Chapter Thirteen: Funeral Rites and the Prayer Over the Deceased

باب الجَنَائِزِ

Bab al-Jana'iz — Islamic Funeral Rites

Islam gives great importance to the rites surrounding death: caring for the dying, performing the funeral prayer (Salat al-Janazah), washing and shrouding the body, carrying it respectfully to the grave, and burying it with proper du'a. These rites express the community's solidarity with the bereaved and the Muslim's profound belief in the life after death and the Day of Judgment.

وَلَا تُصَلِّ عَلَىٰ أَحَدٍ مِّنْهُم مَّاتَ أَبَدًا وَلَا تَقُمْ عَلَىٰ قَبْرِهِ ۖ إِنَّهُمْ كَفَرُوا بِاللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ وَمَاتُوا وَهُمْ فَاسِقُونَ

"And do not pray [the funeral prayer] over any of them who has died — ever — or stand at his grave. Indeed they disbelieved in Allah and His Messenger and died while they were defiantly disobedient." (Sūrah al-Tawbah 9:84)

This verse, revealed concerning the hypocrites of Madinah, establishes by contrast that the Salat al-Janazah is a right of the Muslim deceased. The prohibition on praying over the hypocrites shows that the funeral prayer is specifically for believing Muslims.

The Talqin — Guiding the Dying

عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: لَقِّنُوا مَوْتَاكُمْ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ

On the authority of Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him): 'The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: "Guide your dying ones to say La ilaha illa Allah (There is no god but Allah)."' (Sahih Muslim)

The talqin — gently prompting a dying person to say the Shahada — is a confirmed Sunnah. The intent is that the last words on the dying person's lips be the testimony of faith. The Prophet said: 'Whoever's last words are La ilaha illa Allah will enter Paradise.' Those around the dying person should say it calmly, not in a distressing or urgent way, so that the dying person is inspired to repeat it.

The Ghusl and Kafan — Washing and Shrouding

After death, the body must be washed (ghusl al-mayyit) by other Muslims of the same gender, with the exception of spouses who may wash each other. The body is then wrapped in a shroud (kafan).

عَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ كُفِّنَ فِي ثَلَاثَةِ أَثْوَابٍ بِيضٍ سَحُولِيَّةٍ لَيْسَ فِيهَا قَمِيصٌ وَلَا عِمَامَةٌ

On the authority of Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her): 'The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, was shrouded in three white cloths of Yemeni cotton (Sahuliyyah), with no shirt and no turban [among them].' (Agreed upon: Bukhari and Muslim)

For a man, the sunnah is three white cloths. For a woman, five pieces of cloth are used: an izar (waist-wrap), a khimar (head covering), a qamees (shirt), and two outer cloths. The funeral preparations should be carried out promptly — the body should not be left for a long time before burial.

Salat al-Janazah — The Funeral Prayer

The funeral prayer (Salat al-Janazah) is a fard kifayah — a communal obligation that, if performed by some Muslims in the community, absolves the rest. It consists of four takbirs, performed standing, without bowing (ruku') or prostrating (sujud). After the first takbir, al-Fatiha is recited. After the second, the Durood Ibrahim (Salat al-Ibrahimiyyah). After the third, a supplication for the deceased. After the fourth, the salam.

عَنْ أَبِي قِلَابَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ: أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ صَلَّى عَلَى جِنَازَةٍ وَهُوَ مُسْتَقْبِلُ الْقِبْلَةِ

On the authority of Abu Qilabah (may Allah have mercy on him): 'The Prophet, peace be upon him, performed the funeral prayer facing the qiblah.' This confirms that the Salat al-Janazah is performed facing the Ka'bah, like all other prayers.

The Du'a for the Deceased

اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لَهُ وَارْحَمْهُ وَعَافِهِ وَاعْفُ عَنْهُ، وَأَكْرِمْ نُزُلَهُ، وَوَسِّعْ مُدْخَلَهُ، وَاغْسِلْهُ بِالْمَاءِ وَالثَّلْجِ وَالْبَرَدِ، وَنَقِّهِ مِنَ الْخَطَايَا كَمَا نَقَّيْتَ الثَّوْبَ الأَبْيَضَ مِنَ الدَّنَسِ، وَأَبْدِلْهُ دَارًا خَيْرًا مِنْ دَارِهِ، وَأَهْلًا خَيْرًا مِنْ أَهْلِهِ، وَزَوْجًا خَيْرًا مِنْ زَوْجِهِ، وَقِهِ فِتْنَةَ الْقَبْرِ وَعَذَابَ النَّارِ

"O Allah, forgive him, have mercy on him, grant him well-being, and pardon him. Honour his receiving and widen his entry. Wash him with water, snow, and hail, and cleanse him of his sins as a white garment is cleansed of stain. Give him in exchange a home better than his home, a family better than his family, and a spouse better than his spouse. Protect him from the trial of the grave and the punishment of Hellfire." (Sahih Muslim)

This comprehensive du'a is recited after the third takbir of the Janazah prayer. It is one of the most moving supplications in the Islamic tradition — the community standing together to intercede for their deceased brother or sister.

Honouring the Funeral Procession

عَنْ عَلِيٍّ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ كَانَ يَقُومُ لِلْجَنَازَةِ ثُمَّ قَعَدَ بَعْدُ

On the authority of Sayyidunā ʿAlī (may Allah ennoble his face): 'The Prophet, peace be upon him, used to stand [when a funeral procession passed], then later he sat [when one passed].' (Sahih Muslim)

The scholars explain that the Prophet first stood as a gesture of respect whenever a funeral passed, including for non-Muslims. Later, when asked why, he said: 'Is it not a soul?' Eventually the practice of standing was abrogated and he would sit. The majority of scholars hold that standing is not required, but remaining quiet and respectful is appropriate.

Visiting Graves

عَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا قَالَتْ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ كُلَّمَا كَانَ لَيْلَتُهَا مِنْهُ يَخْرُجُ مِنَ آخِرِ اللَّيْلِ إِلَى الْبَقِيعِ فَيَقُولُ: السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ دَارَ قَوْمٍ مُؤْمِنِينَ، وَأَتَاكُمْ مَا تُوعَدُونَ، غَدًا مُؤَجَّلُونَ، وَإِنَّا إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ بِكُمْ لَاحِقُونَ

On the authority of Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her): 'Whenever it was her night with the Prophet, peace be upon him, he would go out in the last part of the night to the Baqi' (graveyard of Madinah) and say: "Peace be upon you, O abode of a believing people. What you were promised has come to you, [your reckoning] delayed until tomorrow. And we, if Allah wills, shall be joining you."' (Sahih Muslim)

Visiting graves is a Sunnah — the Prophet first prohibited it (when the practice might have led to excessive attachment and confusion with idol-worship among new Muslims), then permitted it, saying: 'I had forbidden you from visiting graves; now visit them, for they remind you of the Hereafter.' (Sahih Muslim)

At the graveside, it is the sunnah to recite Surah al-Fatiha, the last verses of Surah al-Baqarah, and to make supplication for the deceased. The greeting to give at the graveyard is as taught by the Prophet: 'Peace be upon you, O people of this abode, from among the believers and Muslims. May Allah have mercy on those among us and among you who have gone before, and we shall, if Allah wills, be joining you.'