Chapter #38 صَلاَة الجَنَازَة Janaza Prayer

 Know things to do for dying person
 Know Fard Kifaya on behalf of the dead person
 Understand rulings of Gusl and Kafan

Janaza Prayer

Janaza Prayer: Shuroot

1. Purification from both minor and major ritual impurity states (الحَدَث الأصْغَر والأكْبَر).
2. Purification from Najas.
3. Covering Awrah.
4. Facing Qiblah.
5. Purification of Mayyit.
6. Placing Mayyit in front of the prayerer.

If the dead person is in another place or country, one can pray صلاة الغائب for him.

Janaza Prayer: Arkaan

Arkaan of Janaza Prayer are seven.

1. Niyyat.
2. Standing(القِيَام)if he is able.
3. Four Takbeer including Takbeeratul Ihram.
4. Fatiha (it is preferred to read it after first تَكْبِير).
5. Saying صَلاَة on Nabi r after second Takbeer.
6. Praying (الدعاء) for the benefit of the deceased after third Takbeer.
7. Saying salaam after fourth Takbeer.

If there is more than one Mayyit, performing only one Janaza prayer is enough for all of them.

Janaza Prayer: Sunan

1. Raising the hand while saying Takbeer.
2. Placing the hand below the chest in-between two Takbeer.
3. Reciting Taawwudh (أعوذُ بالله) in the beginning of Fatiha and saying آمِين after it.
4. Looking to the place of Sujood.
5. Not reading افْتِتَاح and سُورَة.
6. Imam and Muballig can raise their voice in Takbeer and salaam.
7. Reciting الصلاة الإبراهيمية. However, reciting any صَلاَة is valid.
8. Reciting الحمد before الصلاة الإبراهيمية and saying salaam to the prophetrafter الصلاة الإبراهيمية.
9. Supplicating Allah (Dua) for the benefits of believers.
10. Saying the following Dhikr after fourth Takbeer

اللهُمَّ لاَتَحْرِمْنَا أَجْرَهُ وَلاَتَفْتِنَّا بَعْدَهُ وَاغْفِرْلَنَا ولَه

O Allah, do not deprive us of our reward (for being patient) and do not subject us to trials after his death, forgive to us and him.”

1. Saying full text of Salaam السلام عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ
2. Imam and single prayer standing near the head of male مَيِّتand rear (عَجِيزَة) of the female

Praying it in Jama’a in the mosque is recommended. While praying in Jama’a, it is recommended to have three lines (صُفُوف) or more. 

The most entitled person to lead Janaza prayer is the father of the deceased. Then the eligibility comes in following order: father’s father, son, sons’ son, brother, brother’s son, parental uncle and his son. Fasiq (immoral), Mubtadi (innovator in Aqeeda) and the killer(القَاتِل) do not have this privilege.

However, as a respect to a pious scholar or to a person of great Taqwa and dignity, it is advised to request them to lead Janaza prayer if available.

Dua for Mayyit

Supplicating Allah (Dua) after third Takbeer may be any form of Dua. But the following Dua is recommended:

اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لَهُ وَارْحَمْهُ وَاعْفُ عَنْهُ وَعَافِهِ وَأَكْرِمْ نُزُلَهُ وَوَسِّعْ مَدْخَلَهُ وَاغْسِلْهُ بِالْمَاءِ وَالثَّلْجِ وَالْبَرَدِ وَنَقِّهِ مِنْ الْخَطَايَا كَمَا يُنَقَّى الثَّوْبُ الْأَبْيَضُ مِنْ الدَّنَسِ وَأَبْدِلْهُ دَارًا خَيْرًا مِنْ دَارِهِ وَأَهْلًا خَيْرًا مِنْ أَهْلِهِ وَزَوْجًا خَيْرًا مِنْ زَوْجِهِ وَأَدْخِلْهُ الْجَنَّةَ وَأَعِذْهُ مِنْ عَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ وَفِتْنَتِهِ وَمِنْ عَذَابِ النَّارِ

O Allah! Forgive him and have mercy on him (on her). Grant him ease and respite. Make his resting place a noble one, and facilitate his entrance. Wash him with the most pure and clean water, snow and hail. Purify him from sins as a white garment is cleansed of dirt. Give him in exchange a home better than his home (on earth) and a family better than his family. Grant him entrance to Paradise and protect him from the trials of the grave and the torture of Hell Fire

If Mayyit is child one can increase his Dua as follows:

O Allah! make him a preceding reward and a stored treasure for his parents, and an answered intercessor. O Allah, through him, make heavy their scales and magnify their reward. Our Lord! pour out patience on their minds. O Allah, do not subject them to trials after his death and do not deprive them of his reward.

This is excerpts from the book Salaat (Brief rulings of Prayer in Shafi Madh’hab) by Abdu Shaheed Azhary. To download the full chapter click the below link. To support us, please consider acquiring the digital copy of the book from Amazon