1.     The Funeral prayer of a deceased Muslim is a communal obligation (Fard Kifayah). If someone is buried without it being performed then the whole community is geld responsible but as long as some gather and perform it, the obligation is removed from the whole community.

Abu Hurayra (RA) reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "The rights one Muslim has over another Muslim are five:

1) Returning the greeting,
2) Visiting the sick,
3) Joining funeral processions,
4) Accepting invitations and
5) Blessing those who sneeze." [Agreed upon]

In the variant of Saheeh Muslim, "The Muslim has six rights.

1) When you meet him, you should greet him.
2) When he invites you, you should accept his invitation.
3) When he asks you for counsel, you should counsel him.
4) When he sneezes and praises Allah, you should bless him.
5) When he is ill, you should visit him.
6) When he dies, you should follow him."

2. It is Sunnah, praiseworthy and extremely virtuous to participate in the Funeral prayer and burial of a Muslim.

Abu Hurayra (RA) reported that the Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said, "Anyone who joins a funeral procession, staying until he has done the prayer, will have one qirat. Anyone who stays until after the burial will have two qirats." It was asked, "What are two qirats?" He said, "Like two huge mountains." [Agreed upon]

Abu Hurayra (RA) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said, "Anyone who follows the funeral procession of a Muslim motivated by belief and in expectation of the reward and stays with it until the prayer has been said over him and his burial is over, comes back with the reward of two qirats. Each qirat is the size of Uhud. And whoever prays over him and leaves before he is buried, comes back with one qirat." [Bukhari]

3. The Funeral prayer is performed in congregation and there is no evidence from Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) or Sahaba (RA) to the contrary.

4. All participants in the Funeral prayer must be in a state of Wudhu .

Abdullah Ibn Umar (RA) used to say, “No one should pray over a dead person unless he is in a state of Wudhu” [Muwatta Imam Malik (RA)]

Imam Muhammad (RA) says, “And we adhere to this; one should not pray Janazah Salah unless one is in a state of Wudhu” [Muwatta Imam Muhammad (RA)]


5. It is permissible to perform Tayammum if one does not have time to do Wudhu.

Abdullah Ibn UMar (RA) used to say, “No one should pray over a dead person unless he is in a state of Wudhu” [Muwatta Imam Malik (RA)]

Imam Muhammad (RA) says, “And we adhere to this; one should not pray Janazah Salah unless one is in a state of Wudhu. If the Salah is being established and one does not have time to do Wudhu then it is permissible to pray with Tayammum. This is the opinion of Abu Haneefa (RA)” [Muwatta Imam Muhammad (RA)]


6. There is no Adhan or Iqamah for Janazah Salah.

7. Funeral Prayer should be performed outside the Masjid.

Abu Hurayra (RA) reported that the Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) informed (the people) about the death of An-Najashi on the very day he died. He went towards the Musalla (praying place) and the people stood behind him in rows. He said four Takbirs (i.e. offered the Funeral prayer). [Bukhari]

Abdullah Ibn Umar (RA) reported that the Jews brought to the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) a man and a woman who had committed (adultery) illegal sexual intercourse. He ordered both of them to be stoned (to death), near the place of offering the funeral prayers beside the mosque." [Bukhari]


8. The most suited person to lead the Salah is the Muslim ruler (if present) then the Qadhi (Judge), then the Imam of the locality, then the guardian of the deceased, then the blood relative of the deceased.

Abu Hazim (RA) said, “Verily I was present on the day of Hasan Ibn Ali (RA)’s death and I heard Hussain Ibn Ali (RA) say to Saeed Ibn Al-Aas (RA), “Go Forward (and lead the Salah) for it was not in (accordance with the) Sunnah, I wouldn’t have put you forward” (Baihaqi)

Note: If the Muslim ruler (or his representative) is not present then the order is given as stipulated in the Madhab of Abu Haneefa (RA) as quoted in Tuhfatul-Fuqaha by Al-Samarqandi (RA).

