Namaz e Janaza

صلاة الجنازة

Namaz E Janaza (صلاة الجنازة) is the Islamic funeral prayer. The prayer is performed in congregation to seek pardon for the deceased and all dead Muslims. The Namaz E Janaza is farḍ kifaya ( a collective obligation upon Muslims) i.e., if anyone prays the prayer, all the others are free from the responsibility. Otherwise, all those who received news of the death and did not attend the funeral would be considered sinners.

Performing the funeral prayer when the body is not present is generally not permitted in the Hanafi and Maliki madhhabs, is permitted in the Hanbali madhhab, and is recommended in the Shafi'i madhhab.

How to Perform the Janazah (funeral) Prayer

It is preferable that those praying divide themselves into odd rows with one person as an imam standing alone in front and while facing the qiblah.

The body is placed in front of the Imam. If there is more than one body, then these should be put in front of the other.

The spoken part of the prayer involves quietly reciting sura Al-Fatiha, then praying for Allah to bestow peace, mercy and blessings on Prophet Muhammad (SAW), and finally saying two du'as.

There is no ruku and Sujood in Janazah prayer

Step #1 – Preconditions of the Janazah Prayer

• Make sure you have wudu and face the qiblah just like any other prayer.
• The body of the deceased should already be washed and shrouded and placed in front of the congregation.
• There is NO Adhan or Iqamah for the Janazah Prayer. The congregation will line up and the prayer will simply start with the first takbeer (Allahu Akbar).
• There is NO prostration (sajdah/sujood) or bowing (ruku) in the Janazah prayer. So do not leave a gap in front of you as you would do in a normal prayer for prostration. You will not be bowing down at any point. Stand close to the person in front of you. A foot apart from the person in front is okay.
• Stand shoulder to shoulder, feet to feet to the person either side of you as prescribed in the sunnah.
• The Janazah prayer is a silent prayer except for the takbirs (Allahu Akbar) and taslim (salam) at the end.
• If the deceased is a man/boy the Imam will stand in level with the head of the person.
• If the deceased is a woman/girl, the Imam will stand in the middle.

Step #2 – The First Takbir

The Janazah prayer is only one rakah (unit). There are four takbirs (saying Allahu Akbar loudly) in the Janazah prayer all in the same rakah.

The Imam leading the Janazah prayer will say the first takbir out loud (i.e. Allahu Akbar).

Follow the Imam and raise your hands up to the ears or shoulders and then fold them. Placing the right hand over the left just like you would do in the normal five daily prayers.

Step #3 – Seek Refuge in Allah from Shaytan

Before reciting the Qur’an first seek refuge in Allah from Shaytan (Satan) the accursed.

Recite this silently.

The dua for seeking refuge from Shaytan is as follows:

أَعُوْذُ بِاللّٰهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطٰانِ الرَّجِيْمِ

I Seek Refuge with Allah from the Accursed Shaitan

Step #4 – Recite Surah Al Fatiha

Recite the first chapter Surah Al Fatiha silently.

بِسْـــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــمِ االلهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ

الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ

إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ

اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ

صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ

Step #5 – The Second Takbir

The Imam leading the Janazah prayer will say the second takbir out loud (i.e. Allahu Akbar).

It is Sunnah to raise your hands to the level of the shoulders with every takbir in the five daily prayers. From this the scholars say it is preferable to raise your hands with every takbir in the Janazah prayer too.

Raise your hands to the shoulders/ears when the Imam says takbir. Then fold your hands.

Step #6 – Recite Salutations on Prophet Muhammad and his family

Next pray to Allah to send His peace and blessings upon Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his family Durood Ibraheem. Similar to how you would do in the five daily prayers while in the sitting position.

اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ، اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكَ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَ ا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ

Step #7 – The Third Takbir

The Imam leading the Janazah prayer will say the third takbir out loud (i.e. Allahu Akbar).

Raise your hands to the level of the shoulders/ears when the Imam says takbir. Then fold your hands.

Step #8 – Supplicate (Du’a) for the deceased

Now you will supplicate to Allah and seek forgiveness and mercy for the deceased. Rasulullah (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) would make various supplications (duas) for the deceased. Some of them I have mentioned below from the Sunnah.

اللهُـمِّ اغْفِـرْ لَهُ وَارْحَمْـه ، وَعافِهِ وَاعْفُ عَنْـه ، وَأَكْـرِمْ نُزُلَـه ، وَوَسِّـعْ مُدْخَـلَه ، وَاغْسِلْـهُ بِالْمـاءِ وَالثَّـلْجِ وَالْبَـرَدْ ، وَنَقِّـهِ مِنَ الْخطـايا كَما نَـقّيْتَ الـثَّوْبُ الأَبْيَـضُ مِنَ الدَّنَـسْ ، وَأَبْـدِلْهُ داراً خَـيْراً مِنْ دارِه ، وَأَهْلاً خَـيْراً مِنْ أَهْلِـه ، وَزَوْجَـاً خَـيْراً مِنْ زَوْجِه، وَأَدْخِـلْهُ الْجَـنَّة ، وَأَعِـذْهُ مِنْ عَذابِ القَـبْر وَعَذابِ النّـار

Step #9 – The Fourth Takbeer

The Imam leading the Janazah prayer will say the fourth and final takbir out loud (i.e. Allahu Akbar).

Raise your hands to the level of the shoulders/ears when the Imam says takbir. Then fold your hands.

You may continue to seek forgiveness and supplicate for the deceased if the Imam is silent for a while.

Usually the Imam will proceed to conclude the Janazah prayer after a short pause. This is because Rasulullah (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said to hasten the burial.

Step #10 – End the Prayer with Taslim

The Imam will conclude the Janazah prayer by turning his head to the right and saying the Taslim. Follow the imam and turn your head to the right and say “As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullāh”.

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله‎