By: Shaykh Mubashir Ahmad Rabbani (Hafizahullah)
«اذا صليتم على الميت فانخلصو له الدعاء»
[Abu Dawood 3199; Ibn Majah 1497; Bayhaqi 4/40; Sahih Ibn Hibban 754]
"When you pray over the deceased, then supplicate for him with sincerity."
«السنة فى الصلاة على الجنازة... ثم تخلص الدعاء للميت...»
[Al-Muntaqa of Ibn al-Jarood 540; Musannaf Abdur Razzaq 6428; Mustadrak Hakim 1/360; Bayhaqi 3/39]
"The Sunnah in the funeral prayer is to say takbeer, recite Surah al-Fatihah, then send blessings upon the Prophet ﷺ, then supplicate sincerely for the deceased..."
From both narrations, it is evident that sincere duʿā should be made within the funeral prayer itself, and the word "duʿā" being a verbal noun includes both short and lengthy supplications. Thus, multiple supplications can be made in the funeral prayer.
«اللهم اغفر لحينا وميتنا...»
[Ibn Majah 1498; Bayhaqi 4/40; Musnad Ahmad 8809; Sahih Ibn Hibban 857]
This supplication is general in nature — it includes living and deceased, men and women, young and old, present and absent.
However, since the command is to pray specifically for the deceased, an additional, specific duʿā for the deceased should also be included.
«اللهم اغفر له وارحمه...»
[Sahih Muslim 963]
"O Allah! Forgive him, have mercy on him, pardon him, grant him noble hospitality, expand his grave, cleanse him with water, snow and hail..."
This comprehensive duʿā clearly shows a specific, targeted supplication for the deceased.
«اللهم هذا عبدك خرج مهاجرا فى سبيلك فقتل شهيدا انا شهيد على ذلك»
[Al-Nasa’i 1952; Mustadrak Hakim 3/595; Bayhaqi 4/15]
"O Allah, this is Your servant who migrated in Your cause and was martyred. I testify to that."
Note the expression:
«فكان مما ظهر من صلاته» — “From what was heard from his prayer...”
This implies that the Prophet ﷺ may have made additional duʿās which were not audibly recorded.
«كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم... ثم يدعو ما شاء الله ان يدعو»
[Tabarani al-Kabir 22/249, 647; Majmaʿ al-Zawa'id 3/140; Al-Isabah 6/515]
"...Then he would supplicate whatever Allah willed him to supplicate."
This hadith provides clear proof that the Prophet ﷺ made multiple duʿās in the funeral prayer.
❖ Question:
Can multiple supplications be made for a Muslim brother during the funeral prayer?❖ Answer:
When a believing Muslim passes away, it becomes the right of fellow Muslims to perform the funeral prayer for him. It has been commanded to make sincere duʿā during the funeral prayer, as narrated by Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه):«اذا صليتم على الميت فانخلصو له الدعاء»
[Abu Dawood 3199; Ibn Majah 1497; Bayhaqi 4/40; Sahih Ibn Hibban 754]
"When you pray over the deceased, then supplicate for him with sincerity."
❖ Prescribed Method of the Funeral Prayer
Abu Umamah ibn Sahl (رحمه الله) narrates:«السنة فى الصلاة على الجنازة... ثم تخلص الدعاء للميت...»
[Al-Muntaqa of Ibn al-Jarood 540; Musannaf Abdur Razzaq 6428; Mustadrak Hakim 1/360; Bayhaqi 3/39]
"The Sunnah in the funeral prayer is to say takbeer, recite Surah al-Fatihah, then send blessings upon the Prophet ﷺ, then supplicate sincerely for the deceased..."
From both narrations, it is evident that sincere duʿā should be made within the funeral prayer itself, and the word "duʿā" being a verbal noun includes both short and lengthy supplications. Thus, multiple supplications can be made in the funeral prayer.
❖ Common Duʿā Recited in the Funeral Prayer
A commonly read duʿā in the funeral prayer is:«اللهم اغفر لحينا وميتنا...»
[Ibn Majah 1498; Bayhaqi 4/40; Musnad Ahmad 8809; Sahih Ibn Hibban 857]
This supplication is general in nature — it includes living and deceased, men and women, young and old, present and absent.
However, since the command is to pray specifically for the deceased, an additional, specific duʿā for the deceased should also be included.
❖ Example of Specific Duʿā for the Deceased
From the narration of ‘Awf ibn Malik al-Ashja‘i (رضي الله عنه):«اللهم اغفر له وارحمه...»
[Sahih Muslim 963]
"O Allah! Forgive him, have mercy on him, pardon him, grant him noble hospitality, expand his grave, cleanse him with water, snow and hail..."
This comprehensive duʿā clearly shows a specific, targeted supplication for the deceased.
❖ Prophetic Practice of Multiple Supplications
Narrated from Shaddad ibn al-Had (رضي الله عنه), regarding a man who was martyred, the Prophet ﷺ led his funeral prayer and part of his duʿā included:«اللهم هذا عبدك خرج مهاجرا فى سبيلك فقتل شهيدا انا شهيد على ذلك»
[Al-Nasa’i 1952; Mustadrak Hakim 3/595; Bayhaqi 4/15]
"O Allah, this is Your servant who migrated in Your cause and was martyred. I testify to that."
Note the expression:
«فكان مما ظهر من صلاته» — “From what was heard from his prayer...”
This implies that the Prophet ﷺ may have made additional duʿās which were not audibly recorded.
❖ Further Evidence of Multiple Duʿās
Narrated from Yazid ibn Rukana ibn al-Muttalib (رضي الله عنه):«كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم... ثم يدعو ما شاء الله ان يدعو»
[Tabarani al-Kabir 22/249, 647; Majmaʿ al-Zawa'id 3/140; Al-Isabah 6/515]
"...Then he would supplicate whatever Allah willed him to supplicate."
This hadith provides clear proof that the Prophet ﷺ made multiple duʿās in the funeral prayer.
