How to pray the funeral prayer, with the words to say
The four takbirs of the funeral prayer (salat al-janazah) in order, and the exact Arabic, transliteration and translation of the praise (thana), salutations (durood) and supplications (duas) said at each.
The funeral prayer is different from our usual prayers: everybody just stands the whole time, saying 'Allahu Akbar' four times, with something quiet said after the first three.
| Takbir | Hands | Then say (quietly, in your heart) |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Raise them to your ears, then bring them down below your navel, like at the start of prayer | The thana (praise of Allah) |
| 2nd | Do not raise them | The durood (blessings on the Prophet ﷺ) |
| 3rd | Do not raise them | A dua for the person who has died |
| 4th | Do not raise them | Nothing: just turn your head right, then left, to finish, like at the end of prayer |
How the prayer goes
- The body is placed at the front. The imam stands level with its chest, facing it.
- Everyone makes the intention to pray the funeral prayer.
- Raise your hands to your ears and say 'Allahu Akbar'; this is the first takbir.
- Bring your hands down and rest them below your navel, and quietly say the thana.
- Say 'Allahu Akbar' again (without raising your hands) and quietly say the durood.
- Say 'Allahu Akbar' a third time (without raising your hands) and quietly say the dua for the person who died.
- Say 'Allahu Akbar' a fourth time (without raising your hands), then turn your head to the right and then the left, saying the salam, just like at the end of the usual prayer.
The funeral prayer is four takbirs said standing, with the imam standing level with the chest of the person who has died. There is no bowing, no going down to the ground, and no Qur'an reading in it.
123456سُبْحَانَكَ اَللّٰهُمَّ وَ بِحَمْدِكَ وَ تَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ وَ تَعَالٰى جَدُّكَ وَ جَلَّ ثَنَاؤُكَ وَلَا إِلٰهَ غَيْرُكَ
Subḥānaka'llāhumma wa bi-ḥamdik, wa tabāraka'smuk, wa taʿālā jadduk, wa jalla thanāʾuk, wa lā ilāha ghayruk
Glory be to You, O Allah, and all praise is Yours. Blessed is Your name, and great is Your majesty. Glorious is Your praise, and there is no god but You.
اَللّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلٰى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ عَلٰى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلٰى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلٰى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَّجِيدٌ، اَللّٰهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلٰى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ عَلٰى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلٰى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلٰى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَّجِيدٌ
Allāhumma ṣalli ʿalā Muḥammadin wa ʿalā āli Muḥammadin kamā ṣallayta ʿalā Ibrāhīma wa ʿalā āli Ibrāhīma innaka Ḥamīdum Majīd. Allāhumma bārik ʿalā Muḥammadin wa ʿalā āli Muḥammadin kamā bārakta ʿalā Ibrāhīma wa ʿalā āli Ibrāhīma innaka Ḥamīdum Majīd.
O Allah, send blessings on Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You sent blessings on Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim; You are truly Praiseworthy and Glorious. O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim; You are truly Praiseworthy and Glorious.
اَللّٰهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِحَيِّنَا وَ مَيِّتِنَا وَ شَاهِدِنَا وَ غَائِبِنَا وَ صَغِيرِنَا وَ كَبِيرِنَا وَ ذَكَرِنَا وَ أُنْثَانَا، اَللّٰهُمَّ مَنْ أَحْيَيْتَهُ مِنَّا فَأَحْيِهِ عَلَى الْإِسْلَامِ وَ مَنْ تَوَفَّيْتَهُ مِنَّا فَتَوَفَّهُ عَلَى الْإِيمَانِ
Allāhumma'ghfir li-ḥayyinā wa mayyitinā, wa shāhidinā wa ghāʾibinā, wa ṣaghīrinā wa kabīrinā, wa dhakarinā wa unthānā. Allāhumma man aḥyaytahū minnā fa-aḥyihī ʿala'l-Islām, wa man tawaffaytahū minnā fa-tawaffahū ʿala'l-īmān.
O Allah, forgive our living and our dead, those of us present and those away, our young and our old, our males and our females. O Allah, whoever of us You let live, let him live upon Islam, and whoever of us You cause to die, let him die upon faith.
