How Is Funeral Prayer Performed?

How is funeral prayer performed?

Funeral prayer is a prayer without ruku and prostration; its pillars are qiyam and takbir. Funeral prayer consists of four takbirs including takbir al-iftitah (beginning). Giving salam is wajib. Its sunnah acts are: offering praise and thanks to Allah, salat and salam to the Prophet Muhammad (saw), and making dua both for the deceased person and Muslims.

In order to establish funeral prayer, rows are formed by placing the deceased in front of the congregation and turning to the qiblah, and intention is made for funeral prayer. Both the imam and the congregation recite takbir, fold their hands, and recite “Subhanaka” by adding the sentence of “wa jalla thana’uk”. After that, takbir is recited without raising hands, and duas of “Salli-Barik” are recited. Then, takbir is recited again without raising hands. Those who know it recite the funeral dua (Tirmidhi, Jana’iz, 38), and those who do not know it by heart recite Surah al-Fatiha with the intention of dua, or another dua they know (Tirmidhi, Jana’iz, 39). After the fourth takbir, salam is given to right and left sides . Thus, prayer is completed.

The requirements such as taharah, turning to the qiblah, satr al-awrat (covering the parts of the body that are needed to be covered), and intention are to be fulfilled in funeral prayer . The corpse for which funeral prayer will be established should be Muslim, be washed and enshrouded, and be placed in front of the congregation. Besides, according to Hanafis and Malikis, whole or more than half of the deceased person’s body or only his/her head with at least half of the body should be present. According to Shafi’is, a deceased person’s funeral prayer may be established even a single limb of his/her body is found. Because the Companions established funeral prayer of a Companion whose hand was found only (Shirbini, Mughni al-muhtaj, I, 518). A child who was born alive but has died for a while later should also be washed and his/her funeral prayer should be performed (al-Fatawa al-Hindiyyah, I, 174).

Source: Presidency Of Religious Affairs The Turkey, High Board of Religious Affairs FATWA