Namaz e Janaza
Recommended Method
There are 5 takbirs (saying Allahu Akbar) in Namaz-e-Mayyit and it is sufficient if a person recites those 5 takbirs in the following order:
After making Niyyat to offer the prayers and pronouncing the 1st takbir he should say:
1st takbir
اَشْهَدُ اَنْ لاَّ اِلٰهَ اِلاَّ اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيْكَ له و اَشْهَدُ اَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَ رَسُوْلُهُ اَرْسَلَهُ بِالْحَقِّ بَشِيْرًا وَ نَذِيْراً بَيْنَ يَدَىِ السَّاعَةِ.
Ash hadu an laa ilaaha illallaahu wah’dahu laa shareeka lah. Wa Ash hadu anna Muh’ammadan a’bduhu wa Rasooluh, arsalahu bil h’aqqi basheeran wa nadheeran bayna yada yis saa-a’.
I testify that there is no god except Allah. The One, there is no partner for him. I testify that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger, whom He sent with truth as a giver of glad tidings and a warner till the Judgment Day.
After the 2nd Takbeer recite:
اَللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ اٰلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ سَلِّمْ عَلٰي مُحَمَّدٍ وَ اٰلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ بَارِكْ عَلىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ اٰلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ ارْحَمْ مُحَمَّدًا وَ اٰلَ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ وَ سَلَّمْتَ وَ بَارَكْتَ وَ تَرَحَّمْتَ عَلىٰ اِبْراهِيْمَ و آلِ اِبْرَاهِيْمَ اِنَّكَ حَمِيْدٌ مَجِيْدٌ وَ صَلِّ عَلىٰ جَمِيْعِ الْاَنْبِيَاءِ وَالْمُرْسَلِيْنَ وَ الشُّهَدَآءِ وَ الصِّدِّيْقِيْنَ وَ عِبَادِ اللهِ الصَّالِحِيْنَ.
Allaa humma s’alli a’laa Muh’ammadin wa Aali Muh’ammad wa baarik a’laa Muh’ammadin wa Aali Muh’ammad war h’am Muh’ammadan wa Aala Muh’ammadin kamaa s’allayta wa baarakta wa tarah’ h’amta a’laa Ibraheema wa Aali Ibraheema innaka H’ameedum Majeed wa s’alli a’laa jameei’l ambiyaai wal-mursaleena wash-shuhadaai was’-s’iddeeqeena wa jami’i i’baadillaa his’-s’aalih’een.
O Allah, exalt Muhammad and the progeny of Muhammad and bless Muhammad and the progeny of Muhammad and have mercy on Muhammad and the progeny of Muhammad, like You exalted and blessed and had mercy on Ibrahim and the progeny of Ibrahim, indeed You are the praised and the majestic. And exalt all the prophets and messengers and martyrs and the truthful and all the righteous servants.
After the 3rd Takbeer recite:
اَللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِلْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ وَالْمُسْلِمِيْنَ وَالْمُسْلِمَاتِ الْاَحْيَاءِ مِنْهُمْ وَالْاَمْوَاتِ تَابِعْ اللَّهُمَّ بَيْننَا وَ بِيْنَهُمْ بِالْخَيْرَاتِ اِنَّكَ مُجِيْبُ الدَّعَوَاتِ اِنَّكَ عَلىٰ كُلِّ شَىٍْ قَدِيْرُ وَ بِالْاِجَابَةِ حَقٌّ جَدِيْرٌ.
Allaa hum maghfir lil mu-mineena wal mu-minaati wal muslimeena wal muslimaat, al ah’yaai minhum wal amwaat tabi’ allaahumma baynana wa baynahum bil khayraati innaka mujeebud-da’waat innaka a’laa kulli shay-in Qadeer. Wa bil ijaabati h’aqqun jadeer.
O Allah, forgive the believer men and the believer women and the Muslim men and the Muslim women, their living and their dead. And continue the connection of good between us and them; indeed You are the acceptor of supplications and You have power over everything and only You are worthy of answering the prayers.
After the 4th Takbeer recite the below if the dead body is of a man:
اَللَّهُمَّ اِنَّ هٰذَا عَبْدُكَ وَابْنُ عَبْدِكَ وَابْنُ اَمَتِكَ نَزَلَ بِكَ وَ اَنْتَ خَيْرُ مَنْزُوْلٍ بِهِ اَللّٰهُمَّ اِنَّ لاَ نَعْلَمُ مِنْهُ اِلاَّ خَيْراً وَ اَنْتَ اَعْلَمُ بِهِ مِنَّا اَللّٰهُمَّ اِنْ كَانَ مُحْسِنًا فَزِدْفِىْ اِحْسَانِهِ وَ اِنْ كَانَ مُسِيْئًا وَ مُذْنِبًا فَتَجَاوَزْ عَنْ سَيِّئَاتِهِ وَ احْشُرْهُ مَعَ النَّبِيِّ وَ الْاَئِمَّةِ الطَّيِّبِيْنَ الطَّاهِرِيْنَ.