9. It is recommended that the Imam should arrange the people in three rows as it was the practise of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam).

Malik Ibn Hubayrah (RA)who had enjoyed the honour of companionship of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) is reported to have said, “ When the bier was brought to Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) and those who followed it were considered small in number, he (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) would divide them into three rows. Then he (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) would do the Funeral prayer and say “Whenever three rows of Muslims do Funeral prayer over the deceased they ensure paradise for him. [Abu Dawud]

10. Funeral prayer consist of 4 Takbeers.

Abu Hurayra (RA) reported that the Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) informed (the people) about the death of An-Najashi on the very day he died. He went towards the Musalla (praying place) and the people stood behind him in rows. He said four Takbirs (i.e. offered the Funeral prayer). [Bukhari]

Imam Tirmidhi (RA) said, “Most of the learned companions of Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) and others followed and acted in accordance with the Prophet’s (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) example above. They hold that four Takbeers should be said in the Funeral prayers. Amongst these scholars are Sufyan Al-Thauri (RA), Malik Ibn Anas (RA), Ibn Al-Mubarak (RA), , Ash-Shaf’ae (RA), Ahmed (RA) and Ishaq (RA).

Ibrahim An-Nakhai (RA) narrated that Umar Ibn Khattab (RA) consulted the companions and asked them what was the last funeral that the Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) prayed and how many Takbeers he(Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said? The response was that he said four Takbeers in the last Funeral that he prayed. Imam Muhammad (RA) said, “We adhere to it; and this is the opinion of Abu Haneefa (RA). [Kitabul-Athar]

Note: The Madhab of Abu Haneefa (RA) is quoted and some scholars list the number of Takbeers to be higher. (Allah (SWT) knows best)


10. If there are multiple bodies then:

a) The male bodies should be placed immediately before the Imam (even if it is a child)

b) Female bodies should be followed by the male bodies

The Funeral prayer of Umm Kulthum (RA) (daughter of Ali (RA) and wife of Umar (RA) and her son Zaid was led by Saad Ibn Al-Aas (RA) and amongst the people attending the funeral were Ibn Abbas (RA), Abu Hurayrah (RA),Abu Said (RA), and Abu Qatadah (RA). The little boy was placed before the Imam. A man did not like this way and looked towards Ibn Abbas (RA), Abu Hurayrah (RA),Abu Said (RA), and Abu Qatadah (RA) and said to them “What is this?”. They said “This is Sunnah”. [An-Nasai]

Imam Muhammad (RA) said, “This is the opinion of Abu Haneefa (RA) and we adhere to it”. [Kitabul-Athar]

11. Imam should stand:

a) Opposite the head of the dead male

b) Opposite the middle of the dead female

Narrated Anas ibn Malik: Nafi' AbuGhalib said: I was in the Sikkat al-Mirbad. A bier passed and a large number of people were accompanying it.

They said: Bier of Abdullah ibn Umayr. So I followed it. Suddenly I saw a man, who had a thin garment on riding his small mule. He had a piece of cloth on his head to protect himself from the sun. I asked: Who is this important man? People said: This is Anas ibn Malik.

When the bier was placed, Anas stood and led the funeral prayer over him while I was just behind him, and there was no obstruction between me and him. He stood near his head, and uttered four takbirs (Allah is Most Great). He neither lengthened the prayer nor hurried it. He then went to sit down. They said: AbuHamzah, (here is the bier of) an Ansari woman. They brought her near him and there was a green cupola-shaped structure over her bier. He stood opposite her hips and led the funeral prayer over her as he had led it over the man. He then sat down.

Al-Ala' ibn Ziyad asked: AbuHamzah, did the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) say the funeral prayer over the dead as you have done, uttering four takbirs (Allah is Most Great) over her, and standing opposite the head of a man and the hips of a woman?

