How to Pray Salat al-Janazah (Funeral Prayer)
Salat al-Janazah is the Islamic funeral prayer, offered in standing only, without ruku or sujood, and consisting of four takbeers. It is fard kifayah — a communal obligation that, when performed by some of the Muslims present, is considered fulfilled on behalf of the whole community. The Prophet (peace be upon him) emphasized its great reward.
مَنْ شَهِدَ الْجَنَازَةَ حَتَّى يُصَلَّى عَلَيْهَا فَلَهُ قِيرَاطٌ، وَمَنْ شَهِدَهَا حَتَّى تُدْفَنَ فَلَهُ قِيرَاطَانِ. قِيلَ: وَمَا الْقِيرَاطَانِ؟ قَالَ: مِثْلُ الْجَبَلَيْنِ الْعَظِيمَيْنِ.
“Whoever attends the funeral procession until the prayer is offered for the deceased will have a reward equal to one qirat, and whoever attends until the burial will have a reward of two qirats. It was asked, 'What are the two qirats?' He said, 'Like two huge mountains.'”
Step 1Stand facing the qiblah with the deceased in front
The deceased is placed in front of the imam, facing the qiblah. The imam stands aligned with the chest of a man or the middle of a woman. Make the intention to pray Janazah for this deceased Muslim.
Step 2First takbeer: recite Surah al-Fatihah
Raise your hands, say Allahu Akbar, and place your right hand over your left on your chest. Then recite Surah al-Fatihah silently.
Arabicالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ، الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ، مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ، إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ، اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ، صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ.
Transliteration
Alhamdu lillahi rabbil-alamin, ar-Rahman ar-Rahim, Maliki yawmid-din, iyyaka na'budu wa iyyaka nasta'in, ihdinas-siratal-mustaqim, siratal-ladhina an'amta alayhim ghayril-maghdubi alayhim wa lad-dallin.
Note
Some scholars permit a short surah after al-Fatihah; the Shafi'i and Hanbali schools consider al-Fatihah sufficient and is the dominant practice.
Step 3Second takbeer: send peace upon the Prophet
Say Allahu Akbar (without raising hands, in some schools) and recite the Salawat Ibrahimiyyah — the same durood you read in tashahhud.
Arabicاللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ. اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ.
Transliteration
Allahumma salli ala Muhammadin wa ala ali Muhammadin kama sallayta ala Ibrahima wa ala ali Ibrahima innaka Hamidun Majid. Allahumma barik ala Muhammadin wa ala ali Muhammadin kama barakta ala Ibrahima wa ala ali Ibrahima innaka Hamidun Majid.
Step 4Third takbeer: dua for the deceased
Say Allahu Akbar and recite the prophetic dua for the deceased asking Allah for forgiveness, mercy, and a better home in the next life. If the deceased is female, replace the masculine pronouns with feminine ones.
Arabicاللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لَهُ وَارْحَمْهُ، وَعَافِهِ وَاعْفُ عَنْهُ، وَأَكْرِمْ نُزُلَهُ، وَوَسِّعْ مُدْخَلَهُ، وَاغْسِلْهُ بِالْمَاءِ وَالثَّلْجِ وَالْبَرَدِ، وَنَقِّهِ مِنَ الْخَطَايَا كَمَا يُنَقَّى الثَّوْبُ الْأَبْيَضُ مِنَ الدَّنَسِ، وَأَبْدِلْهُ دَارًا خَيْرًا مِنْ دَارِهِ، وَأَهْلًا خَيْرًا مِنْ أَهْلِهِ، وَزَوْجًا خَيْرًا مِنْ زَوْجِهِ، وَأَدْخِلْهُ الْجَنَّةَ، وَأَعِذْهُ مِنْ عَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ وَمِنْ عَذَابِ النَّارِ.
Transliteration
Allahumma-ghfir lahu warhamhu, wa afihi wa'fu anhu, wa akrim nuzulahu, wa wassi' mudkhalahu, waghsilhu bil-ma'i wath-thalji wal-barad, wa naqqihi min al-khataya kama yunaqqath-thawbul-abyadu min ad-danas, wa abdilhu daran khayran min darihi, wa ahlan khayran min ahlihi, wa zawjan khayran min zawjihi, wa adkhilhul-jannah, wa a'idhhu min adhabil-qabri wa min adhabin-nar.
Step 5Fourth takbeer: pause and dua for yourself and all believers
Say Allahu Akbar and pause briefly. You may recite a short dua for yourself and the believers, such as 'Allahumma la tahrimna ajrahu wa la taftinna ba'dahu wa-ghfir lana wa lahu' (O Allah, do not deprive us of his reward, do not test us after him, and forgive us and him).
Step 6Conclude with one or two salaams
Turn your head to the right and say 'As-salamu alaykum wa rahmatullah'. Some scholars consider only the right-side salaam necessary; others prescribe both right and left.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Performing ruku or sujood — Janazah has neither; it is a standing-only prayer.
Reciting aloud. The recitations are silent, even in congregation.
Forgetting to switch pronouns when praying for a female deceased.
Praying Janazah without wudu. Like other prayers, it requires ritual purity.
Skipping Janazah for a Muslim who has died. The community sin remains until at least one person prays it.