Allaah humma inna haadha a’bduka wabnu a’bdika wabnu amatika nazala bika wa anta khayru manzoolin bihi Allaah humma inna laa na’lamu minhu illa khayra wa anta a’alamu bihi minna. Allaah humma in kaana moh’sinan fa zid fi ih’saanihi wa in kaana musi-an wa mudhniban fatajaawaz a’n sayyaatihi wah’ shurhu ma-a’n nabiyyi wa aaimmatit’ t’ayyibeenat’t’aahireen.
O Allah, indeed this is Your servant, son of Your servant and son of Your maidservant. He has become Your guest and You are the best of the hosts. O Allah, we do not know except good from him and You are more knowing than us. O Allah, if he had been a doer of good, increase his good deeds and if he had been a sinner and an evil-doer, forgive his sins. And gather him on the Judgment Day with the Prophet and the purified and chaste Imams.
OR if the dead body is of a woman:
اَللَّهُمَّ اِنَّ هٰذِهِ اَمَتُكَ وَابْنَةُ عَبْدِكَ وَابْنَةُ اَمَتِكَ نَزَلَتْ بِكَ وَ اَنْتَ خَيْرُ مَنْزُوْلٍ بِهِ اَللّٰهُمَّ اِنَّ لاَ نَعْلَمُ مِنْهَا اِلاَّ خَيْراً وَ اَنْتَ اَعْلَمُ بِهَا مِنَّا اَللّٰهُمَّ اِنْ كَانَتْ مُحْسِنَةً فَزِدْفِىْ اِحْسَانِهَا وَ اِنْ كَانَتْ مُسِيْئَةً وَ مُذْنِبَةً فَتَجَاوَزْ عَنْ سَيِّئَاتِهَا وَ احْشُرْهَا مَعَ النَّبِيِّ وَ الْاَئِمَّةِ الطَّيِّبِيْنَ الطَّاهِرِيْنَ.
Allaah humma inna haadhihi a’matuka wabnatu a’bdika wabnatu amatika nazalat bika wa anta khayra manzoolin bihi Allaah humma inna laa na’lamu minha illa khayra wa anta a’alamu biha minna. Allaah humma in kaanat moh’sinatan fa zid fi ih’saaniha wa in kaanat musiatan wa mudhnibatan fatajaawaz sayyaatiha wah’ shur ha ma-a’n nabiyyi wa aaimmatit’ t’ayyibeenat’t’aahireen.
: O Allah, indeed this is Your maidservant, daughter of Your servant and daughter of Your maidservant. She has become Your guest and You are the best of the hosts. O Allah, we do not know except good from her and You are more knowing than us. O Allah, if she had been a doer of good, increase her good deeds and if she had been a sinner and an evil-doer, forgive her sins. And gather her on the Judgment Day with the Prophet and the purified and chaste Imams.
OR If it is the dead body of a male child, recite
اَللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْهُ لِاَبَوَيْهِ وَ لَنَا سَلَفًا وَّ فَرَطًا وَّ اَجْرًا
Allaahummaj a’lhu li abawaihi wa lanaa salafanw wa farat’anw wa ajraa.
O Allah, make him for his parents and for us a store, a preceder and recompense.
OR If it is a female child, recite
اَللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْهَا لِاَبَوَيْهَا وَ لَنَا سَلَفًا وَّ فَرَطًا وَّ اَجْرًا
Allaahummaj a’lha li abawaiha wa lanaa salafanw wa farat’anw wa ajraa.
O Allah, make her for her parents and for us a store, a preceder and recompense.
Thereafter he should pronounce the 5th Takbeer and complete the Funeral Prayer. thereafter the following Dua:
رَبَّنَآ اٰتِنَا فِى الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَّ فِى الْاٰخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَّقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ
Rabbana aatinaa fid duniya h’asanatanw wa fil aakhirati h’asanatanw wa qina a’dhaaban naar.
Our Lord! Grant us good in this world and good in the hereafter, and save us from the chastisement of the fire.
Sufficient (shorter) Method
Salat Mayyit - After making Niyyat to offer the prayers and pronouncing the 1st takbir he should say:
اَشْهَدُ اَنْ لاَّ اِلٰهَ اِلاَّ اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيْكَ له و اَشْهَدُ اَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَ رَسُوْلُهُ
Ash hadu an la ilaha illal lah wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan Rasulullah.
