبر
"O Allah, protect him from the torment of the grave."
— Muwaṭṭaʾ Mālik: 776
❖ Prohibited Innovations After Janazah
Immediately gathering around the deceased and offering collective duʿā’ three times after the prayer is an innovation (bidʿah) and not practiced by the Prophet ﷺ.The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Whoever introduces into this matter of ours something that is not from it, it is rejected."
— Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 2697
❖ Conclusion
The Janazah prayer is a dignified farewell to a believer, conducted with purity, humility, and sincerity. It is vital that we:◈ Adhere to the authentic prophetic method
◈ Avoid all cultural or self-invented practices
◈ Remember the tremendous rewards of participating in funerals
◈ Ensure the deceased receives proper supplication and respect as taught in the Sunnah
May Allah ﷻ enable us to revive the Sunnah and honor the deceased in the manner most beloved to Him. Āmīn.