اَللّٰهُمَّ اجْعَلْهُ لَنَا فَرَطًا وَاجْعَلْهُ لَنَا أَجْرًا وَذُخْرًا وَاجْعَلْهُ لَنَا شَافِعًا وَمُشَفَّعًا
Allāhumma'jʿalhu lanā faraṭan, wa'jʿalhu lanā ajran wa dhukhran, wa'jʿalhu lanā shāfiʿan wa mushaffaʿā.
O Allah, make him go ahead of us as a means of good, make him for us a reward and something stored up for us, and make him a means of speaking well for us, whose word for us is accepted.
اَللّٰهُمَّ اجْعَلْهَا لَنَا فَرَطًا وَاجْعَلْهَا لَنَا أَجْرًا وَذُخْرًا وَاجْعَلْهَا لَنَا شَافِعَةً وَمُشَفَّعَةً
Allāhumma'jʿalhā lanā faraṭan, wa'jʿalhā lanā ajran wa dhukhran, wa'jʿalhā lanā shāfiʿatan wa mushaffaʿah.
O Allah, make her go ahead of us as a means of good, make her for us a reward and something stored up for us, and make her a means of speaking well for us, whose word for us is accepted.
After the first takbir you quietly praise Allah, after the second you send blessings on the Prophet ﷺ, and after the third you make a dua for the person who has died: the dua for grown-ups asks Allah to forgive our living and our dead, and the dua for a child asks Allah to make the child a reward stored up for us. Nothing is said after the fourth.
123456The method below is the recommended and preferred way of performing the funeral prayer. There is no rukūʿ, no sujūd, no Qur'an recitation and no tashahhud anywhere in it, only four takbirs, said standing.
| Takbir | Hands | What is recited after it |
|---|---|---|
| 1st (takbīr al-taḥrīmah) | Raised to the ears, then lowered and folded below the navel, as at the start of ordinary prayer | The thanā' (praise of Allah) |
| 2nd | Not raised | Durūd (blessings on the Prophet ﷺ) |
| 3rd | Not raised | Duʿāʾ for the deceased: the wording depends on whether they were an adult, a boy, or a girl |
| 4th | Not raised | Nothing is recited: turn the head right, then left, for the salām, as at the end of ordinary prayer |
The method, in order
- The body is placed ahead, with the imam standing level with its chest, facing it.
- The imam and all those following make the intention for the funeral prayer.
- Raise both hands to the ears and say "Allāhu Akbar", the first takbir.
- Lower the hands and fold them below the navel, as in ordinary prayer, and recite the thanā'.
- Say "Allāhu Akbar" a second time, without raising the hands, and recite durūd: any durūd known, though it is preferred to recite the same one said in the daily prayers.
- Say "Allāhu Akbar" a third time, without raising the hands, and make the duʿāʾ appropriate to the deceased.
- Say "Allāhu Akbar" a fourth time, without raising the hands and without any further duʿāʾ, then turn the head to the right and then the left for the salām, exactly as in ordinary prayer. This completes the prayer.
The funeral prayer consists of four takbirs said standing, the imam standing level with the chest of the deceased; the hands are raised only for the first. It contains no bowing, no prostration, no Qur'an recitation and no tashahhud, and it ends with the salam after the fourth takbir.
123456| Situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| The imam has already said one or two takbirs when you arrive | Do not join immediately. Wait for the imam's next takbir and join in with it; this counts as your own opening takbir. After the imam gives the salām, make up the takbirs you missed, and recite their duʿāʾ too if there is no fear the body will be taken away before you finish. |
| You arrive when the prayer is already well underway | Join immediately with a takbir of your own rather than waiting for the imam's next one, then continue with the prayer. |
| The imam says more than four takbirs by mistake | Do not follow the extra takbirs; remain silent and standing. When the imam finally gives the salām, give the salām as well. |
سُبْحَانَكَ اَللّٰهُمَّ وَ بِحَمْدِكَ وَ تَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ وَ تَعَالٰى جَدُّكَ وَ جَلَّ ثَنَاؤُكَ وَلَا إِلٰهَ غَيْرُكَ
Subḥānaka'llāhumma wa bi-ḥamdik, wa tabāraka'smuk, wa taʿālā jadduk, wa jalla thanāʾuk, wa lā ilāha ghayruk
Glory be to You, O Allah, and praise is Yours; blessed is Your name, and exalted is Your majesty, and glorious is Your praise; there is no god but You.
اَللّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلٰى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ عَلٰى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلٰى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلٰى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَّجِيدٌ، اَللّٰهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلٰى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ عَلٰى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلٰى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلٰى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَّجِيدٌ
Allāhumma ṣalli ʿalā Muḥammadin wa ʿalā āli Muḥammadin kamā ṣallayta ʿalā Ibrāhīma wa ʿalā āli Ibrāhīma innaka Ḥamīdum Majīd. Allāhumma bārik ʿalā Muḥammadin wa ʿalā āli Muḥammadin kamā bārakta ʿalā Ibrāhīma wa ʿalā āli Ibrāhīma innaka Ḥamīdum Majīd.
O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad, as You sent blessings upon Ibrahim and upon the family of Ibrahim; indeed You are Praiseworthy, Glorious. O Allah, send grace upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad, as You sent grace upon Ibrahim and upon the family of Ibrahim; indeed You are Praiseworthy, Glorious.
اَللّٰهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِحَيِّنَا وَ مَيِّتِنَا وَ شَاهِدِنَا وَ غَائِبِنَا وَ صَغِيرِنَا وَ كَبِيرِنَا وَ ذَكَرِنَا وَ أُنْثَانَا، اَللّٰهُمَّ مَنْ أَحْيَيْتَهُ مِنَّا فَأَحْيِهِ عَلَى الْإِسْلَامِ وَ مَنْ تَوَفَّيْتَهُ مِنَّا فَتَوَفَّهُ عَلَى الْإِيمَانِ
Allāhumma'ghfir li-ḥayyinā wa mayyitinā, wa shāhidinā wa ghāʾibinā, wa ṣaghīrinā wa kabīrinā, wa dhakarinā wa unthānā. Allāhumma man aḥyaytahū minnā fa-aḥyihī ʿala'l-Islām, wa man tawaffaytahū minnā fa-tawaffahū ʿala'l-īmān.
O Allah, forgive our living and our dead, those of us present and those absent, our young and our old, our males and our females. O Allah, whomever of us You keep alive, keep him alive upon Islam, and whomever of us You take in death, take him in death upon faith.
اَللّٰهُمَّ اجْعَلْهُ لَنَا فَرَطًا وَاجْعَلْهُ لَنَا أَجْرًا وَذُخْرًا وَاجْعَلْهُ لَنَا شَافِعًا وَمُشَفَّعًا
Allāhumma'jʿalhu lanā faraṭan, wa'jʿalhu lanā ajran wa dhukhran, wa'jʿalhu lanā shāfiʿan wa mushaffaʿā.
O Allah, make him for us one who goes ahead (to await us), and make him for us a reward and a treasure stored up, and make him for us an intercessor whose intercession is accepted.
اَللّٰهُمَّ اجْعَلْهَا لَنَا فَرَطًا وَاجْعَلْهَا لَنَا أَجْرًا وَذُخْرًا وَاجْعَلْهَا لَنَا شَافِعَةً وَمُشَفَّعَةً
Allāhumma'jʿalhā lanā faraṭan, wa'jʿalhā lanā ajran wa dhukhran, wa'jʿalhā lanā shāfiʿatan wa mushaffaʿah.
O Allah, make her for us one who goes ahead (to await us), and make her for us a reward and a treasure stored up, and make her for us an intercessor whose intercession is accepted.
After the first takbir the praise (thana) is recited, after the second blessings on the Prophet ﷺ (durud), and after the third a sincere supplication for the deceased: for an adult, that Allah forgive our living and our dead; for a child, that Allah make the child one who goes ahead of us, a reward and a treasure stored up. All three are recited quietly, and nothing is recited after the fourth takbir.
