Source: Ahkām wa Masā’il Kitāb-o-Sunnat Kī Roshni Mein by Shaykh Mubashir Ahmad Rabbānī
Was the funeral prayer (Ṣalāt al-Janāzah) offered for the Messenger of Allah ﷺ?
Yes, the funeral prayer of the Prophet ﷺ was indeed offered.
Imām Mālik narrated:
"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ passed away on a Monday and was buried on Tuesday. People prayed over him individually."
✔ Shaykh Salīm al-Hilālī رحمه الله graded this narration as authentic (ṣaḥīḥ) in his verification of al-Muwaṭṭaʾ.
❖ Question:
Was the funeral prayer (Ṣalāt al-Janāzah) offered for the Messenger of Allah ﷺ?
❖ Answer:
Yes, the funeral prayer of the Prophet ﷺ was indeed offered.
❖ Testimony of Imām Mālik رحمه الله:
Imām Mālik narrated:
"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ passed away on a Monday and was buried on Tuesday. People prayed over him individually."
Reference: Al-Muwaṭṭaʾ, Kitāb al-Janāʾiz, Bāb Mā Jāʾa fī Dafn al-Mayt, 549
✔ Shaykh Salīm al-Hilālī رحمه الله graded this narration as authentic (ṣaḥīḥ) in his verification of al-Muwaṭṭaʾ.
Reference: al-Muwaṭṭaʾ bi-Riwāyāt al-Thamāniyah 2/203]
“I do not know this narration to be reported in this exact sequence through any chain other than this balāgh of Mālik, but it is confirmed through multiple authentic routes.”
❖ Commentary by Imām Ibn ʿAbd al-Barr رحمه الله:
“I do not know this narration to be reported in this exact sequence through any chain other than this balāgh of Mālik, but it is confirmed through multiple authentic routes.”
Reference: al-Tamhīd 24/394]
He further stated:
"As for the people offering the funeral prayer over him individually — this is unanimously agreed upon by the scholars of Sīrah and the transmitters of historical reports. There is no difference of opinion on this matter among them."
He further stated:
"As for the people offering the funeral prayer over him individually — this is unanimously agreed upon by the scholars of Sīrah and the transmitters of historical reports. There is no difference of opinion on this matter among them."
Reference: al-Tamhīd 24/397]
It is a matter of ijmāʿ (scholarly consensus) that the funeral prayer of the Prophet ﷺ was offered by the Anṣār, Muhājirūn, and all the noble Companions رضي الله عنهم. However, it was not offered collectively in congregation. Rather, the companions prayed individually — one group would enter, offer the prayer, then leave, followed by the next.
This method was unique and exclusive to the funeral of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and it is not applied to others.
❖ Conclusion:
It is a matter of ijmāʿ (scholarly consensus) that the funeral prayer of the Prophet ﷺ was offered by the Anṣār, Muhājirūn, and all the noble Companions رضي الله عنهم. However, it was not offered collectively in congregation. Rather, the companions prayed individually — one group would enter, offer the prayer, then leave, followed by the next.
This method was unique and exclusive to the funeral of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and it is not applied to others.
