Upon the death of a Muslim, Muslims are
obligated to pray for him. Just like in the obligatory prayers, one must have
wudu’.
However, the Funeral prayer does not have
ruku ^ or sujud. It is recommended that the dead person be laid in front of the
imam.
How to Perform the Janazah (Funeral) Prayer
1. Stand facing the Qiblah with your chest. 2. Have the intention: “I intend to pray the Funeral prayer for this dead Muslim” while saying: Allahu akbar. 3. Recite the Fatihah softly, then say Allahu akbar. 4. Sayاللّهُمَّ صَلِ على مُحَمَّد Allahumma salli ^ ala Muhammad. It is better if you recite the whole Salatul-Ibrahimiyyah, then say Allahu akbar. 5. Make supplication for the dead Muslim اللهم اغفِر له و ارحَمهُ Allahumma-ghfir lahu warhamh (u). It is better to include other Muslims and to say: اللهمَّ اغفر لِحينا و مَيّتِناَ و شاهِدنا وغائبِنا و صغيرنا وكبيرِنا وذَكَرِنا وأُنثَانَا اللهم مَن احيتَهُ منَّا فأَحيهِ على الإسلام ومَن تَوَفَّيتَهُ مِنَّا فَتَوفَّهُ على الإيمان – رواه الترمذي Allahumma-ghfir 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 fa tawaffahu ^alal-’iman. This means: “0 Allah, forgive our dead and alive, our present and absent, our young and old, our male and female [Muslims]. 0 Allah, whomever among us You gave life, let him live with Islam. Whomever among us You took life from, let him die with Iman (Faith)”. Then say Allahu akbar. 6. It is recommended to say: اللهمَّ لا تَحرِمنا أجره و لا تَفتِنا بعده Allahumma la tahrimna ajrahu wa la taftinna ba ^dah(u), which means: “0 Allah, do not deprive us of the reward of our praying for him, and do not test us after him”. 7. Say as-salamu ^ alaykum. It is recommended to say: assalamu ^alaykum wa rahmatullah while turning the head to the right, then to say it while turning to the left. Upon consoling a Muslim for the death of his Muslim beloved you say: أعظَم اللهُ أجرَكَ وأحسَنَ عَزاءَكَ وغَفَرَ لِمَيتِكَ a ^ dhama-llau ajrak(a), wa ahsana ^aza’ak(a), wa ghafara limayyitik, which means: “May Allah reward you greatly, give you good patience, and forgive your deceased (loved) one”. However, upon consoling a Muslim concerning the death of a non-Muslim relative, you say: أعظَم اللهُ أجرَكَ و صَبَّرَكَ a^dhama-llahu ajrak(a), wa sabbarak, which means: “May Allah reward you greatly and give you patience.”