Reciting Another Surah Alongside Surah al-Fatihah in the Funeral Prayer

By: Shaykh Mubashir Ahmad Rabbani (Hafizahullah)

❖ Question:​

Is it proven from authentic sources to recite another Surah along with Surah al-Fatihah in the funeral prayer?

❖ Answer:​

Yes, reciting another Surah alongside Surah al-Fatihah in the funeral prayer is established through authentic hadiths.

❖ Evidence from the Companion Ibn ‘Abbas (رضي الله عنهما)​

Narrated by Talhah ibn ‘Abdullah:

«صَلَّيْتُ خَلْفَ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ عَلٰي جَنَازَةٍ فَقَرَأَ بِفَاتِحَةِ الْكِتَابِ وَسُوْرَةٍ فَجَهَرَ حَتّٰي سَمِعْنَا فَلَمَّا انْصَرَفَ اَخَذْتُ بِيَدِهِ فَسَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ ذٰلِكَ فَقَالَ سُنَّةٌ وَحَقٌّ»
[Al-Muntaqa of Ibn al-Jarood 538; Al-Nasa’i 1986; Bayhaqi 4/38; Musnad Abi Ya‘la 2661]

"I offered the funeral prayer behind Ibn ‘Abbas (رضي الله عنهما), and he recited Surah al-Fatihah and another Surah aloud until we could hear it. When he finished, I took his hand and asked about it. He replied: 'It is Sunnah and it is the truth.'"

❖ Explanation and Scholarly Consensus​

This narration demonstrates that it is completely valid and Sunnah to recite another Surah after Surah al-Fatihah during the funeral prayer.

When a Companion says "It is Sunnah," it refers specifically to the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. This understanding is upheld by the majority of scholars of Hadith.

Imam al-Hakim (رحمه الله) stated:
«وقد اجمعوا علٰي أن قول الصحابي سنة حديث مسند»
[Mustadrak al-Hakim 1/358]

"There is consensus among scholars that when a Companion says something is Sunnah, it is equivalent to a musnad (connected) hadith."

❖ Conclusion​

Thus, it is proven and authentic that reciting another Surah alongside Surah al-Fatihah in the funeral prayer is in accordance with the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ, as evidenced by the practice and testimony of the Companion Ibn ‘Abbas (رضي الله عنهما).