بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
Salaatul Janazah Funeral Prayer Comprehensive
By Irshad Mahmood – Director, Siraat-al-Mustaqeem Dawah Centre

Death is imminent the one who has born has to die at some stage, (Ref: Al_Quraan_021:035). Every adult Muslim must learn how to offer Salaat Janazah (Funeral Prayer) including Ghusl (washing the dead body) and burial. It is forbidden to showoff, over expending and delaying the Janazah prayer. It is strongly advise that close relative should perform all the actions including Ghusl and Burial etc. It is also advised that close relative man should Leading Janazah Prayer if there is no such scholar/Imaam available to lead the prayer for FESABEELILLAH (FREE).

Salaatul Janzah is a Fard Kafayah, that is, if few group of people pray than all others are free from the responsibility otherwise all those who have received the news but did not come are sinners. Delaying the Janazah could cause many issues including spreading of Diseases as well as increasing costs of preserving etc. Instead of wasting time & money on preserving dead bodies, help the needy and great reward from Allah, Inshaa Allah. Those relatives and friends who live faraway and cannot come within few hours, can make GHAIBANA NAMAZ E JANAZA (Salaatul Janazah / Funeral Prayer without the presence of the body) remotely. Women can also attend the prayer like they do in the Haram (Kabaa {al-Masjid al-Haram mosque in Mecca} and Al-Masjid an-Nabawi).

One must give preference to be bury in those Grave Yard which truly reflects the Jannat al-Baqi, which is at the southeast of the Masjid al-Nabawi in Madinah, i.e. without any signs of the deceased person (NO Showoff).

Exceptions for Body-Washing (Ghusl) and Salaatul Janazah (Funeral Prayers): Exceptions are for those who are Martyr (Shaheed), or masses of people are killed in epidemic like tornado, earthquake, flood, ice storm, snowstorm, blizzard, dust/sand storm, firestorm, hailstorm, tropical depression, tropical storm, cyclone, hurricane and typhoon etc. Instead of individual Salaatul Janazah, we can have Collective Salaatul Janazah for all the deceased in presence or absence of their body without Body-Washing or "Ghusl". Try to minimize Funeral Expenses as much as possible by keeping in the mind the concept of Jannat-ul-Baqi to get Great Reward from Allah, Inshaa Allah. It is my will as well as my suggestion for Muslim Ummah to minimize Funeral Expenses and give equivalent money to Global Charity Organizations regardless of any discrimination, and that will be Sadqah Jaria from me.

Organ Donations:

I fully allow my body organs/tissues (e.g. liver, small bowel, kidney, pancreas, heart, lung, corneas, skin, bone, cardiovascular tissue the islet cells of the pancreas and connective tissue etc.) to be donated after my natural/accidental death for the good cause to help/save humanity, without any discrimination.

There are five main points for the preparation of a Muslim's body for burial:

    Body-Washing or "Ghusl"
    Wrapping (Kafan)
    Prayers (Salaat)
    Funeral
    Burial

Body-Washing or "Ghusl":

Washing the deceased's body is obligatory on Muslims; it is a Fard Kifaya, i.e., if some members take the responsibility of doing it the need is fulfilled, but if no one fulfills it then all Muslims will be accountable. Exceptions: Exceptions are for those who are Martyr (Shaheed), or masses of people are killed in epidemic. It is strongly advised that very close relative men should wash the deceased men and very close relative women should wash the deceased women, it also helps cooling down relatives on this great loss.

Washing can be carried out in the following way:

1. A man's body should be washed by men and women's body by women, but a child's body may be washed by either sex. A husband can wash his wife's body and vice-versa if the need arises.

2. Only one person is needed for washing with someone to help him.

3. It is better to choose for this the person who knows best how to perform ghusl. Every Adult Muslims must know how to Ghusl (wash) dead body.

4. Place the body on a high place, e.g., a table or something similar.

5. Remove the deceased's clothes (garments) leaving the private parts covered.

6. Put the cotton into nose, ear and mouth to avoid water going inside.

7. Repeatedly press the stomach gently and clean whatever comes out, {feces (stools) & urinary bladder}.

8. For washing, use a piece of cloth or your hands.

9. Only clean water may be used; add some scented oils (non- alcoholic) in the final wash. It is preferable to use warm water.

10. Perform ablution (wudu) for the body, cleaning the teeth and nose from outside only.

11. Wash three times, but if the body is not yet cleaned, continue washing five or seven times - it must be odd numbers.
Turn the body on its left side and begin washing the right side. Then turn it on its right side to wash the left side. This is done in each wash. The first and the second washes are done with water and soap, while the last one with water and scent.

12. Hair should be unbraided, washed and combed. For women it may again be braided in three braids.

13. Take out cotton from nose, ear and mouth. Dry the body with a clean cloth or towel.

14. Put plenty of cotton-wool or clean rags in the back passage (rectum) for possible leakage from the bottom.

15. Add some perfume on the head, forehead, nose, hands, knees, eyes, armpits, and place perfumed cotton on the front and rear openings.

Wrapping (Kafan):

1. It must be a clean piece of cloth (preferably white) to cover the whole body. It is my will as well as my suggestion for Muslim Ummah to use old clean/washed cloths and give new cloths or equivalent money to Global Charity.

2. Add some perfume to the kafan (non-alcoholic).

3. Do not use silk cloth for men.

4. Use three pieces for men and five for women, [but each one must cover the whole body.]

5. Tie the front and the rear with a piece of cloth (from the same kafan ) in such a way that one can differentiate the head from the legs.