He replied: Yes. He asked: AbuHamzah, did you fight with the Apostle of Allah? He replied: Yes. I fought with him in the battle of Hunayn. The polytheists came out and invaded us so severely that we saw our horses behind our backs. Among the people (i.e. the unbelievers) there was a man who was attacking us, and striking and wounding us (with his sword). Allah then defeated them. They were then brought and began to take the oath of allegiance to him for Islam.

A man from among the companions of the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: I make a vow to myself that if Allah brings the man who was striking us (with his sword) that day, I shall behead him. The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) kept silent and the man was brought (as a captive).

When he saw the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him), he said: Apostle of Allah, I have repented to Allah. The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) stopped (for a while) receiving his oath of allegiance, so that the other man might fulfil his vow. But the man began to wait for the order of the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) for his murder. He was afraid of the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) to kill him. When the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) saw that he did not do anything, he received his oath of allegiance. The man said: Apostle of Allah, what about my vow? He said: I stopped (receiving his oath of allegiance) today so that you might fulfil your vow. He said: Apostle of Allah, why did you not give any signal to me? The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: It is not worthy of a Prophet to give a signal.

AbuGhalib said: I asked (the people) about Anas standing opposite the hips of a woman. They told me that this practice was due to the fact that (in the days of the Prophet) there were no cupola-shaped structures over the biers of women. So the imam used to stand opposite the hips of a woman to hide her from the people. [Abu Dawud]


12. Make the intention for Janaza Salah before starting, “I am performing Janaza Salah for Allah (SWT) with four Takbeers”

Rasul-ullah (ﷺ) has said, “Every action is based on Intention, and everyone shall have what he intended”. [Bukhari]

Note: Intention doesn’t need to be uttered verbally or loudly, it is an action of the heart.

13. The prayer begins with the first Takbeer i.e. Takbeeratul-Ihraam after which the hands are tied (as in normal prayer) and Thana is read.

سبحانك اللهم وبحمدك تبارك اسمك وتعالى ‏ ‏جدك ‏ ‏ولا إله غيرك
Glory to Thee,0 Allah, and Thine is the Praise, and Blessed is Thy Name. and Exalted is Thy Majesty. and there is no other object of worship beside Thee.

Said ibn Abi Said al-Maqburi (RA) narrates from from his father that he (RA) had asked Abu Hurayra (RA) , "How do you pray over the dead?" and Abu Hurayra (RA) replied, "By the Life of Allah, I will tell you! I follow with the family and when the corpse is put down I say 'Allah is greater' and praise Allah and ask for blessings on His Prophet. Then I say, 'O Allah, he is Your slave and the son of Your male slave and Your female slave. He used to testify that there is no god but You and that Muhammad is Your slave and Your Messenger, and You know that best. O Allah, if he acted well, then increase for him his good action, and if he acted wrongly, then overlook his wrong actions. O Allah, do not deprive us of his reward, and do not try us after him.'" [Muwatta Imam Malik (RA)]

Imam Malik (RA) narrates that verily in our city of Madina it is not the practise to read Al-Fatiha in Janaza Salah [Bidayatul-Mujtahid]


Note: The common position of Ulama within the Hanafi Madhab is quoted, however there are scholars e.g. Imam Shurunabli (RA), Sahib-Nurul-Aida & Shaykh Abdul-Haq Lakhnawi (RA) who consider it superior to recite Al-Fatiha in Janaza Salah (Kitabul-Janaiz by Abdur-Rahman Mubarpuri (RA).

