Funeral Prayers (Salat –ul –Janazah )
Salatul Janazah is required to be performed in congregation to request pardon for the deceased and all dead Muslims, and to wrap them all in Allah’s Mercy.
Salatul Janazah is a collective obligation. A Muslim should not hesitate to participate in it, whether or not the deceased, or his relatives are known to him.There is a reward for attending Salatul Janazah for both the deceased and those who make the Salat.
I)TIME OF SALAAT:
There are specific times when it is prohibited to perform Salatul Janazah, unless it becomes necessary, due to the condition of the body, to perform it quickly and then bury the body.
These prohibited times are :
-From sunrise until the sun is fully risen,
-At the zenith of the sun (the sun at meridian), until it passes the meridian,
-From when the sun pales before sunset until it has set.
II)BEFORE THE SALAAT:
- It is preferable that Salatul Janazah be performed outside the Mosque or the Musalla (Prayer room),like in activity rooms or courtyards.
-All conditions for regular Salat are required in Salatul Janazah such as Tahara, Wudu, clean body and clothes, neeyah (Intention), and facing
the Qiblah.
-Muslims should form a minimum of three lines facing the Qiblah. The one most closely related to the deceased (son, father, brother etc.) is most qualified to lead the Salat, even over the Imam of the Masjid, provided he knows how to conduct the Salatl Janazah.If such a person is not available or cannot do it then the Imam of the Masjid or any other knowledgeable Muslim can lead the prayer.
III)POSITIONS FOR THE SALAAT:
-If there is only one Muslim with the Imam, he should stand behind the Imam.
-The body should be placed in front of the person who leads the prayer; parallel to the lines of the people standing in prayer.
-The head of the deceased should be to the right side.
-The Imam should stand by the middle of a female body, and by the head for a male body.
-Behind the Imam, the males stand in lines, then children, then females.
IV)FUNERAL PRAYERS
1) Having the appropriate neeyah (Intention), raise your hands in the usual manner and say :" Allahu Akbar ".
2) Fold your right hand over the left hand in the usual manner. Recite the Fatiha silently .
3) Then say : “Allahu Akbar" and recite the Tashahood .
The Tashahood is :"Allahumma sallee ala-Muhammad wa’ala alee
Muhammad kama sallayta ala Ibrahim wa ala alee Ibrahim, wa barik ala
Muhammad wa’ala alee Muhammad kama barakta ala Ibrahim wa ala alee
Ibrahim, innaka hamidun Majeed".
This means : " O Allah! Grant peace to Muhammad and his family as you did to Ibrahim and his family. O Allah! Bless Muahammad and his family as you
blessed Ibrahim and his family. Truly you are Most Glorious and Most
Praiseworthy]
4) Then say : “Allahu Akbar”
Then make dua’ (Supplicate) for the deceased; there are specific duas for this.
5) Then say: “Allahu Akbar”
Then make dua (Supplicate) for all dead Muslims.
In the case of a dead baby or young child, make dua (Supplicate) for his parents.
Then say : " Assalamu alaykum wa rahmatullah", like you say in other Salats.
Tasleem can be said only once.