123456Three near-identical accounts of the method give the same four-takbir structure, the same three sunnah recitations, and materially the same wording for the thanāʾ, durūd and duʿāʾ; the Arabic reproduced below follows the main funeral-chapter account, which carries the cleanest diacritics of the three otherwise-identical printings.
| Takbir | Hands | What is recited after it |
|---|---|---|
| 1st: takbīr al-taḥrīmah | Raised to the ears, then folded below the navel | Thanāʾ |
| 2nd | Not raised | Durūd |
| 3rd | Not raised | Duʿāʾ: adult, boy, or girl wording as applicable |
| 4th | Not raised | Nothing recited; salām to the right, then the left |
The method, in order
- The body is placed ahead of the congregation; the imam stands level with the chest of the deceased, facing it.
- The imam and the muqtadīs (followers) make the niyyah for the janāzah prayer.
- Both hands are raised to the ears for takbīr al-taḥrīmah, then folded below the navel as in ordinary ṣalāh; the thanāʾ is recited.
- A second takbīr is said without raising the hands, followed by durūd: any known durūd suffices, though the durūd of the daily prayers (Durūd Ibrāhīmī) is preferred.
- A third takbīr is said without raising the hands, followed by the duʿāʾ suited to the deceased.
- A fourth takbīr is said without raising the hands and without further duʿāʾ; the head turns right then left for the salām, exactly as in ordinary ṣalāh.
Salat al-janazah consists of four takbirs said standing, the imam positioned level with the chest of the deceased, the hands raised only for takbir al-tahrimah. It contains no ruku', no sujud, no Qur'anic recitation and no tashahhud, and concludes with the salam after the fourth takbir.
123456| Situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| Arriving after one or two takbīrs | Wait for the imam's next takbīr and join with it; this becomes the latecomer's own takbīr al-taḥrīmah. After the imam's salām, the missed takbīrs are made up, together with their duʿāʾ if there is no fear the body will be moved on before finishing. |
| Arriving once the prayer is well underway | Join immediately with one's own takbīr rather than waiting for the imam's next; continue thereafter with the prayer. |
| The imam adds a fifth (or further) takbīr in error | Followers do not follow the extra takbīrs; they remain silent and standing until the imam's salām, and then give the salām themselves. |
سُبْحَانَكَ اَللّٰهُمَّ وَ بِحَمْدِكَ وَ تَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ وَ تَعَالٰى جَدُّكَ وَ جَلَّ ثَنَاؤُكَ وَلَا إِلٰهَ غَيْرُكَ
Subḥānaka'llāhumma wa bi-ḥamdik, wa tabāraka'smuk, wa taʿālā jadduk, wa jalla thanāʾuk, wa lā ilāha ghayruk
Glory be to You, O Allah, and praise is Yours; blessed is Your name, exalted is Your majesty, and glorious is Your praise; there is no god but You.
اَللّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلٰى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ عَلٰى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلٰى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلٰى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَّجِيدٌ، اَللّٰهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلٰى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ عَلٰى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلٰى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلٰى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَّجِيدٌ
Allāhumma ṣalli ʿalā Muḥammadin wa ʿalā āli Muḥammadin kamā ṣallayta ʿalā Ibrāhīma wa ʿalā āli Ibrāhīma innaka Ḥamīdum Majīd. Allāhumma bārik ʿalā Muḥammadin wa ʿalā āli Muḥammadin kamā bārakta ʿalā Ibrāhīma wa ʿalā āli Ibrāhīma innaka Ḥamīdum Majīd.
O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad, as You sent blessings upon Ibrahim and upon the family of Ibrahim; indeed You are Praiseworthy, Glorious. O Allah, send grace upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad, as You sent grace upon Ibrahim and upon the family of Ibrahim; indeed You are Praiseworthy, Glorious.
اَللّٰهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِحَيِّنَا وَ مَيِّتِنَا وَ شَاهِدِنَا وَ غَائِبِنَا وَ صَغِيرِنَا وَ كَبِيرِنَا وَ ذَكَرِنَا وَ أُنْثَانَا، اَللّٰهُمَّ مَنْ أَحْيَيْتَهُ مِنَّا فَأَحْيِهِ عَلَى الْإِسْلَامِ وَ مَنْ تَوَفَّيْتَهُ مِنَّا فَتَوَفَّهُ عَلَى الْإِيمَانِ
Allāhumma'ghfir li-ḥayyinā wa mayyitinā, wa shāhidinā wa ghāʾibinā, wa ṣaghīrinā wa kabīrinā, wa dhakarinā wa unthānā. Allāhumma man aḥyaytahū minnā fa-aḥyihī ʿala'l-Islām, wa man tawaffaytahū minnā fa-tawaffahū ʿala'l-īmān.
