Salaat al-Janaazah according to the Sunnah

by Asma bint Shameem

Salaat al-Janaazah is the funeral prayer that is read when a Muslim passes away.

Praying Salaat al-Janaazah is a fardh kifaayah.

That means that if a few in the community pray it, then the rest of the community is absolved of it’s obligation.

But if no one does it, then the whole community is sinful.

It is the deceased person’s right as a Muslim that we pray this Salaat over him, even if had committed major sins.

And this is a source of great reward for the one who reads it.

🌿The Prophet ﷺ said:

"Whoever attends a funeral until he offers the (funeral) prayer will have one qiraat (of reward) and whoever attends until the burial is done will have two qiraats."

It was said: "What are the two qiraats?"

He said: "Like two great mountains." (al-Bukhaari, Muslim)

🔵 The more the people, the better it is

If a person dies, the more the number of people praying Salaatul Janaazah, the better it is.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

“If a group of Muslims numbering a hundred perform funeral prayer over a dead person, and all of them ask Allaah’s forgiveness for him, their prayer for him will be accepted.”
(Muslim 947)

And the Prophet ﷺ said:

“If a Muslim dies and forty people, who do not associate anything with Allaah in worship, participate in the funeral prayer over him, Allaah will accept their intercession for him.”
(Saheeh Muslim 948)

🔵 How to read Salaat al-Janaazah

Salaat al-Janaazah is read quietly and has four takbeeraat.

There are no rukoo or sujood and when the Imaam leads the people, the men stand in front of the women in rows just like in the regular Salaah.

STEP BY STEP

🔺1. Raise your hands and say Allaahu Akbar (first takbeer)

🔺2. Seek refuge with Allaah from the Shaytaan:

Aa’oodhu billaahi min ash-Shaytaan-nir-rajeem.

🔺3. Say the Basmalah:

Bismillaahir-Rahmaanir-Raheem

🔺4. Read Surah al-Faatihah.

You HAVE to read Surah al Faatihah. If you don’t, your Salaah is not complete.

🔺5. Raise your hands and say Allaahu Akbar (second takbeer)

🔺6. Send blessings and salutations on the Prophet ﷺ like we do in Salaah at the end of Tashahhud:

Allaahumma sali alaa Muhammad....

all the way to the end.

(Durood Ibraheem)

🔺7. Raise your hands and say Allaahu Akbar (third takbeer)

🔺8. Make duaa for the deceased.

It’s best to make duaa in Arabic.

But if you don’t know it, you can say ANY duaa in ANY language.

You can even READ the duaa on your phone or from a book.

🔺9. Raise your hands and say Allaahu Akbar (fourth takbeer)

🔺10. Pause briefly (you can make brief Duaa) then turn

to the right only and say Assalaamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullaah.

That’s it. You’re done.

🔺Some Important points

🔵 Do I HAVE to Surah al-Faatihah?

Yes.

In order for the prayer to be valid, you must recite al-Faatihah.

🍃The Prophet ﷺ said:

“There is no prayer for the one who does not recite the Opening of the Book (meaning Surah al-Faatihah).” (al-Bukhaari, Muslim)

🍃 Sheikh ibn Baaz said:

“It is obligatory, as the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam said: “Pray as you have seen me praying.”

And he ﷺ said:

“There is no prayer for the one who does not recite the Opening of the Book.” (al-Bukhaari, Muslim)

(Majmoo’ Fataawa al-Shaykh Ibn Baaz, 13/143)

🔵 What about reading the opening duaa (sanaa)?

It is better not to recite Duaa al-Istiftaah (opening duaa or sana) in the Janaazah prayer according to the majority of the scholars, as there’s no report of the Prophet ﷺ reading it in the Janaazah prayer.

But if someone recites it, it is permissible.

🍃 Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said:

“The scholars stated that it is not recommended (to read sana), and they gave the reason for that as being that the funeral prayer is supposed to be kept short, so the opening du’aa’ should not be recited.“

(Majmoo’ Fataawa Ibn ‘Uthaymeen 17/119). 

🍃Shaikh ibn Baaz said:

“As for the opening du’aa’, there is nothing wrong with reciting it and there is nothing wrong with omitting it, but omitting it is preferable, following the words of the Prophet ﷺ : “Hasten with the funeral.”

(Majmoo’ Fataawa Ibn Baaz 13/141). 

🔵 Raise hands with each Takbeer?

Some ulama are of the opinion that we should raise the hands in the first takbeer only and we don’t have to raise our hands for the other three takbeeraat.

So if someone does not raise their hands in the subsequent takbeeraat, their salaah is still valid.

🔵 One salaam or two?

The stronger and majority opinion of the scholars is that there’s only ONE tasleem in the Janaazah prayer.

🍃 The scholars of the Standing Committee said:

“The Funeral Prayer is an act of Ibaadah and the basic principle regarding the acts of Ibaadah is that they are Tawqeefi (bound by a religious text and not amenable to personal opinion).

(Part No: 8, Page No: 390)

The Tasleem is established in this Salaah according to the general meaning of the Hadeeth authentically reported from the Prophet ﷺ who said:

"And its Tahlul (i.e. ending of praying state) is by the Tasleem."

It is performed following the example of the Sahaabah and the Tabi’oon who offered ONE Tasleem to the right side ONLY at the end of the Funeral Prayer, and there is no known difference of opinion among them in this regard.

As far as we know, it has not been proved that any of them concluded this Salaah by offering two Tasleem.

However, some Fugaha' disagreed with this afterwards, using Qiyaas (analogy) with the other Salaahs that consist of Rukoo’ and Suood.

But Qiyaas should not be used in respect to acts of 'Ibaadah, as they are based on textual-evidence from the Qur’aan and what is authentically reported from the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ.”

(Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah 2514)

Although the Sunnah is to do one tasleem only, if the Imaam you’re following makes two salaams, meaning to the right and the left, instead of just to the right, then go ahead and do that.

Remember it’s important to follow the Imaam.

🔵 Can women pray Salaatul Janaazah?

Yes.

Salaat al-Janaazah is to be read by men AND women.

🍃 The Prophet ﷺ said:

" WHOEVER attends a funeral until he offers the (funeral) prayer will have one qiraat (of reward)...:”,

He did NOT say “MEN ONLY”.

If this prayer was for men only, he would have specified it.

🔵 How to join the funeral prayer late?

🍃 The scholars of the Standing Committee said:

“He should complete the janaazah prayer and recite the three takbeers to make up what he has missed before the coffin is taken away, then he should say the salaam.

The part of the prayer where he caught up with the imaam is considered to be the first part of his prayer, and it is sufficient for him to say the minimum of what is required after the second and third takbeers.

After the second takbeer he may say, “Allaahumma salli ‘ala Muhammad (O Allaah, send blessings upon Muhammad)” and after the third takbeer he should say, “Allaahumma ighfir lahu (O Allaah, have mercy on him).”

And he should say salaam after the fourth takbeer. 

And Allaah is the Source of strength.“

(Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah, 8/399)

And Allaah knows best.