How to Pray Janazah: Step-by-Step Islamic Funeral Prayer Guide
The Funeral Prayer (Salat al-Janazah) is a communal obligation (Fard Kifayah) in Islam, performed to seek forgiveness and mercy for a deceased Muslim. Unlike standard daily prayers, Salat al-Janazah is performed entirely while standing (Qiyam), without any bowing (Ruku'), prostration (Sujud), or physical Tashahhud.
Below is a step-by-step breakdown of the procedure according to Islamic jurisprudence.
1. Prerequisites and Intention (Niyyah)
Before starting the prayer, all standard requirements for prayer must be met: ritual purity (wudu), covering the private parts (awrah), facing the Qiblah, and standing over the deceased body that has been properly washed and shrouded.
The worshipper makes the intention quietly in the heart:
أُصَلِّي عَلَى هَذَا الْمَيِّتِ أَرْبَعَ تَكْبِيرَاتٍ فَرْضَ كِفَايَةٍ لِلَّهِ تَعَالَى
Uṣallī ‘alā hādhā al-mayyiti arba‘a takbīrātin farḍa kifāyatin lillāhi ta‘ālā.
2. First Takbir: Recitation of Surah al-Fatihah
The prayer begins with the first Takbir (Takbirat al-Ihram), raising both hands to ear level and saying:
اللهُ أَكْبَرُ
Allāhu Akbar
After placing the hands on the chest, quietly recite Surah al-Fatihah:
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ
Bismi Allāhi ar-Raḥmāni ar-Raḥīm. Al-ḥamdu lillāhi Rabbi al-‘ālamīn. Ar-Raḥmāni ar-Raḥīm. Māliki yawmi ad-dīn. Iyyāka na‘budu wa-iyyāka nasta‘īn. Ihdinā aṣ-ṣirāṭa al-mustaqīm. Ṣirāṭa alladhīna an‘amta ‘alayhim ghayri al-maghḍūbi ‘alayhim wa-lā aḍ-ḍāllīn.
3. Second Takbir: Blessing upon the Prophet (Salawat)
Raise the hands again and pronounce the second Takbir:
اللهُ أَكْبَرُ
Allāhu Akbar
Following this, recite the Salawat al-Ibrahimiyyah (the prayer upon Prophet Muhammad):
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ ، اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ
Allāhumma ṣalli ‘alā Muḥammadin wa-‘alā āli Muḥammadin kamā ṣallayta ‘alā Ibrāhīma wa-‘alā āli Ibrāhīm, innaka Ḥamīdun Majīd. Allāhumma bārik ‘alā Muḥammadin wa-‘alā āli Muḥammadin kamā bārakta ‘alā Ibrāhīma wa-‘alā āli Ibrāhīm, innaka Ḥamīdun Majīd.
4. Third Takbir: Supplication for the Deceased
Raise the hands and pronounce the third Takbir:
اللهُ أَكْبَرُ
Allāhu Akbar
Recite the main supplication (Dua) asking for forgiveness and mercy for the deceased person.
For a male deceased:For a female deceased:
5. Fourth Takbir: Closing Supplication and Taslim
Raise the hands and pronounce the fourth Takbir:
اللهُ أَكْبَرُ
Allāhu Akbar
Recite a final short supplication for the deceased and the entire Muslim community:
اللَّهُمَّ لاَ تَحْرِمْنَا أَجْرَهُ وَلاَ تَفْتِنَّا بَعْدَهُ وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا وَلَهُ
Allāhumma lā taḥrimnā ajrahu wa-lā taftinnā ba‘dahu wa-aghfir lanā wa-lahu. (Note: replace pronoun suffixes with -hā / -hā for a female deceased).
Finally, conclude the prayer by turning the head to the right and giving the greeting of peace (Taslim):
السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-raḥmatu Allāh
(Turning to the left for the second Taslim is also practiced according to different jurisprudence schools).
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