Answer by: Fadhilat al-Shaykh Saeed Mujtaba Saeedi ḥafiẓahullah & Fadhilat al-Shaykh Abdul Wakeel Nasir ḥafiẓahullah
What is the Islamic ruling on the followers saying Ameen to the Imam's supplications during the Janazah (funeral) prayer?
The original and superior method is that each worshipper should offer personal supplications during the Janazah prayer.
If the worshippers have memorized the relevant supplications, they should recite them individually, as this is more appropriate and aligned with the Sunnah.
If the funeral prayer is recited aloud (jahran) and the followers are unable to recite the supplications themselves, then saying Ameen during the pauses in the Imam’s supplication—by analogy to Dua Qunoot or Dua Nazilah—is permissible.
✔ Shar‘i Principle Regarding Ameen:
General evidences establish that one who says Ameen is considered a participant in the supplication.
Hence, saying Ameen can serve as a means of inclusion in the du‘a.
✿ The better and Sunnah-compliant practice is that each person should make his own supplications during Janazah prayer.
✿ If the Imam is reciting aloud and one does not know the supplications, then Ameen may be said—quietly and individually.
✿ Making Ameen a collective or imposed practice should be avoided.
✿ Neither is it proper to brand such acts as outright bid‘ah nor should one impose excessive restriction.
❖ Question:
What is the Islamic ruling on the followers saying Ameen to the Imam's supplications during the Janazah (funeral) prayer?
❖ Answer:
① The Original and Preferred Sunnah Practice:
The original and superior method is that each worshipper should offer personal supplications during the Janazah prayer.
If the worshippers have memorized the relevant supplications, they should recite them individually, as this is more appropriate and aligned with the Sunnah.
② Permissibility of Saying Ameen in Loud Janazah Prayers:
If the funeral prayer is recited aloud (jahran) and the followers are unable to recite the supplications themselves, then saying Ameen during the pauses in the Imam’s supplication—by analogy to Dua Qunoot or Dua Nazilah—is permissible.
✔ Shar‘i Principle Regarding Ameen:
General evidences establish that one who says Ameen is considered a participant in the supplication.
Hence, saying Ameen can serve as a means of inclusion in the du‘a.
③ Proper Way of Saying Ameen:
- It is preferable to say Ameen quietly (sirran).
- If someone’s voice becomes slightly audible, there is still room for allowance.
- However, attempting to organize collective Ameen responses or compelling everyone to say it uniformly should be avoided, as this is questionable and not from the Sunnah.
④ Scholarly Opinions:
- Ḥafiz Zubair Ali Zai رحمه الله permitted saying Ameen in the Janazah prayer by analogy with Qunoot Witr or Qunoot Nazilah.
- Some of our respected scholars also adopt a lenient stance on this matter and consider saying Ameen permissible, provided it does not become an innovation or a newly invented form of practice.
❖ Summary:
✿ The better and Sunnah-compliant practice is that each person should make his own supplications during Janazah prayer.
✿ If the Imam is reciting aloud and one does not know the supplications, then Ameen may be said—quietly and individually.
✿ Making Ameen a collective or imposed practice should be avoided.
✿ Neither is it proper to brand such acts as outright bid‘ah nor should one impose excessive restriction.