O Allah, forgive our living and our dead, those of us present and those absent, our young and our old, our males and our females. O Allah, whomever of us You keep alive, keep him alive upon Islam, and whomever of us You take in death, take him in death upon faith.
اَللّٰهُمَّ اجْعَلْهُ لَنَا فَرَطًا وَاجْعَلْهُ لَنَا أَجْرًا وَذُخْرًا وَاجْعَلْهُ لَنَا شَافِعًا وَمُشَفَّعًا
Allāhumma'jʿalhu lanā faraṭan, wa'jʿalhu lanā ajran wa dhukhran, wa'jʿalhu lanā shāfiʿan wa mushaffaʿā.
O Allah, make him for us one who goes ahead to await us, a reward and a treasure stored up, and an intercessor whose intercession is accepted.
اَللّٰهُمَّ اجْعَلْهَا لَنَا فَرَطًا وَاجْعَلْهَا لَنَا أَجْرًا وَذُخْرًا وَاجْعَلْهَا لَنَا شَافِعَةً وَمُشَفَّعَةً
Allāhumma'jʿalhā lanā faraṭan, wa'jʿalhā lanā ajran wa dhukhran, wa'jʿalhā lanā shāfiʿatan wa mushaffaʿah.
O Allah, make her for us one who goes ahead to await us, a reward and a treasure stored up, and an intercessor whose intercession is accepted.
The three recitations are sunnah: the thana after the first takbir, durud after the second, and after the third a sincere du'a for the deceased, the transmitted wording for an adult asking forgiveness for our living and our dead, and for a child asking that Allah make the child a forerunner (farat), a reward and a stored treasure for us. All are recited quietly, and nothing is recited after the fourth takbir before the salam.
123456This is the English translation of Nisab Ahle Khidmaat Sharia, exactly as the book has it, for the passages this page was written from. About 1,138 words. Switch back to Guide for the rewritten version.
Rulings of Funeral Funeral Prayer and Its Related Rulings
The recommended way to perform the funeral prayer is as follows: The body should be placed ahead, and the Imam should stand in front of it, facing the chest of the deceased. The Imam and all followers should make the intention for the funeral prayer, then raise both hands (like in the Takbir at the beginning of regular prayers) to ear level, say "اَللّٰہُ اَکْبَرْ" (Allah is the Greatest), and then lower the hands to the waist (like in regular prayers). After this, they should recite the praise of Allah:
سُبْحَانَكَ اَللّٰهُمَّ وَ بِحَمْدِكَ وَ تَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ وَ تَعَالٰى جَدُّکَ وَ جَلَّ ثَنَاءُکَ وَلَا اِلٰہَ غَيْرُكَ
Then, say "اَللّٰہُ اَکْبَرْ" again, but this time, do not raise the hands. Next, recite the Darood (Salutation upon the Prophet) that is remembered, but it is preferred to say the same Darood that is said in regular prayers:
اَللّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلٰى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ عَلٰٓى اٰلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلٰٓى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلٰٓى اٰلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَّجِيدٌ اللّٰهُمُ بَارِكْ عَلٰى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ عَلٰٓى اٰلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلٰٓى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَ عَلٰٓى اٰلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَّجِيدٌ
After that, say "اَللّٰہُ اَکْبَرْ" for the third time (again, without raising the hands). Then, make the supplications:
If the deceased is an adult, recite:
اَللّٰهُمَّ اغْفِرُ لِحَيْنَا وَ مَيِّتِنَا وَ شَاهِدِنَا وَ غَآئِبِنَا وَ صَغِيرِنَا وَ كَبِيرِنَا وَ ذَكَرِنَا وَ اُنْثَانَا اَللّٰهُمَّ مَنْ أَحْيَيْتَهٗ مِنَّا فَأَحْيِهٖ عَلَى الْإِسْلَامِ وَ مَنْ تَوَفَّيْتَهٗ مِنَّا فَتَوَفَّهٗ عَلٰى الْإِيْمَانِ
For a minor or someone mentally incapacitated, recite:
اَللّٰهُمَّ اجْعَلْهُ لَنَا فَرَطًا وَّ اجْعَلْهُ لَنَا أَجْرًا وَّ ذُخْرًا وَّ اجْعَلْهُ لَنَا شَافِعًا وَّ مُشَفَّعًا
For a minor or mentally incapacitated person, the supplication is:
اَللّٰهُمَّ اجْعَلْهَا لَنَا فَرَطًا وَّ اجْعَلْهَا لَنَا أَجْرًا وَ ذُخْرًا وَّ اجْعَلْهَا لَنَا شَافِعَةً وَ مُشَفَعَةً
Finally, say "اَللّٰہُ اَکْبَرْ" for the fourth time, without any supplication. Then, turn your head to the right and left to give the greeting of peace, just as it is done in regular prayers. This completes the funeral prayer.
