Written by: Abu Saqib Muhammad Safdar Hazravi
Reciting Surah Al-Fatihah in the funeral prayer is Sunnah, see:
[Sahih Bukhari Vol. 1, p. 178, Hadith 1335]
Reciting a Surah after Surah Al-Fatihah is Sunnah, see:
[Sunan An-Nasa'i Vol. 1, p. 281, Hadith 1989, and its chain is authentic according to the criteria of Bukhari]
Recitation should only be done after the first Takbir, see:
[Musannaf Abdur Razzaq Vol. 3, pp. 488-489, Hadith 6428 and Muntaqa Ibn Al-Jarood p. 189, Hadith 540 and its chain is authentic]
Then Durood (salutation) should be sent upon the Prophet (peace be upon him), see:
[Musannaf Abdur Razzaq pp. 488-489 and Muntaqa Ibn Al-Jarood Hadith 540, and its chain is authentic]
Then a sincere supplication should be made for the deceased, see:
[Musannaf Abdur Razzaq Vol. 3, pp. 488-489, Hadith 6428 and Muntaqa Ibn Al-Jarood p. 189, Hadith 540 and its chain is authentic]
Reciting the funeral prayer loudly is Sunnah, see:
[Sunan An-Nasa'i Vol. 1, p. 281, Hadith 1989 and its chain is authentic, and Mustadrak Al-Hakim Vol. 1, p. 358, Hadith 1323, where he said: "It is authentic according to the criteria of Muslim", and Al-Dhahabi agreed]
Reciting the funeral prayer silently is also Sunnah, see:
[Sunan An-Nasa'i Vol. 1, p. 281, Hadith 1991, which is an authentic Hadith]
Reciting loudly is done for teaching purposes, see:
[Sahih Bukhari 1335 and Mustadrak Al-Hakim Vol. 1, p. 358, authenticated according to the criteria of Muslim, and Al-Dhahabi agreed]
At the end, one should say Salam towards the right side, see:
[Sunan An-Nasa'i Vol. 1, p. 281, Hadith 1991 and Musannaf Abdur Razzaq Vol. 3, pp. 488-489, Hadith 6428, and its chain is authentic]
It is permissible to say the supplication in a voice loud enough for the followers to hear and memorize, see:
[Sahih Muslim Vol. 1, p. 311, Hadith 963/85, Darussalam numbering: 2232-2234][and Sunan Abi Dawood Vol. 2, p. 101, Hadith 3202, which is an authentic Hadith] (In the narration of Abu Dawood, the name of the deceased is also mentioned.)
There is a consensus among the Tabi'in that there is no fixed supplication for the deceased. Any supplication can be made, see:
[Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah Vol. 3, pp. 294-295, Hadith 11367-11374]
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said regarding Tashahhud: "Then he should choose whatever supplication he likes best and supplicate," see:[Sahih Bukhari Vol. 1, p. 115, Hadith 835]
When the Prophet (peace be upon him) would make the Qunoot Nazilah supplication, the Companions would say Ameen behind him, see:
[Sunan Abi Dawood Vol. 1, p. 211, Hadith 1443, its chain is good, authenticated by Ibn Khuzaymah 618 and Al-Hakim according to the criteria of Bukhari Vol. 1, p. 225, and Al-Dhahabi agreed]
Note 1:
When a Companion refers to something as Sunnah, it means the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace be upon him), see:[Introduction of Ibn Al-Salah p. 123, Type: 8 and Nasb Al-Rayah Vol. 1, p. 314 and Mustadrak Al-Hakim Vol. 1, pp. 358, 360]
Note 2:
Not reciting Surah Al-Fatihah in the funeral prayer, the opening supplication "Jall Thana'uk" and the Durood of mercy and blessing, are not proven from the Prophet (peace be upon him).
Reciting Surah Al-Fatihah in the funeral prayer is Sunnah, see:
[Sahih Bukhari Vol. 1, p. 178, Hadith 1335]
Reciting a Surah after Surah Al-Fatihah is Sunnah, see:
[Sunan An-Nasa'i Vol. 1, p. 281, Hadith 1989, and its chain is authentic according to the criteria of Bukhari]
Recitation should only be done after the first Takbir, see:
[Musannaf Abdur Razzaq Vol. 3, pp. 488-489, Hadith 6428 and Muntaqa Ibn Al-Jarood p. 189, Hadith 540 and its chain is authentic]
Then Durood (salutation) should be sent upon the Prophet (peace be upon him), see:
[Musannaf Abdur Razzaq pp. 488-489 and Muntaqa Ibn Al-Jarood Hadith 540, and its chain is authentic]
Then a sincere supplication should be made for the deceased, see:
[Musannaf Abdur Razzaq Vol. 3, pp. 488-489, Hadith 6428 and Muntaqa Ibn Al-Jarood p. 189, Hadith 540 and its chain is authentic]
Reciting the funeral prayer loudly is Sunnah, see:
[Sunan An-Nasa'i Vol. 1, p. 281, Hadith 1989 and its chain is authentic, and Mustadrak Al-Hakim Vol. 1, p. 358, Hadith 1323, where he said: "It is authentic according to the criteria of Muslim", and Al-Dhahabi agreed]
Reciting the funeral prayer silently is also Sunnah, see:
[Sunan An-Nasa'i Vol. 1, p. 281, Hadith 1991, which is an authentic Hadith]
Reciting loudly is done for teaching purposes, see:
[Sahih Bukhari 1335 and Mustadrak Al-Hakim Vol. 1, p. 358, authenticated according to the criteria of Muslim, and Al-Dhahabi agreed]
At the end, one should say Salam towards the right side, see:
[Sunan An-Nasa'i Vol. 1, p. 281, Hadith 1991 and Musannaf Abdur Razzaq Vol. 3, pp. 488-489, Hadith 6428, and its chain is authentic]
It is permissible to say the supplication in a voice loud enough for the followers to hear and memorize, see:
[Sahih Muslim Vol. 1, p. 311, Hadith 963/85, Darussalam numbering: 2232-2234][and Sunan Abi Dawood Vol. 2, p. 101, Hadith 3202, which is an authentic Hadith] (In the narration of Abu Dawood, the name of the deceased is also mentioned.)
There is a consensus among the Tabi'in that there is no fixed supplication for the deceased. Any supplication can be made, see:
[Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah Vol. 3, pp. 294-295, Hadith 11367-11374]
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said regarding Tashahhud: "Then he should choose whatever supplication he likes best and supplicate," see:[Sahih Bukhari Vol. 1, p. 115, Hadith 835]
When the Prophet (peace be upon him) would make the Qunoot Nazilah supplication, the Companions would say Ameen behind him, see:
[Sunan Abi Dawood Vol. 1, p. 211, Hadith 1443, its chain is good, authenticated by Ibn Khuzaymah 618 and Al-Hakim according to the criteria of Bukhari Vol. 1, p. 225, and Al-Dhahabi agreed]
Note 1:
When a Companion refers to something as Sunnah, it means the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace be upon him), see:[Introduction of Ibn Al-Salah p. 123, Type: 8 and Nasb Al-Rayah Vol. 1, p. 314 and Mustadrak Al-Hakim Vol. 1, pp. 358, 360]
Note 2:
Not reciting Surah Al-Fatihah in the funeral prayer, the opening supplication "Jall Thana'uk" and the Durood of mercy and blessing, are not proven from the Prophet (peace be upon him).