I bear witness that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is Allah's Messenger).
After the 2nd takbir
َللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ اٰلِ مُحَمَّدٍ
Alla humma salli 'ala Muhammadin wa 'ali Muhammad.
O' Lord! Bestow peace and blessing upon Muhammad and his progeny
After the 3rd takbir
َللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِلْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ
Alla hummaghfir lil mu'minina wal mu'minat.
O' Lord! Forgive all believers - men as well as women
After the 4th takbir (for Man)
اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِهَذَا الْمَيِّتِ
Alla hummaghfir li hazal mayyit.
O' Lord! Forgive this dead body
for woman
اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِهَذِهِ الْمَيِّتَةِ
Alla hummaghfir li hazihil mayyit.
O' Lord! Forgive this dead body
Thereafter pronounce the 5th takbir and end the prayer
Islamic Rules (Syed Sistani)
Ruling 582. It is obligatory to perform ṣalāt al‑mayyit for a Muslim who has died, and for every child who is considered a Muslim and has completed six years of age.
Ruling 583. Based on obligatory precaution, it is necessary to perform ṣalāt al‑mayyit for a child who has not completed six years of age but could understand prayers. If the child could not understand prayers, there is no problem in performing the prayer with the intention of rajāʾ [i.e. with the intention of performing it in the hope that it is desired by Allah]. There is no recommendation to perform the prayer for a stillborn child.
Ruling 584. Ṣalāt al‑mayyit must be performed after giving ghusl, camphorating, and shrouding. If it is performed before or while performing these – albeit forgetfully or on account of not knowing the ruling – it is not sufficient.
Ruling 585.* It is not necessary for someone who wants to perform ṣalāt al‑mayyit to have wuḍūʾ, ghusl, or tayammum, or for his body and clothes to be pure. In fact, even if his clothes are usurped there is no problem, although it is better that he observe all the rules that apply to other prayers. One must refrain from doing anything that breaks the form of ṣalāt al‑mayyit, and based on obligatory precaution, one must abstain from talking, laughing, and turning their back to the qibla.
Ruling 586. The person who performs ṣalāt al‑mayyit must face qibla. It is also obligatory to place the corpse in a way that it lies on its back in front of the person performing the prayer with its head on the person’s right-hand side and its feet on his left.
Ruling 587. The place where one performs the prayers must not be higher or lower than the corpse; however, being a little higher or lower is not a problem. The recommended precaution is that the place where the prayers are being performed should not be usurped.
Ruling 588. The person performing the prayer must not be far away from the corpse. However, there is no problem in him being far away if the prayer is performed in congregation and the rows are connected to one another.
Ruling 589. The person performing the prayer must stand with the corpse in front of him. However, if the prayer is being performed in congregation, there is no problem if some of the people do not stand in front of the corpse.
Ruling 590. There must not be a curtain, wall, or a similar thing between the corpse and the person performing the prayer. However, there is no problem if the corpse is in a coffin or something similar.
Ruling 591. During the prayer, the private parts of the corpse must be covered. If it has not been possible to shroud the corpse, the private parts must still be covered, albeit with a board, brick, or something similar.
Ruling 592. Ṣalāt al‑mayyit must be performed while standing and with the intention of attaining proximity to Allah. At the time of making the intention, the corpse must be specified; for example, one may make the intention: ‘I am performing the prayer for this corpse qurbatan ilal lāh (to attain proximity to Allah)’. And the obligatory precaution is that the type of stillness of body required in the daily prayers must be observed [in this prayer as well].
Ruling 593. If there is no one who can perform ṣalāt al‑mayyit while standing, it can be performed while sitting.
Ruling 594. If the deceased person had made a will stipulating that a particular person must perform the prayer for him, it is not necessary for that nominated person to get the consent of the guardian of the deceased, although it is better that he does.
Ruling 595. The opinion of some jurists is that it is disapproved to perform ṣalāt al‑mayyit a number of times. However, this matter is not established, and if the deceased is a learned and God-wary person, there is no problem in considering it not disapproved.
Ruling 596. If a corpse is intentionally, forgetfully, or for some other reason buried without the prayer being performed for it, or if after burying a corpse it becomes known that the prayer performed for it was invalid, it is not permitted to exhume the body to perform the prayer for it. However, there is no problem if, before the body decomposes, the prayer is performed at the grave-side with the intention of rajāʾ while observing the conditions mentioned earlier for this prayer.
Text, translation and recitation from Duas.org