There are no recitations of At-Tahiyyat or Qur'an in the funeral prayer. After the fourth Takbir, there is no additional supplication before the Salam, nor are there any bowing or prostration movements. The funeral prayer is the same for both the Imam and the followers, except that the Imam should make the intention to lead the prayer (which is recommended), while the followers should make the intention to follow (which is obligatory). Additionally, the Imam should say the Takbirs and Salam aloud, while the followers say them quietly. All other parts (such as the praise, Darood, and supplications) are recited quietly by both the Imam and the followers.
The Supplement Guidelines for the Funeral Prayer (Salat al-Janazah)
- Method of Performing the Funeral Prayer:
- Place the deceased in front of the congregation, with the Imam standing near the chest area.
- The Imam and the followers should make the intention for the funeral prayer, raise their hands to their ears (like in the opening takbir) and say "اَللّٰہُ اَکْبَرْ" once. Then they should fold their hands below the navel and recite the opening praise (thana):
- سُبْحَانَكَ اَللّٰهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ وَتَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ وَتَعَالَى جَدُّكَ وَ جَلَّ ثَنَاءُ كَ وَ لا إِلَهَ غَيْرُكَ
- Say "اَللّٰہُ اَکْبَرْ" a second time without raising the hands and then recite any salutation on the Prophet, preferably:
- اَللّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ عَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ... (complete durud as recited in prayers).
- Say "اَللّٰہُ اَکْبَرْ" a third time without raising the hands and then recite the appropriate supplication:
- For an adult deceased:
اَللّٰهُمَّ اغْفِرُ لِحَيْنَا وَمَيِّتِنَا وَ شَاهِدِنَا وَ غَائِبِنَا وَ صَغِيرِنَا وَ كَبِيْرِنَا وَ ذَكَرِنَا وَ انْثَانَا اَللّٰهُمَّ مَنْ أَحْيَيْتَهُ مِنَّا فَأَحْيهِ عَلَى الْإِسْلامِ وَ مَنْ تَوَفَّيْتَهُ مِنَّا فَتَوَفَّهُ عَلَى الإِيمَانِ
- For a young child (boy) or a mentally disabled male:
اَللّٰهُمَّ اجْعَلُهُ لَنَا فَرَطًا وَ اجْعَلْهُ لَنَا أَجْراً وَ ذُخْرًا وَّ اجْعَلُهُ لَنَا شَافِعًا وَ مُشَفعًا
- For a young girl or mentally disabled female:
اَللّٰهُمَّ اجْعَلُهَا لَنَا فَرَطًا وَّ اجْعَلُهَا لَنَا أجْراً وَ ذُخْرًا وَ اجْعَلْهَا لَنَا شَافِعَةً وَ مُشَفَعَةً
- Say "اَللّٰہُ اَکْبَرْ" a fourth time and end by turning the head to the right and left, as in prayer. This completes the funeral prayer. Note that this prayer does not include the "tashahhud" or recitation of the Qur’an.
