Source: Fatāwā ʿIlmiyyah, Vol. 3 – Issues Related to Funeral Prayer, p. 128Question
How was the funeral prayer of the Prophet ﷺ performed and what were its details?
(Questioner: Iʿjāz Aḥmad, Gojra, Toba Tek Singh)
Answer
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh. Ammā baʿd:
A Detailed Report on the Incident
Sālim ibn ʿUbayd al-Ashjaʿī رضي الله عنه, one of the Aṣḥāb al-Ṣuffah, narrated a lengthy report:
When the Companions asked Abū Bakr al-Ṣiddīq رضي الله عنه:
“O Companion of the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ! Has the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ passed away?”
He replied:
“Yes.”
People were convinced it was true.
They asked:
“Will the funeral prayer of the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ be performed?”
He replied:
“Yes.”
They asked:
“How will it be performed?”
Abū Bakr رضي الله عنه said:
"يَدْخُلُ قَوْمٌ فَيُكَبِّرُونَ وَيُصَلُّونَ وَيَدْعُونَ ثُمَّ يَخْرُجُونَ، ثُمَّ يَدْخُلُ قَوْمٌ فَيُكَبِّرُونَ وَيُصَلُّونَ وَيَدْعُونَ، ثُمَّ يَخْرُجُونَ، حَتَّى يَدْخُلَ النَّاسُ"
“A group will enter the room, say the takbīr, perform the funeral prayer, make supplication, then leave. Another group will enter, do the same, then leave. This will continue until all have prayed.”
They then asked:
“Will the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ be buried?”
He replied:
“Yes.”
They asked:
“Where will he be buried?”
Abū Bakr رضي الله عنه said:
“In the place where Allāh took his soul, for Allāh took his soul in a pure place.”
The people were convinced of the correctness of his statement.
References:
al-Sunan al-Kubrā by al-Nasāʾī (4/264, Hadith 7119)
al-Āḥād wa al-Mathānī by Ibn Abī ʿĀṣim (3/13–14, Hadith 1299)
al-Muʿjam al-Kabīr by al-Ṭabarānī (7/57, Hadith 6367)
al-Tamhīd by Ibn ʿAbd al-Barr (24/397–398 – authentic)
Authenticity of the Narration
- The Hadith is ṣaḥīḥ and all narrators are trustworthy.
- The doubt regarding Salamah ibn Nabīṭ’s ikhtilāṭ is based on the tentative phrase “yuqāl” and is not substantial.
- Imām Ibn Khuzaymah رحمه الله authenticated the narration of ʿAbdullāh ibn Dāwūd (Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Khuzaymah, Hadith 1541, 1624).
Other Sources
- Also in Sunan Ibn Mājah (Hadith 1234) in a shorter form.
- al-Būṣīrī رحمه الله said: “Its chain is authentic, its narrators are trustworthy.” (Zawāʾid Ibn Mājah, p. 403)
- al-Haythamī رحمه الله: “Its narrators are trustworthy.” (Majmaʿ al-Zawāʾid, Hadith 1835)
Key Points Derived from the Hadith
① The funeral prayer of the Prophet ﷺ was performed.
② It was performed without a single imam — individually, in groups.
③ The Prophet ﷺ passed away and tasted death.
④ He was buried at the place of his death.
⑤ The Companions buried him in the blessed ground of ʿĀʾishah’s رضي الله عنها chamber.
⑥ Abū Bakr رضي الله عنه had complete knowledge of the burial and funeral arrangements.
⑦ He was the most knowledgeable among the Companions.
⑧ When lacking knowledge, one should consult the scholars and act accordingly.
Supporting Report from Abū ʿUsaym رضي الله عنه
Imām Ibn Saʿd رحمه الله narrated:
Abū ʿUsaym رضي الله عنه said:
When the Prophet ﷺ passed away, people asked how to pray over him. They were told: “Enter in groups; enter from one door, pray, and exit from the other.”
(Musnad Aḥmad, 5/81, Hadith 20766 – authentic chain)
Consensus of the Ummah and Scholars’ Statements
Ibn ʿAbd al-Barr رحمه الله:
“The people prayed over the Prophet ﷺ in small groups without an imam. This is agreed upon by the scholars of sīrah and ḥadīth transmitters; there is no difference of opinion on this.”
(al-Tamhīd, 24/397; arranged edition, 6/255)
Imām al-Shāfiʿī رحمه الله:
“The people prayed over the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ individually, no one leading them, due to the greatness of his status and the desire of all not to let one person lead in his prayer.”
(Kitāb al-Amr, 1/275, chapter: Prayer over the Deceased)
This shows that praying the funeral prayer without an imam was a special distinction for the Prophet ﷺ.
Conclusion
Although no ṣaḥīḥ narration describes every detail of his funeral prayer, from general funeral rulings it is concluded that it was performed in the usual manner for Muslims.
Some scholars opine that only ṣalāt upon him (salutations) were recited without supplication, but this view lacks authentic evidence.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