Prayers (Funeral Salaat):

1. It is clear from this description that all this prayer is done while one is standing - there is no ruku or sujud in it.

2. It is better that those praying divide themselves into three or more odd number of rows facing the qibla with the Imam in front.

3. Put the body (or bodies) in front of the Imam.

4. The Imam should stand by the middle of the body if the deceased is a man and by the shoulder if she is a woman.

5. If there is more than one body, then they should be put one in front of the other, those of the men nearest to the Imam and those of the women furthest from him.

6. Having the appropriate neeyat in your heart, raise your hands in the usual manner and say, Allahu Akbar & raise your hands.

7. Then fold and hold your hands on your chest in the usual manner, the right hand on the left.

8. Read al Fatiha quietly. Salaat Janazah is also a Salaat Prayer.

Whoever does not recite Al_Fatiha in his prayer, his prayer is invalid. (Hadeeth_Shahi_Bukhari_Vol-1, Book-12, Hadith-723).

Al-Fatihah, or the Opening Chapter

بِسْمِ اللّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ
الْحَمْدُ للّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ
مَلِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ
إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ
اهدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ المُستَقِيمَ
صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنعَمتَ عَلَيهِمْ غَيرِ المَغضُوبِ عَلَيهِمْ وَلاَ الضَّالِّينَ

Bismillah e errahman e erraheem
Al humdo lil-lahi rab-bil al ala-meen.
Arrahman i erraheem.
Maliki yaum i eddeen.
Iyyaka nabudu wa iyyaka nasta een.
Ihdina assirata al mustaqeem.
Sirata allazhina anamta alaihim, ghairil maghdubi alaihim, wa la adhdhaal leen. (Aameen)
Translation by Yusuf Ali

001.001     In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
001.002     Praise be to Allah, the Cherisher and Sustainer of the worlds;
001.003     Most Gracious, Most Merciful;
001.004     Master of the Day of Judgment.
001.005     Thee do we worship, and Thine aid we seek.
001.006     Guide us the straight way,
001.007     The way of those on whom Thou hast bestowed Thy Grace, those whose (portion) is not wrath, and who go not astray.
(AMEEN - meaning May Allah accept our Pray)

9. Say AIlahu Akbar & raise your hands.

10. Pray Darood Ibraaheemi for the Prophet in the same way as you do in tashahud in Salaah/Prayer.

"Allah umma salli a'la Muhammadin wa ala aali Muhummadin, kama sallaita ala Ibraheema, wa ala aali Ibraheem, innaka hameedun majeed.
Allah u mma barik a'la Muhammadin wa ala aali Muhummadin, kama barakta ala Ibraheema, wa ala aali Ibraheem, innaka h ameedun majeed"

(O Allah! shower Your mercy upon Muhammad and the followers of Muhammad , as You showered Your mercy upon Ibrahim and the followers of Ibrahim. Behold, 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. Behold, You are Praiseworthy, Glorious.)

11. Say Allahu Akbar & raise your hands.

12. Make Duaa for the deceased.

"Allahummagh Firlee Hayehtena Wa Mayehtena Wa Shahideena Wa Ghaibeena Wa Sagheerenaa Wa Kabeerenaa Wa Zakarenaa Wa Unsaanaa, Allahumma mun Ahyeetuhoo Minna Faa Ahyeehee Alal Islaam, Wa Mun Tawaffaeetahoo Minna Fatawaffahoo Allal Emaan"

(Oh Allah! Forgive those of us that are alive and those of us that are dead; those of us that are present and those of us who are absent; those of us who are young and those of us who are adults; our males and our females. Oh Allah! Whomsoever You keep alive, let him live as a follower of Islam and whomsoever You cause to die, let him die a Believer.)

13. Say Allahu Akbar & raise your hands.

Funeral:

1. Procession: Mourners should walk in front or beside the bier. Those who are riding or driving should follow it.

2. Recite Kalama Shahadah during riding / driving the body as well as during putting into the Grave.

Burial:

1. The grave should be deep, wide and well made. It is recommended that it consist of two excavations, one inside the other. It is recommended that the smaller one called lahd be dug on the side of the larger one facing the qibla.

2. It is in this one that the body is put.

3. The deceased's body should he laid on the ground with the face toward the qibla, the direction of the ka'aba .

4. While laying it say

"Bismillahee Wa Aal Millat e Rasool Allah"

5. It is not recommended to use a casket unless there is really a need for it, e.g., if the soil is very loose or wet. A stone, or bricks or some soil should he put under the deceased's head to raise it up. It may be wrapped in carteen to make it more economic or some other material.

6. Do not use a pillow or put anything with the deceased inside the grave.

7. Cover the lahd (Grave) with bricks so that they become like a roof for it. Pour three handfuls of soil.

Minha khalaqnakum wafeeha nuAAeedukum waminha nukhrijukum taratan okhra

From the (earth) did We create you, and into it shall We return you, and from it shall We bring you out once again, (Al_Quraan_020.055).

8. Fill the larger pit with soil. It is preferable that each one of those present share in this by pouring three handfuls of soil. Raise the level of the grave a little less than one foot in a sloping way.

Make Duaa for the deceased:

May Allah forgive him/her and grant him/her into Jannat-ul-Firdous, and May Allah give Saber-e-Jamil to all relatives, and friends, AMEEN.

Janazah Salah Of Saudi King Abdulah Funeral Prayer Shaikh Abdul Rahman Sudais in Makkah:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzaf5Bf4GWo

Namaz e Janaza Ka Tariqa - Mukhtasar - In Short By Adv. Faiz Syed:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJkCU8qUE1Q

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