Rulings of Prayer (Salah) 22. The Funeral Prayer (Namaz-e-Janaza)
- The key actions in Namaz-e-Janaza are: first, four takbirs (Saying "اَللّٰہُ اَکْبَرْ" four times), and second, two qiyams (standing during the prayer).
- The Sunnahs of Namaz-e-Janaza include: reciting al-Hamd (praise of Allah), reciting Durud Sharif (salutations upon the Prophet, peace be upon him), and making du'a (supplication) for the deceased.
- The recommended and preferred way to perform the Janaza prayer is as follows: The imam should stand facing the deceased with the body in front of him. Both the imam and the followers (muktadi) should make the intention for the Janaza prayer. Then, raise both hands (as in Takbir al-Tahreemah) to the ears and say اَللّٰہُ اَکْبَرْ. After this, lower the hands and place them just below the navel, as in regular prayer. Then, recite Thana:
سُبْحَانَكَ اَللّٰهُمَّ وَ بِحَمْدِكَ وَ تَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ وَ تَعَالَى جَدُّكَ وَ جَلَّ ثَنَاءُكَ وَلَا إِلَهَ غَيْرُكَ
Next, say اَللّٰہُ اَکْبَرْ for the second time, but do not raise the hands. Then, recite Durud Sharif (any Durud that you remember, but it’s better to recite the same Durud that is read in regular prayer):
اَللّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ عَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَّجِيدٌاَللّٰهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ عَلَى الِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَّجِيدٌ
Then, say اَللّٰہُ اَکْبَرْ for the third time without raising the hands. After this, make Du'a (supplication). If the deceased is an adult, recite the following Du'a:
اَللّٰهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِحَيْنَا وَمَيِّتِنَا وَ شَاهِدِنَا وَ غَائِبِنَا وَ صَغِيْرِنَا وَ كَبِيرِنَا وَذَكَرِنَا وَانْثَانَااَللّٰهُمَّ مَنْ أَحْيَيْتَهُ مِنَّا فَأَحْيِهِ عَلَى الإِسْلَامِ وَ مَنْ تَوَفَّيْتَهُ مِنَّا فَتَوَفَّهُ عَلَى الإيمان
For a non-adult boy or mentally disabled person, recite:
اَللهُمَّ م اجْعَلْهُ لَنَا فَرَاطًا اجْعَلْهُ لَنَا أَجْرًا وَ ذُخْرًا وَاجْعَلُهُ لَنَا شَافِعًا وَ مُشَفّعًا
For a non-adult girl or mentally disabled girl, recite:
اَللّٰهُمَّ اجْعَلُهَا لَنَا فَرَطًا وَ اجْعَلُهَا لَنَا أَجْرًا وَ ذُخْرًا وَاجْعَلُهَا لَنَا شَافِعَةً وَ مُشَفَعَةً
After this, say اَللّٰہُ اَکْبَرْ for the fourth time, and without any Du'a, turn to the right and then to the left, as in regular prayer, but in a soft voice. (This completes the Janaza prayer.)
There is no Tahiyaat or recitation of the Quran in the Janaza prayer, nor any Du'a after the fourth Takbir before the Salam. There is no bowing (Rukoo) or prostration (Sujood). The Janaza prayer is equal for both the imam and the muktadi. The only difference is that the imam makes the intention of leading the prayer and the muktadi makes the intention of following. The imam says the Takbirs and Salam aloud, while the muktadi says them softly. The Thana, Durud, and Du'a are all recited softly by both the imam and the muktadi.
Terms on this page
Related
- How to pray the Eid prayer, step by step The full method of the Eid prayer in order, from the intention and the extra takbirs to the two sermons that follow it.
- How to pray, step by step The full sunnah method of prayer in order, with the words to say, and how it differs for the imam, the follower and a woman.
- The funeral prayer: ruling and conditions Why the funeral prayer (salat al-janazah) is a communal obligation (fard kifayah), its conditions, who has the right to lead it, and when it may not be prayed.
- Mistakes, forgetfulness and joining late in the Eid prayer What to do if one of the extra takbirs (saying Allahu Akbar) is said wrongly, forgotten or added to, and how to join the Eid prayer after the imam has already started.