Salat al-Janazah is prayed standing, with four takbirs and no ruku or sujood: after the first takbir recite the Sana or Al-Fatiha, after the second the Durood Ibrahimi, after the third a dua for the deceased, and after the fourth end with salam. It is a communal obligation (fard kifayah) on the Muslims of the area.
- Janazah has 4 takbirs and is prayed standing — no ruku, no sujood.
- 1st takbir: Sana (Hanafi) or Al-Fatiha (Sahih al-Bukhari 1335). 2nd: Durood Ibrahimi. 3rd: dua for the deceased. 4th: salam.
- Attending until the prayer earns one qirat of reward; until the burial, two (Sahih al-Bukhari 1325).
- When placing the body in the grave say “Bismillahi wa 'ala sunnati Rasulillah” (Sunan Abi Dawud 3213).
What is Salat al-Janazah?
Salat al-Janazah is the prayer Muslims offer for a Muslim who has died, asking Allah to forgive and have mercy on them. It is a communal obligation (fard kifayah): when some Muslims perform it, the duty is fulfilled for everyone. Following the funeral is one of the rights of a Muslim over another (Sahih al-Bukhari 1240).
How to pray Janazah step by step
Make your intention
Stand facing the Qibla behind the imam with the intention of praying the funeral prayer for the deceased. There is no adhan, no iqamah, no ruku and no sujood.
First takbir
Raise your hands and say “Allahu Akbar”. In the Hanafi school, recite the Sana (Thana); in the Shafi'i and Hanbali schools, recite Al-Fatiha — Ibn Abbas recited Al-Fatiha and said it is the Sunnah (Sahih al-Bukhari 1335).
Second takbir
Say “Allahu Akbar” without raising the hands (in the Hanafi school) and recite the Durood Ibrahimi.
Third takbir
Say “Allahu Akbar” and make dua for the deceased — for example the duas below for an adult or a child.
Fourth takbir and salam
Say “Allahu Akbar”, pause briefly, then end the prayer by turning the head to the right (and left) saying “As-salamu 'alaykum wa rahmatullah”.
Janazah duas for an adult
Janazah dua for all Muslims
اَللّٰهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِحَيِّنَا وَمَيِّتِنَا وَصَغِيْرِنَا وَكَبِيْرِنَا وَذَكَرِنَا وَأُنْثَانَا وَشَاهِدِنَا وَغَائِبِنَا اَللّٰهُمَّ مَنْ أَحْيَيْتَهٗ مِنَّا فَأَحْيِهٖ عَلَى الْإِيْمَانِ وَمَنْ تَوَفَّيْتَهٗ مِنَّا فَتَوَفَّهٗ عَلَى الْإِسْلَامِ اَللّٰهُمَّ لَا تَحْرِمْنَا أَجْرَهٗ وَلَا تُضِلَّنَا بَعْدَهٗ
Allahummaghfir li hayyina wa mayyitina, wa saghirina wa kabirina, wa dhakarina wa unthana, wa shahidina wa gha'ibina. Allahumma man ahyaytahu minna fa ahyihi 'alal-iman, wa man tawaffaytahu minna fa tawaffahu 'alal-islam. Allahumma la tahrimna ajrahu wa la tudillana ba'dah.
O Allah, forgive our living and our dead, our young and our old, our men and our women, those present and those absent. O Allah, whoever You keep alive, keep alive upon faith, and whoever You take, take upon Islam. O Allah, do not deprive us of his reward and do not let us go astray after him.
Janazah dua for the deceased
اَللّٰهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لَهٗ وَارْحَمْهُ وَعَافِهٖ وَاعْفُ عَنْهُ وَأَكْرِمْ نُزُلَهٗ وَوَسِّعْ مُدْخَلَهٗ وَاغْسِلْهُ بِالْمَاءِ وَالثَّلْجِ وَالْبَرَدِ وَنَقِّهٖ مِنَ الْخَطَايَا كَمَا نَقَّيْتَ الثَّوْبَ الْأَبْيَضَ مِنَ الدَّنَسِ وَأَبْدِلْهُ دَارًا خَيْرًا مِّنْ دَارِهٖ وَأَهْلًا خَيْرًا مِّنْ أَهْلِهٖ وَزَوْجًا خَيْرًا مِّنْ زَوْجِهٖ وَأَدْخِلْهُ الْجَنَّةَ وَأَعِذْهُ مِنْ عَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ
Allahummaghfir lahu warhamhu, wa 'afihi wa'fu 'anhu, wa akrim nuzulahu, wa wassi' mudkhalahu, waghsilhu bil-ma'i wath-thalji wal-barad, wa naqqihi minal-khataya kama naqqaytath-thawbal-abyada minad-danas, wa abdilhu daran khayran min darihi, wa ahlan khayran min ahlihi, wa zawjan khayran min zawjihi, wa adkhilhul-jannata, wa a'idhhu min 'adhabil-qabr.
