Salatul Janazah (funeral prayer) is a prayer performed for the deceased after their Ghusl and shrouding, right before their burial. Praying it is a profound act of worship and an important component of Islamic funeral rites. 

It is the right of every Muslim upon the other Muslims, a way to bid farewell to our loved ones and it is a reminder for all of us about the transient nature of this world and that we too will follow the same path one day. 

“No Muslim dies with 40 people standing to his funeral, all are interceding for him, except that Allāh intercedes for them.” (Muslim)

Praying the janazah prayer is prescribed for both men and women. It is a Fard Kifaya (communal obligation) and not an individual obligation, however praying salatul janazah holds immense reward.

It was narrated that Abu Hurairah (RA) said:

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘Whoever follows a funeral and offers the funeral prayer then leaves, will have one Qirat reward. And whoever follows it and offers the funeral prayer then stays until the burial is completed will have two Qirat of reward, both of which are greater than Uhud.” (Sunan An-Nasai)

Salatul Janazah can be prayed in the masjid or cemetery in a separate area away from the deceased. Just like any other prayer, it requires purity, covering of the awrah, facing the qibla and being in a state of wudhu. 

How to pray Salatul Janazah step by step

Salatul Janazah does not contain a sujood and consists of 4 takbirat, where you repeat “Allahu Akbar” 4 times.

1. Start with the intention to perform salatul janazah upon the deceased.

2. After the first takbir (Allahu Akbar), place hands on chest as done in normal prayers and seek refuge with Allah (SWT) from the accursed Shaytan. Then say Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Rahim and recite al-Fatihah.

3. After the second takbir, recite Salawat on the Prophet (ﷺ) the way that you would do in salah (Salat Ibrahimiya).

4. After the third takbir, recite du’a for the deceased. There are some specific du’as taught to us by the Prophet (ﷺ) which can be recited here and have been mentioned below.

5. After the fourth takbir, make du’as from the Quran and Sunnah for yourself, the Ummah and the deceased.

6. Make tasleem, either one or two, depending on your school of thought or the Imam leading the prayer.

Differences in schools of thought

• In the Hanafi school of thought, one should only raise hands for the first takbir and not the others. Other schools will raise hands for all takbirs.
• In the Hanafi and Shafi school, the funeral prayer is with two salams, one on the right and the other on the left.
• According to Hanbali school, there is one salam on the right for Salatul Janazah. However there is no objection in making the second salam on the left also.
• According to Maliki school, there is only one salam on the right side in funeral prayers.

Du’a to recite during Janazah prayer (after the third takbir)

‏ اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِحَيِّنَا وَمَيِّتِنَا وَشَاهِدِنَا وَغَائِبِنَا وَصَغِيرِنَا وَكَبِيرِنَا وَذَكَرِنَا وَأُنْثَانَا اللَّهُمَّ مَنْ أَحْيَيْتَهُ مِنَّا فَأَحْيِهِ عَلَى الإِسْلاَمِ وَمَنْ تَوَفَّيْتَهُ مِنَّا فَتَوَفَّهُ عَلَى الإِيمَانِ اللَّهُمَّ لاَ تَحْرِمْنَا أَجْرَهُ وَلاَ تُضِلَّنَا بَعْدَهُ ‏‏

Allahummaghfir lihayyina wa mayyitina, wa sha’hidina wa gha’ibina, wa sagheerina wa kabeerina, wa dhakarina wa unthana. Allahumma man ahyaytahu minna fa’ahyihi ‘alal-Islami, wa man tawaffaytahu minna fatawaffahu ‘ala al-eemani. Allahumma la tahrimna ajrahu wala tudhillana ba’dah

“Oh Allah, forgive our living and our dead, those who are present and those who are absent, our young and our old, our males and our females. O Allah, whomever of us You cause to live, let him live in Islam, and whomever of us You cause to die, let him die in (a state of) faith. Oh Allah, do not deprive us of his reward, and do not let us go astray after him.” (Ibn Majah)

We hope this guide to Salatul Janazah was beneficial. May Allah (SWT) accept our prayers and grant Jannah to our deceased loved ones. Ameen