The Funeral Prayer
Washing, shrouding, prayer and burial — a communal obligation
Core Principle
Praying over a deceased Muslim is a communal obligation (farḍ kifāya): if some Muslims perform it, the rest are absolved. The deceased Muslim is owed washing, shrouding, the prayer over him, and then burial.
Why It Matters
A deceased Muslim — even a disobedient one — has sanctity before Allah, so he is not left without washing, shrouding, prayer or burial. This obligation is a communal one (kifāya), not an individual obligation on every person.
Lesson
The funeral prayer (ṣalāt al-janāza) is the prayer over a deceased Muslim. Its ruling is that it is a communal obligation (farḍ kifāya), not an individual obligation: if some Muslims perform it, it is waived from the rest. A deceased Muslim — even a disobedient one — has sanctity before Allah, so he is not left without being prepared.
Al-siqṭ (the stillborn): this is the child born dead. No washing, no shrouding and no prayer are required for him. But the one who comes out of his mother's womb and breathes (is born alive) — he must be buried, washed, shrouded and prayed over.
What is owed to the deceased Muslim: the washing (ghusl), the shroud (kafan), the prayer over him, and then his burial.
The minimum of the washing: removing impurity, and covering the whole body with pure, purifying water, with rubbing (dalk) and continuity (muwālāt). It is not permitted to expose the ʿawra, nor to touch it, nor to look at it. There are many sunan and details in the washing.
The minimum shroud: that it covers the whole body.
The pillars (arkān) of the funeral prayer: five, and wuḍūʾ is a condition for it:
1. The intention (niyya). 2. The takbīrs. 3. Standing, for the one who is able. 4. Supplication for the deceased between the takbīrs. 5. The salām.
Its obligation is a communal obligation.
Its form according to the sunna: he makes the opening takbīr (takbīrat al-iḥrām), then recites al-Fātiḥa, then makes a takbīr, then sends blessings on the Prophet ﷺ, then makes a takbīr, then supplicates for the deceased: "O Allah, forgive him; O Allah, have mercy on him; O Allah, illuminate his grave; O Allah, forgive him his earlier sins", then makes a takbīr, and if he wishes he adds more and supplicates for him or for all Muslims, and if he wishes he gives the salām.
The burial: its minimum is a grave that conceals his smell and protects him from beasts of prey, and it is not recommended to make it very deep. He is directed towards the qibla and placed on his right side. After that comes the talqīn of the Muslim.
Key Points
- 1
The funeral prayer is a communal obligation (farḍ kifāya), not an individual obligation
- 2
A deceased Muslim has sanctity before Allah even if he was disobedient
- 3
The stillborn (born dead) is not washed, shrouded or prayed over
- 4
The one born alive and breathing must be buried, washed, shrouded and prayed over
- 5
The minimum washing: removing impurity and covering the whole body with pure, purifying water, with rubbing and continuity, without exposing the ʿawra
- 6
The minimum shroud covers the whole body
- 7
The funeral prayer has five pillars: intention, the takbīrs, standing for the able, supplication for the deceased between the takbīrs, and the salām (wuḍūʾ is a condition for it)
- 8
Burial: a grave that conceals the smell and protects from beasts of prey; the deceased is directed to the qibla on his right side
Evidence
“O Allah, forgive him; O Allah, have mercy on him; O Allah, illuminate his grave; O Allah, forgive him his earlier sins.”
The du'a in the funeral prayer
Glossary
الجنازة
al-janāza
the prayer over a deceased Muslim
فرض كفاية
farḍ kifāya
a communal obligation: if some Muslims perform it, the rest are absolved
السقط
al-siqṭ
the child born dead (stillborn)
الغسل
al-ghusl
washing the deceased and covering the body with water
الكفن
al-kafan
the shroud in which the deceased is wrapped
العورة
al-ʿawra
the part of the body that must be covered and must not be exposed, touched or looked at
الدلك
al-dalk
rubbing the body by hand together with the water
الموالاة
al-muwālāt
continuity, without long gaps
التلقين
al-talqīn
prompting the deceased (after burial)
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