Hanafee Scholars explain that in the Ahadeeth where it has been narrated from the Sahaba (RA) that Al-Fatiha was read in Janazah Salah, it was read as a dua (prayer) and not as Tilawa and there is nothing wrong with reading Al-Fatiha as a dua. (Bazlul-Majhood)

14. The Imam then recites the second Takbeer but hands will not be raised as it is only done the first time.

Ibn Abbas (RA) reported that the Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) used to raise hands in the first Takbeer and then not repeat it. [DarQutni]

Ubaydullah (RA) narrated that Ibraheem Nakhai (RA) used to raise his hands on the first Takbeer and then he did not raise his hands. [Al-Musannaf Abdur-Razzaq]

15. Durood (Salat-Alan-Nabi) should be recited after the second Takbeer.

اللهم صل على ‏ ‏محمد ‏ ‏وعلى آل ‏ ‏محمد ‏ ‏كما صليت على آل ‏ ‏إبراهيم ‏ ‏إنك حميد مجيد اللهم بارك على ‏ ‏محمد ‏ ‏وعلى آل ‏ ‏محمد ‏ ‏كما باركت على آل ‏ ‏إبراهيم ‏ ‏إنك حميد مجيد

Abu Umamah (RA) in describing the funeral prayer went on to say, “Then the prayer for the Prophet should be made (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) [An-Nasai]

15. The Imam then recites the third Takbeer and dua (prayer) should be made for the deceased adult (male or female).

‏اللهم اغفر لحينا وميتنا وصغيرنا وكبيرنا وذكرنا وأنثانا وشاهدنا وغائبنا اللهم من أحييته منا فأحيه على الإيمان ومن توفيته منا فتوفه على الإسلام اللهم لا تحرمنا أجره ولا تضلنا بعده ‏

O Allah, forgive those of us who are living and those of us who are dead, those of us who are present and those of us who are absent, our young and our old, our male and our female. O Allah, to whomsoever of us Thou givest life grant him life as a believer, and whomsoever of us Thou takest in death take him in death as a follower of Islam. O Allah, do not withhold from us the reward (of faith) and do not lead us astray after his death.

Narrated AbuHurayrah (RA): When the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) prayed over a dead person, he said: O Allah, forgive those of us who are living and those of us who are dead, those of us who are present and those of us who are absent, our young and our old, our male and our female. O Allah, to whomsoever of us Thou givest life grant him life as a believer, and whomsoever of us Thou takest in death take him in death as a follower of Islam. O Allah, do not withhold from us the reward (of faith) and do not lead us astray after his death. [Abu Dawud]

Note: There are other duas also narrated in the Sunnah and any of them can be recited, Insha'Allah.

16. If the deceased is a child then the following dua can be recited

اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْهُ لَنَا فَرَطًا ، وَذُخْرًا وَسَلَفًا وَأَجْرًا

O Allah, make him (or her) a means of happiness, treasure, forerunner and reward or us.

17. The Imam then recites the fourth Takbeer and concludes the prayer by doing Salam on both sides.

Abdullah Ibn Masood (RA) narrates that there are three things which the Messenger of Allah (SWT) used to do and which people have neglected and amongst them is doing Tasleem (Salam) after Janazah Salah like regular Salah. [Baihiqi]

Note: There is a difference of opinion amongst scholars with some concluding that it is superior to say Salam on one side ONLY, nevertheless the Madhab of Imam Abu Haneefa(RA) is quoted here.

18. The bier should carried from all sides.

Abdullah Ibn Masood (RA) says, "Whosoever follows a funeral procession should carry the bier from all sides for this is the Sunnah of Rasul-ullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam). [Ibn Majah]

Imam Muhammad (RA) said, "We adhere to it...You should first put the front right then the rear right of the deceased (bier) on one's right, then the front left on one's left, and the rear left on one's left and this is the opinion of Abu Haneefa (RA). [Muwatta Imam Muhammad]

19. The bier should be carried at a birsk pace.

Narrated Abu Huraira (RA): The Prophet said, "Hurry up with the dead body for if it was righteous, you are forwarding it to welfare; and if it was otherwise, then you are putting off an evil thing down your necks." [Bukhari]

Imam Muhammad (RA) said, "We adhere to it. Walking briskly is better in our view than walking slowly. And this is the opinion of Abu Haneefa (RA).[Muwatta Imam Muhammad]