Islam often requires Muslim men, women and children to offer the funeral prayer in the mosque called Salat Al Janazah.
Immediately after the official (Fard) prayer, the mosque leader (Iman) will call on the congregation to stand once again to perform the funeral prayer(Janazah).
At the Haram mosque in Mecca, they offer the Janzah prayer after both the Dhuhur or Asr prayers for men. women and children who have the good fortune of passing away in that blessed city.
Table of Contents
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- 1.What happens BEFORE the Funeral Prayer (Janazah)?
- 2.What happens DURING the Funeral Prayer (Janazah)?
- 3.What happens AFTER the Funeral Prayer (Janazah)?
- 4. What happens at the burial ground (Maqbara)?
- 5. How do you perform the Funeral Prayer (Janazah) – step by step?
- 6. Conclusion
- Related Questions
1: What Happens Before the Funeral Prayer (Janazah)?
First, the mosque workers lay the dead body (Jutha) on the floor in front of the lines of the praying congregation. It will already have been ritually washed, perfumed and shrouded in white sheeting in the mosque morgue.
During the brief 1-3 minute funeral prayer, the congregation should stand in tight rows behind the prayer leader (Imam).
Unlike in the regular (Fard) prayers, worshippers do not need to bow (Ruku) or prostrate (Sujood) on all fours during the Janazah prayer.
2: What Happens During the Funeral Prayer (Janazah)?
The funeral prayer consists of four (takbir) or saying the phrase ‘God is Great’ (Allahu Akbar) together with verses and supplications.
The worshippers follow the Imam and begin by making a purposeful intention (Niyah) for the deceased.
Then, they stand up and before pronouncing each Takbir (detailed below) in turn, they solemnly raise both hands behind their ears.
Later, they pray each of the four Takbir in silence without bowing (rukuʿ) or prostrating (sujūd).
- First Takbir – 20 to 30 seconds
- Second Takbir – 20 to 30 seconds
- Third Takbir – 20 to 30 seconds
- Fourth Takbir – Extended
3: What Happens After the Funeral Prayer (Janazah)?
The prayer leader (Imam) ends the funeral prayer but NOT in the usual way by turning his head right and left (making Taslim).
In the funeral prayer he turns his head to the right side only and not to the left.
The worshippers follow the Imam by also reciting ‘Salam Allekum Wah Rahmatuallah‘ one time only.
(السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ)
4: What Happens At The Burial Ground (Maqbara)?
Immediately after the Imam concludes the Janazah funeral prayer, the deceased is carried to an ambulance. They drive to the cemetery for burial.
Islam only permits Muslim men to follow behind the funeral procession and attend the internment.
5. How To Perform The Funeral Prayer (Janazah) – Step By Step
The following is the method of praying the Islamic funeral prayer (Janazah) in accordance with the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and his companions.
It is performed beginning with the first Takbir.
A. The First Takbir – 20 to 30 Seconds
The congregation should recite ‘Allahu Akbar‘ after the Imam in a low voice and raise their hands. Then, they recite Surah Al Fatiha voiceless.
B. The Second Takbir – 20 to 30 Seconds
A second time, the congregation recites ‘Allahu Akbar‘ after the Imam in a low voice and raises hands.
However, this time (voiceless) they recite the salutations to Prophet Mohammed (SAW) (Salawat) as in the Tashahuud recitation.
The Tashahuud
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ
اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ
C. The Third Takbir – 20 to 30 Seconds
A third time, the congregation recites ‘Allahu Akbar‘ after the Imam in a low voice after which they raise their hands.
However, this time they pray personally for the deceased. Any personal prayer is sufficient. The following supplication is recommended.
اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لَهُ وَارْحَمْهُ، وَعَافِهِ وَاعْفُ عَنْهُ، وَأَكْرِمْ نُزُلَهُ، وَوَسِّعْ مَدْخَلَهُ، وَاغْسِلْهُ بِالْمَاءِ وَالثَّلْجِ وَالْبَرَدِ، وَنَقِّهِ مِنَ الذُّنُوبِ وَالْخَطَايَا كَمَا يُنَقَّى الثَّوْبُ الْأَبْيَضُ مِنَ الدَّنَسِ، وَأَبْدِلْهُ دَارًا خَيْرًا مِنْ دَارِهِ، وَأَهْلًا خَيْرًا مِنْ أَهْلِهِ، وَزَوْجًا خَيْرًا مِنْ زَوْجِهِ، وَأَدْخِلْهُ الْجَنَّةَ، وَنَجِّهِ مِنَ النَّارِ
‘O Allah, forgive him, have mercy on him, pardon him, grant him ease, honour his arrival, widen his entrance, wash him with water, snow, and ice, and cleanse him from sins as a white garment is cleansed from dirt. Replace his home with a better home, his family with a better family, and his spouse with a better spouse. Enter him into Paradise and protect him from the punishment of the Fire.’
D. The Fourth Takbir—Extended
A fourth and final time, the congregation recites ‘Allahu Akbar‘ after the Imam in a low voice followed by raising hands.
However, after this last Takbir any personal prayer is sufficient. The following supplication is also recommended.
اللَّهُمَّ لاَ تَحْرِمْنَا أَجْرَهُ وَلاَ تَفْتِنَّا بَعْدَهُ وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا وَلَهُ
‘O Allah, do not deprive us of his reward, do not test us after him, and forgive us and him.’
6. Conclusion
The above method is based on the authentic narrations of the Prophet Mohammed ﷺ and the understanding of the companions (Salaf As Salah).
May Allah grant us all a good ending.
Ameen!
Related Questions
Can women attend funeral prayers (Janazah) and visit the cemetery? Women can attend funeral prayers (Janazah) but are exempted from following funeral processions, burials and making visitations.
During the funeral prayer (Janazah) where does the Imam stand relative to the deceased (Jutha)? The Imam positions himself at the head of the male deceased (Jutha) and in the middle (waist area) of the female deceased as was the practice of Prophet Mohammed (SAW) and the companions. (Bukhari, 1331; Muslim, 964).
Do the congregation pray over the remains of dead Muslim children (Jutha) the same way they do with adults? Yes, the funeral prayer is the same for all except that worshippers should focus on patience and reward for their parents.