🕌 Funeral Prayer Guide
How to Pray Janaza
Salat al-Janaza is prayed entirely standing, in congregation behind an imam: four takbeers — after the first, recite the opening supplication (thana); after the second, salawat on the Prophet ﷺ; after the third, the dua for the deceased; after the fourth, end with salam. There is no ruku and no sujood. It is a communal obligation (fard kifayah).
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The funeral prayer step by step — the four takbeers, exactly what to recite after each, and how to join a janaza at a UK mosque.
"Whoever attends the funeral procession until the prayer is offered will have one qirat of reward, and whoever remains until the burial will have two qirats… each like Mount Uhud."
— Sahih al-Bukhari & Muslim
The Essentials
- •Status: fard kifayah — a communal obligation on all Muslims nearby
- •Structure: 4 takbeers, all standing — no ruku, no sujood
- •Where: mosque (after a congregational prayer) or cemetery, before burial
- •Length: about 5 minutes
- •Wudu: required, as for any prayer
Joining a Janaza at a UK Mosque
- •Janazas are usually prayed after Dhuhr or Asr — the imam announces "as-salatu 'alal mayyit" after the fard prayer ends
- •Simply stay in the prayer hall and join the rows — no prior arrangement needed
- •The body is placed in front: men deceased — head near the imam; women — middle of the body near the imam
- •Even one row of worshippers fulfils the obligation — attend whenever you can
The Four Takbeers, Step by Step
Hanafi method — the most common in UK mosques; minor variations exist between schools
- 1
Stand in rows & make the intention
Form straight rows behind the imam, facing the qibla, with the shrouded body in front. Intend in your heart: "I pray the funeral prayer for this deceased Muslim, for Allah’s sake."
- 2
First takbeer — thana
Raise your hands with "Allahu Akbar" and fold them right over left. Recite the opening supplication silently: Subhanakallahumma wa bihamdika, wa tabarakasmuka, wa ta’ala jadduka, wa la ilaha ghayruk — Glory be to You O Allah, and praise; blessed is Your name, exalted Your majesty, and there is no god but You.
- 3
Second takbeer — salawat
Say "Allahu Akbar" (raising the hands each takbeer is practised in many mosques) and recite salawat as in the final tashahhud: Allahumma salli ’ala Muhammadin wa ’ala ali Muhammad, kama sallayta ’ala Ibraheema wa ’ala ali Ibraheem, innaka Hameedum Majeed.
- 4
Third takbeer — the dua for the deceased
Say "Allahu Akbar" and recite the well-known funeral dua: Allahummaghfir li hayyina wa mayyitina, wa shahidina wa gha’ibina, wa sagheerina wa kabeerina, wa dhakarina wa unthana — O Allah, forgive our living and our dead, those present and those absent, our young and our old, our males and our females. You may add any sincere dua for the deceased.
- 5
Fourth takbeer — salam
Say "Allahu Akbar" and pause briefly — some schools recite a final short dua, others proceed directly. Then turn the head to the right: "Assalamu alaykum wa rahmatullah." (Many imams give salam to both sides as in normal prayer.) The janaza is complete.
Quick Recap
| Takbeer | Recite |
|---|---|
| 1st — Allahu Akbar | Thana (opening supplication) |
| 2nd — Allahu Akbar | Salawat on the Prophet ﷺ (as in tashahhud) |
| 3rd — Allahu Akbar | Dua for the deceased (Allahummaghfir li…) |
| 4th — Allahu Akbar | Brief pause, then salam to end |