The process for the funeral prayer is as follows:

Preparation

  1. The body of deceased should be placed at the front where Imam usually stands to lead prayer.
    NOTE: Most of the Luton mosques follow the Hanafi madhab which requires the presence of the body, rather than performing janazah in absence (salaatul ghaa’ib)
  2. It is preferred that the deceased is turned towards direction of Qiblah.
  3. The Imam should stand near the chest area of the deceased
  4. There is no Adhan and no Iqamah for this janazah salaah
  5. Everyone should stand facing the Qiblah direction
  6. The intention should be present to pray the funeral prayer

The prayer

  1. The Imam says Allahu Akbar aloud to begin the salaah and then folds his hands across his body placing right over left. The followers should also say Allahu akbar silently and fold their hands in a similar manner.
  2. Everyone should recite quietly “Subhana kalla humma wa bihamdika, wa tabarakasmuka, wa ta’ala jadduka, wa la ilaaha ghayruk” which means “O’Allah! All glory is due to You, I praise You, Your name is the Most Blessed, Your Majesty is highly exalted and there is none worthy of worship You.”In the Hanafi madhab, they only read the above as they consider this prayer to be a dua, rather than a formal salaah (prayer). The Shafi’e, Malaki and Hanbali madhaahib state that one should read Surah Al Faatiha as well.
  3. The Imam will then say ‘Allahu Akbar’ for the second time. In the Hanafi Madhab there is no raising of the hands at this point unlike the other madhaahib.
  4. Everyone should now recite quietly the durood as follows
    “Allahumma salli ‘alaa Muhammadiwa ‘alaa aali Muhammadin kamaa sallaita ‘alaa Ibrahima wa ‘alaa aali Ibrahima innaka hameedum majeed.Allahumma baarik ‘alaa Muhammadiwa ‘alaa aali Muhammadin kamaa baarakta ‘alaa Ibrahima wa ‘alaa aali Ibrahima innaka hameedum majeed.”

    This means “Oh Allah! shower Your mercy upon Muhammad and the followers of Muhammad , as You showered Your mercy upon Ibrahim and the followers of Ibrahim. Indeed, You are Praiseworthy, Glorious.

    Oh Allah! Shower Your blessing upon Muhammad and the followers of Muhammad as You showered Your blessings upon Ibrahim and the followers of Ibrahim. Indeed, You are Praiseworthy, Glorious.”

  5. The Imam will then say ‘Allahu Akbar’ for the third time.
  6. Everyone should now make dua for the deceased. One of the Prophetic dua which can be read here is “Allahumma-ghfir li-hayyina wa mayyitina, wa shahidina wa gha’ibina, wa sagheerina wa kabeerina, wa thakarina wa unthana. Allahumma man ahyaytahu minna fa-ahyihi ‘ala-l-islami. Wa man tawaffaytahu minna fa-tawaffahu ‘ala-l-imani. Allahumma la tahrimna ajrahu wa la taftinna ba’adahu.” meaning “O Allah, forgive our living and our dead, those present and those absent, our young and our old, our males and our females. O Allah, whom amongst us You keep alive, then let such a life be upon Islam, and whom amongst us You take unto Yourself, then let such a death be upon faith. O Allah, do not deprive us of his reward and do not let us stray after him.”

    If it is a child who has passed away, the dua differs slightly as follows.

    For boys, it is read “Allahummaj’alhu lanaa farathaw waj’alhu lanaa ajraw wa dhukhraw waj’alhu lanaa shaafi’aw wa mushaffa’an” meaning “O Allah, make him (this child) a source for our salvation and make him a source of reward and treasure for us and make him an intercessor for us and one whose intercession is accepted.”

    For girls, it is read “Allahummaj’alhaa lanaa farathaw waj’alhaa lanaa ajraw wa dhukhraw waj’alhaa lanaa shaafi’ataw wa mushaffa’ah” meaning “O Allah, make her (this child) a source for our salvation and make her a source of reward and treasure for us and make her an intercessor for us and one whose intercession is accepted.”

 

  1. The Imam will then say ‘Allahu Akbar’ for the fourth time and then complete the prayer with salaam to the right and then left. In the Hanafi and Shafi’e madhab they do both salaam, whereas the Malaki and Hanbali schools complete with one Salam to the right only.