Islamic Learning Material

Learn Namaz-e-Janaza Step-by-Step

A comprehensive guide to the Islamic Funeral Prayer (Salah al-Janazah) with the method of 4 Takbeerat and respective Duas.

Introduction

Namaz-e-Janaza is a collective obligation (Fard al-Kifayah) upon the Muslim community. Unlike regular daily prayers, it has **no Ruku (bowing), no Sujud (prostrations), and no Adhan or Iqamah**. It is performed standing upright throughout.

It is a prayer of intercession and mercy for the deceased Muslim brother or sister, and represents a final farewell from the community.

The Method of 4 Takbeerat

How to perform the prayer step by step

1st Takbeer: Sana (Praise of Allah)

Entering the prayer and praising Allah

Make the intention to pray, raise both hands up to your ears and say "Allahu Akbar", then fold your hands under your navel or on your chest, and recite the Sana:

سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ وَتَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ وَتَعَالَى جَدُّكَ وَجَلَّ ثَنَاؤُكَ وَلَا إِلَهَ غَيْرُكَ

"Subhanakal-lahumma wa bihamdika, wa tabarakas-muka wa ta'ala jadduka, wa jalla thana'uka, wa la ilaha ghayruka"

"Glory be to You, O Allah, and praise. Blessed is Your name, exalted is Your majesty, glorious is Your praise, and there is no deity worthy of worship besides You."

2nd Takbeer: Durood-e-Ibrahim

Sending blessings upon Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)

Without raising hands, say "Allahu Akbar" and recite the Durood-e-Ibrahim (exactly as recited in daily prayers):

اللَّهُمَّ 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

"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."

"O Allah, send prayers upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad, as You sent prayers upon Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. Indeed, You are Praiseworthy and Glorious..."

3rd Takbeer: Dua for the Deceased

Seeking forgiveness for the deceased

Say "Allahu Akbar". Based on who the deceased is (an adult, a minor boy, or a minor girl), recite the corresponding Dua:

Dua for an Adult (Male or Female)

اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِحَيِّنَا وَمَيِّتِنَا وَشَاهِدِنَا وَغَائِبِنَا وَصَغِيرِنَا وَكَبِيرِنَا وَذَكَرِنَا وَأُنْثَانَا اللَّهُمَّ مَنْ أَحْيَيْتَهُ مِنَّا فَأَحْيِهِ عَلَى الْإِسْلَامِ وَمَنْ تَوَفَّيْتَهُ مِنَّا فَتَوَفَّهُ عَلَى الْإِيمَانِ

"Allahummagh-fir lihayyina wa mayyitina, wa shahidina wa gha'ibina, wa saghirina wa kabirina, wa dhakarina wa unthana. Allahumma man ahyaytahu minna fa-ahyihi 'alal-Islam, wa man tawaffaytahu minna fatawaffahu 'alal-Iman."

"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, whomsoever You keep alive among us, keep him alive upon Islam, and whomsoever You cause to die, let him die upon faith."

Dua for a Minor Boy (Child)

اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْهُ لَنَا فَرَطًا وَاجْعَلْهُ لَنَا أَجْرًا وَذُخْرًا وَاجْعَلْهُ لَنَا شَافِعًا وَمُشَفَّعًا

"Allahummaj-'alhu lana faratan, waj-'alhu lana ajran wa dhukhran, waj-'alhu lana shafi'an wa mushaffa'a."

"O Allah, make him our forerunner, and make him for us a source of reward and treasure, and make him for us an intercessor whose intercession is accepted."

Dua for a Minor Girl (Child)

اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْهَا لَنَا فَرَطًا وَاجْعَلْهَا لَنَا أَجْرًا وَذُخْرًا وَاجْعَلْهَا لَنَا شَافِعَةً وَمُشَفَّعَةً

"Allahummaj-'alha lana faratan, waj-'alha lana ajran wa dhukhran, waj-'alha lana shafi'atan wa mushaffa'ah."

"O Allah, make her our forerunner, and make her for us a source of reward and treasure, and make her for us an intercessor whose intercession is accepted."

4th Takbeer: Salam (Tasleem)

Concluding the funeral prayer

Say the final "Allahu Akbar", let your hands hang down at your sides (or keep them folded depending on the school of jurisprudence), then turn your face to the right and left while saying the Salam:

السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ

"As-salamu 'alaykum wa rahmatullah"

"Peace and blessings of Allah be upon you."

Core Requirements

Purity: Cleanliness of body, clothes, and intention is mandatory, exactly like daily prayers.
Direction: The congregation stands in rows facing the Qibla (direction of Kaabah).
Position: The body of the deceased is placed in front of the Imam.
Silence: All recitations are read quietly individually behind the Imam. Only the Imam recites the Takbeers out loud.

Hadith on Janaza

"Whoever attends the funeral until the prayer is offered will have a Qirat of reward, and whoever attends until the burial is completed will have two Qirats."
— Sahih al-Bukhari

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