The funeral prayer (janazah) is a communal obligation (farḍ al-kifayah) upon believers after the passing of a muslim in their community. In other words, if some Muslims of the region conduct the funeral service, the remaining members would be absolved.
The funeral prayer is offered after the washing and shrouding of the deceased.
Like any formal prayer (salah), one must be in the state of purity and ablution (wudu) to commence the funeral prayer.
One is required to formalize an intention that they are offering funeral prayers to God, for the forgiveness of the deceased.
Prayer Description
- Face the qiblah.
- Stand and pray.
- There are four takbirs (saying Allah Akbar) in the funeral prayer.
- Recite thana and or al-fatiḥah after the first takbir.
- Reciting al-fatiḥah is preferred by the Shafiʾe and Ḥanbali schools of jurisprudence. Ḥanafī jurists give preference to reciting the thanā supplication.
- Any supplication is to be recited after all four takbirs according to the Maliki position.
- Recite a salawat after the second takbir.
- Recite any prophetic supplication after the third takbir.
- The final takbir concludes the prayer with salam.
- Two salams (one on the right thereafter the left) is preferred by the Ḥanafī school.
- Only one salam is favoured by the Maliki and Ḥanbali schools.
- Supplications can also be recited after the final takbir prior to making the salam, as is preferred by the Shsfiʾes and Malikis.
Hands Raising
Hands can be raised or left tied with each takbir.
- Raising hands only to commence the prayer at the beginning, is preferred by the Ḥanafis, thereafter the hands should remained tied until the end of the prayer.
- Shafiʾes and Hanbalis prefer raising hands with every takbir.
Burial
If possible, attend the burial after the funeral prayer.
(References: Fiqh al Islamiy wa Adillatuhu, Fiqh ʿAla Madhahib Al Arbaʿa, Qamus Al-Fiqh)
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