O Allah, forgive him and have mercy on him, keep him safe and pardon him, honour his arrival and widen his entrance. Wash him with water, snow and hail, and cleanse him of sins as a white garment is cleansed of dirt. Give him a home better than his home, a family better than his family and a spouse better than his spouse; admit him to Paradise and protect him from the punishment of the grave.
For a woman, the Arabic pronouns change from “-hu” to “-ha” (for example “Allahummaghfir laha warhamha”).
Janazah dua for a child
Janazah dua for a child
اَللّٰهُمَّ اجْعَلْهُ لَنَا فَرَطًا وَّسَلَفًا وَّأَجْرًا
Allahummaj-'alhu lana faratan wa salafan wa ajra.
O Allah, make him one who goes ahead of us to prepare the way, a forerunner and a source of reward for us.
Durood Ibrahimi (second takbir)
Durood Ibrahimi
اَللّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلٰى مُحَمَّدٍ وَّعَلٰى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلٰى إِبْرَاهِيْمَ وَعَلٰى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيْمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيْدٌ مَّجِيْدٌ اَللّٰهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلٰى مُحَمَّدٍ وَّعَلٰى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلٰى إِبْرَاهِيْمَ وَعَلٰى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيْمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيْدٌ مَّجِيْدٌ
Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammadin wa 'ala ali Muhammad, kama sallayta 'ala Ibrahima wa 'ala ali Ibrahim, innaka Hamidum Majid. Allahumma barik 'ala Muhammadin wa 'ala ali Muhammad, kama barakta 'ala Ibrahima wa 'ala ali Ibrahim, innaka Hamidum Majid.
O Allah, send prayers upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You sent prayers upon Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim; You are Praiseworthy, Glorious. O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim; You are Praiseworthy, Glorious.
When someone passes away
When someone passes away
إِنَّا لِلّٰهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُوْنَ اَللّٰهُمَّ أْجُرْنِيْ فِيْ مُصِيْبَتِيْ وَأَخْلِفْ لِيْ خَيْرًا مِّنْهَا
Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un. Allahumma'jurni fi musibati wa akhlif li khayran minha.
Indeed, we belong to Allah and to Him we will return. O Allah, reward me in my affliction and replace it for me with something better.
Burial, condolence and visiting graves
When placing the body in the grave
بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ وَعَلٰى سُنَّةِ رَسُوْلِ اللّٰهِ
Bismillahi wa 'ala sunnati Rasulillah.
In the name of Allah, and upon the way of the Messenger of Allah.
Condolence to the family
إِنَّ لِلّٰهِ مَا أَخَذَ وَلَهٗ مَا أَعْطٰى وَكُلٌّ عِنْدَهٗ بِأَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى فَلْتَصْبِرْ وَلْتَحْتَسِبْ
Inna lillahi ma akhadha wa lahu ma a'ta, wa kullun 'indahu bi ajalim-musamma, faltasbir waltahtasib.
To Allah belongs what He took and to Him belongs what He gave, and everything with Him has an appointed time — so be patient and hope for reward.
Visiting the graves
اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ أَهْلَ الدِّيَارِ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ وَالْمُسْلِمِيْنَ وَإِنَّا إِنْ شَاءَ اللّٰهُ لَلَاحِقُوْنَ أَسْأَلُ اللّٰهَ لَنَا وَلَكُمُ الْعَافِيَةَ
As-salamu 'alaykum ahlad-diyari minal-mu'minina wal-muslimin, wa inna in sha' Allahu lalahiqun, as'alullaha lana wa lakumul-'afiyah.
Peace be upon you, people of these dwellings, believers and Muslims. We will join you, if Allah wills. I ask Allah for well-being for us and for you.
Sunnah and reward
- Hurry with the funeral. (Sahih al-Bukhari 1315)
- Following the funeral is one of the five rights a Muslim has over another. (Sahih al-Bukhari 1240)
- Whoever attends until the prayer gets one qirat of reward; until the burial, two qirats. (Sahih al-Bukhari 1325)
- Ibn Abbas recited Al-Fatiha in the funeral prayer and said it is the Sunnah. (Sahih al-Bukhari 1335)
References & sources
- Sahih al-Bukhari 1335
- Sahih al-Bukhari 1240
- Sahih al-Bukhari 1325
- Sahih al-Bukhari 1315
- Sahih al-Bukhari 3370
- Sunan Abi Dawud 775
- Sahih Muslim 918
- Sunan Abi Dawud 3201
- Sahih Muslim 963
- Hisn al-Muslim 161 (al-Hasan al-Basri, in Sahih al-Bukhari)
- Sunan Abi Dawud 3213
- Sahih al-Bukhari 1284
- Sahih Muslim 975
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