How to Perform the Funeral Prayer

One of the most important duties that falls upon those who remain behind when a believer completes their final journey is to perform the funeral prayer for them. In this guide we cover the ruling, conditions, four-Takbir method, and supplications of the funeral prayer, relying on trustworthy sources.

What Is the Funeral Prayer?

The funeral prayer (Salat al-Janazah) is a prayer performed in congregation for a deceased Muslim, in order to supplicate to Allah for their forgiveness and to fulfil the final duty owed to them. As noted in the "Cenaze" entry of the TDV Encyclopedia of Islam, the Arabic word janazah refers both to the deceased person and to the bier on which they are carried. The clearest difference between this prayer and others is the absence of ruku (bowing) and prostration; the prayer is performed entirely standing, with four Takbirs.

The funeral prayer is at once a supplication and a means of intercession for the deceased, and a powerful reminder of death and the Hereafter for the living. In this respect it stands at the centre of the duties owed toward the deceased.

The Ruling of the Funeral Prayer

The ruling of the funeral prayer is fard kifayah — a communal obligation. A communal obligation is one that need not be discharged by every individual: once a sufficient number of people perform it, the responsibility is lifted from the rest. Thus, when a group of Muslims performs the funeral prayer for a deceased person, the obligation falls away from the others in that locality; but if no one performs it, the entire community bears the sin.

In the same way, the ritual washing of the deceased, shrouding, and burial are also fard kifayah upon those who remain. The way these duties complete one another expresses the honour and responsibility that Islam extends to a believer even after death.

Conditions of the Funeral Prayer

For the funeral prayer to be valid, certain conditions must be met:

1. Those praying must have Wudu: The funeral prayer is a prayer, so the one performing it must be in a state of ritual purity. You can find how to perform Wudu in our separate guide.
2. The deceased must be present: The prayer is performed with the washed and shrouded body present before the congregation.
3. The deceased must be washed: The body must have been ritually washed and shrouded in the prescribed manner.
4. Facing the Qiblah: The congregation faces the Qiblah, and the deceased is placed before them in the direction of the Qiblah.
5. The deceased must be Muslim: The funeral prayer is performed for those who have died upon Islam.

How to Perform the Funeral Prayer (Step by Step)

According to the explanations of the Turkish Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet), the funeral prayer consists of four Takbirs in total, including the opening Takbir. It is performed as follows:

1. Forming lines and making the intention: The congregation forms lines facing the deceased and the Qiblah. The imam stands level with the chest of the deceased. One intends, in the heart, to perform the funeral prayer for the present deceased for the sake of Allah, following the imam.
2. First Takbir: The imam and congregation say "Allahu Akbar," raise their hands, and clasp them. Then Subhanaka is recited, together with the addition "wa jalla thana'uk."
3. Second Takbir: The Takbir is said without raising the hands, and the Salli-Barik supplications (Allahumma salli and Allahumma barik) are recited.
4. Third Takbir: Again without raising the hands, the Takbir is said. Those who know the funeral supplication recite it; those who do not may recite Surah al-Fatiha or another supplication they know, with the intention of du'a.
5. Fourth Takbir and salam: After the fourth Takbir, as in other prayers, salam is given first to the right and then to the left, saying "As-salamu alaykum wa rahmatullah," and the prayer is complete.

Supplications Recited in the Funeral Prayer

The texts recited in the funeral prayer are in fact the supplications every believer knows from the daily prayers; only a special supplication for the deceased is added:

• Subhanaka: A supplication of praise and glorification that declares Allah free of every imperfection and exalts Him. In the funeral prayer it is recited with the phrase "wa jalla thana'uk" added at the end.
• Salli-Barik: The supplications recited in the sitting of the daily prayers, invoking blessings and grace upon the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his family.
• The funeral supplication: As Diyanet notes, this supplication is a plea for the forgiveness of both the living and the dead. In it, one asks Allah to keep those who remain alive upon faith, and to receive the deceased with His mercy and grant them forgiveness. Whoever does not know this supplication by heart may recite Surah al-Fatiha instead.

The Value of the Funeral Prayer in the Quran and Sunnah

Death is the inevitable end of every living being; the Holy Quran reminds us of this reality in plain terms:

Every soul will taste death. And you will only be given your [full] compensation on the Day of Resurrection. So whoever is drawn away from the Fire and admitted to Paradise has truly succeeded. And what is the life of this world except the enjoyment of delusion.

That attending a funeral and performing its prayer carry great reward is stated clearly in the hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him):

Whoever attends the funeral and waits until the prayer is offered for it will have one qirat of reward; and whoever waits until the burial will have two qirats of reward. It was asked, "What are two qirats?" The Messenger of Allah said, "Like two great mountains."

That the congregation attending the funeral prayer is a means of intercession for the deceased is reported in another hadith:

No Muslim dies and forty men who associate nothing with Allah stand in prayer over him but Allah accepts them as intercessors for him.

These narrations show that the funeral prayer is both a supplication and a mercy for the deceased, and an important source of reward for the believer who performs it. You may explore more authentic narrations on this subject in our hadith section.

Points to Keep in Mind

• Differences among the schools: In details such as raising the hands and which glorification is recited, there may be differences of opinion among the madhhabs. The description above follows the Hanafi practice common in Turkey.
• Participation of women: There is no objection to women taking part in the funeral prayer; they too may join by forming lines behind the men.
• Repetition of the prayer: The funeral prayer discharges the obligation once it is performed; those who arrive afterward are not required to repeat it, though doing so is permissible.

Conclusion

Despite its simple structure, the funeral prayer is an act of worship that reflects, in the most beautiful way, the value Islam places on death and on human dignity. Performed standing, without bowing or prostration, and with four Takbirs, it is from beginning to end a supplication and a plea for forgiveness. As a believer, to learn this prayer and to perform it when needed is to fulfil our final duty toward our brothers and sisters and to remember our own Hereafter. To learn the general essentials of the prayer, you may also look at our guide on how to perform Salah.

References

1. "Cenaze namazı nasıl kılınır?" — Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet), High Board of Religious Affairs (kurul.diyanet.gov.tr).
2. "Cenaze namazında okunacak dualar" — Diyanet Haber (diyanethaber.com.tr).
3. "Cenaze" entry — TDV Encyclopedia of Islam (islamansiklopedisi.org.tr).
4. Surah Al-i Imran, 185 — kuran.diyanet.gov.tr (Diyanet İşleri Başkanlığı interpretive translation).
5. Sahih al-Bukhari, Funerals, Hadith No. 1325 — sunnah.com (from Abu Hurayrah).
6. Sahih Muslim, Funerals, Hadith No. 948 — sunnah.com (from Abdullah ibn Abbas).