Janazah (Funeral) Prayer

Janazah prayer, also known as the funeral prayer, is a specific Islamic prayer performed to honor the deceased and seek Allah’s forgiveness for them. It is an important part of Islamic funeral rituals and is considered a communal obligation (fard kifayah) in Islam.

The structure of Janazah prayer is relatively simple and consists of four takbirs (raising the hands and saying Allahu Akbar) and recitation of Quranic verses and supplications.

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever attends the funeral procession until he offers the funeral prayer for it, will get a reward equal to one Qirat; and whoever accompanies it till burial, will get a reward equal to two Qirats. It was asked, ‘What are two Qirats?’ He replied, ‘Like two huge mountains'” (Sahih Al-Bukhari).

This Hadith highlights the importance of attending the Janazah prayer and participating in the funeral procession.

Another Hadith narrated by Abdullah ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) states that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “When you offer the funeral prayer, then say: ‘Allahumma ighfir lahu’ (O Allah, forgive him)” (Sunan Abu Dawud).

This Hadith emphasizes the supplication to seek Allah’s forgiveness for the deceased during the Janazah prayer.

First Takbeer

Janazah prayer contains 4 Takbeers. First Takbeer is Takbeer Tahrima.

The lmam says Allahu Akbar and raises his hands up to the shoulder level with fingers stretching to the earlobes and the congregation does the same. Then the lmam folds his hands on his chest right hand over the left.

Dua’s of Starting. Then the person can read one of those duas which are recommended in the first rakat of the usual prayer before recitation of Fatiha for example.

Thana & Ta’awwz

سُبْحَاْنَكَ اَلْلّٰھُمَّ وَبِحَمدِكَ وَتَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ وَتَعَالٰی جَدُّكَ وَلَا اِلٰه غَیْرِكَ

Subhana Kallah Humma Wa Bi Hamdika, Watabarakasmuka Wata ‘ala Jadduka, Wa-La Ilaha Ghairuk

Glory is to You O Allah, and praise. Blessed is Your Name and Exalted is Your Majesty. There is none worthy of worship but You.

أَعُوْذُ بِاللهِ مِنَ الشَّـيْطٰنِ الرَّجِيْمِ

A’auodo billahi minash-shaytaanir-rajeem

I seek refuge with Allah from Satan.

Tasmiyah

بِسْمِ ٱللَّٰهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Ever Merciful.

Recite Surah Al-Fatiha

الْحَمْدُ للّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ الرَّحْمـنِ الرَّحِيمِ مَـالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ إِيَّاك نَعْبُدُ وإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ اهدِنَــــا الصِّرَاطَ المُستَقِيمَ صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنعَمتَ عَلَيهِمْ غَيرِ المَغضُوبِ عَلَيهِمْ وَلاَ الضَّالِّينَ

AlHamdu lillaahi Rabbil-‘Aalameen. ‘Ar-Rahmanir-Raheem. Maaliki Yaumid Deen. ‘Iyyaka na-budu wa iyyaka nasta-een. Ihdina-sirat al-Mustaqueem. Siratal-lazeena ‘an-‘amta ‘alai-him, Ghairil maghdubi ‘alai-him wa laddaalleen

All praise belongs to Allah, Lord of all the worlds, Most Gracious, Ever Merciful; Master of Day of Judgement. Thee alone do we worship and Thee alone do we implore for help. Guide us along the right path, the path of those whom Thou has bestowed Thy blessings, those who have not incurred Thy displeasure, and those who have not gone astray.

Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) has said
“Surah Fatihah is necessary for the validity of any type of prayer as that no prayer is valid without it.”

A chapter or part of a chapter ran be read after the recitation of Surah Fatihah but it is not essential to read it.

Second Takbeer

Then the lmam should say the second Takbeer and the congregation should follow but it is not necessary to raise the hands up to the shoulder level but if someone does, it is alright. Both ways are practised by great ulamas and scholars.

After the second Takbir the person praying Janazah should recite Darood in his heart. It is preferable to read the Darood which a person reads in Tashahhud of his usual prayer.

اَللّٰھُمَّ صَلِّ عَلٰی مُحَمَّدٍ وَّعَلٰٓی اٰلِ مُحَمَّدٍ کَمَا صَلَّیْتَ عَلٰٓی اِبْرَاھِیْمَ وَعَلٰٓی اٰلِ اِبْرَاھِیْمَ اِنَّکَ حَمِیْدٌ مَّجِیْدٌ اَللّٰھُمَّ بَارِکْ عَلٰی مُحَمَّدٍ وَّعَلٰٓی اٰلِ مُحَمَّدٍ کَمَا بَارَکْتَ عَلٰٓی اِبْرَاھِیْمَ وَعَلٰٓی اٰلِ اِبْرَاھِیْمَ اِنَّکَ حَمِیْدٌ مَّجِیْدٌ

Allahumma Salli ‘ala Muhammadin wa ‘ala aali Muhammadin, kama sallaita ‘ala Ibrahima wa ‘ala aali Ibrahima innaka Hamidum-Majeed. Allahumma barik ‘ala Muhammadin wa ‘ala aali Muhammadin kama barakta ‘ala Ibrahima wa ‘ala aali Ibrahima innaka Hameedum-Majeed

Bless, O Allah, Muhammad and the people of Muhammad, as Thou didst bless Abraham and the people of Abraham. Thou art indeed the Praiseworthy, the Glorious. Prosper, O Allah, Muhammad and the people of Muhammad, as Thou didst prosper Abraham and the people of Abraham. Thou art indeed the Praiseworthy, the Glorious.

Third Takbeer

Then the Imam should say the third Takbeer and the congregation should follow. Now, each person should pray for the deceased. Alternatively the Imam tan pray out loud and the congregation can say; Ameen, after him. All kinds of duas for the benefit of the
deceased can be said. One of these is mentioned below:

Dua of Janazah

Abu Hurairah (R.A.) said that the messenger of Allah (S.A.W.) prayed and asked:
اللّٰهُمَّ أَنْتَ رَبِّي، لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ، خَلَقْتَنِيْ وَأَنَا عَبْدُكَ، وَأَنَا عَلَى عَهْدِكَ وَوَعْدِكَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُ، أَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا صَنَعْتُ، أَبُوءُ لَكَ بِنِعْمَتِكَ عَلَىَّ وَأَبُوءُ لَكَ بِذَنْبِيْ، فَاغْفِرْ لِيْ، فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوْبَ إِلَّاأَنْتَ

Allahumma anta Rabbi la ilaha illa anta, Khalaqtani wa ana ‘Abduka, wa ana ‘ala ‘ahdika wa wa‘dika mastata‘tu, a‘udhu bika min sharri ma sana‘tu, abu-u laka bini‘matika ‘alaiya, wa abu-u laka bidhanbi faghfirli, fa-innahu la yaghfirudhunuba illa anta.

O Allah! You are my Lord! None has the right to be worshipped but You. You created me and I am Your slave, and I am faithful to my covenant and my promise as much as I can. I seek refuge with You from all the evil I have done. I acknowledge before You all the blessings You have bestowed upon me, and I confess to You all my sins. So I entreat You to forgive my sins, for nobody can forgive sins except You.

Fourth Takbeer – Ending the Janazah prayer

Then the lmam should say the fourth Takbeer and fie congregation should follow and after that, the lmam should do “Salaam” and the congregation should do the same:

Salaam Towards the Right

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله

Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullah

Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah

Salaam Towards the Left