Everything we see around us on a day to day basis has an expiry date, sooner or later everything will expire. Whether it is the trees we see in our gardens to the tropical fish in the depths of the sea, everything around us has an expiry date, including us.
If we were to just look back at our life, we would all agree that the last 15, 20, 40 years have flown by in a manner which we cannot comprehend and everything around us is reminding us on a daily basis that we will also expire and leave this temporal world, hence those who have realised the true reality of life say:
“When we are born the Adhaan is given and when we die Salah is prayed.”
This statement highlights the fact the when the time of prayer starts and the call to prayer, Adhaan, is given prayer is swiftly offered only a short while after, and when we apply this thinking to the span of our mortal life we understand the meaning herein that time is extremely limited.
When the inevitable point of death arrives, we are gifted with a final spiritual farewell by our loved ones and community members. This helps ease the deceased into the next phase of life in the grave.
It is a community obligation (Fard Al Kifayah) that a funeral prayer is read for every Muslim and the failure to fulfil this right is something for which the entire Muslim community is held accountable by Allah Almighty. Those who attend a Janazah and also a burial are rewarded immensely by Allah Almighty. The Messenger of Allah, holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
“Whoever follows the funeral of Muslim, in faith and seeking reward, and he remains with it until the prayer is offered and the burial ceremony is finished, then he will return with two great rewards. Each reward is like the size of Mount Uhud. Whoever offers the funeral prayer and returns before the burial, then he will return with one great reward.”
Not only do those people who pray for the deceased benefit, but a large congregation can be a source of forgiveness for the person who has passed away. Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said:
“If a Muslim dies and the people who pray the Janazah (funeral) prayer for him total one hundred, and all of them intercede with Allah Almighty and ask Him for forgiveness for the deceased, then their intercession will be accepted.”
What is the manner of performing Salat Al Janazah (the Funeral Prayer)?
- Ideally the congregation should line up in an odd number of rows
- Reading outside is preferred in a Janazah Gah, open Funeral Prayer gathering
- Removing shoes out of respect is better but not obligatory
- Having the intention to pray the Janazah
- There is no Sujood (prostrations) and the prayer is carried out standing up
- The prayer involves four Takbeers (Allahu Akbar)
- Hands are raised to the ears upon hearing the first Takbeer only and then kept folded (as in regular prayer) for the remaining three Takbeers
- Reciting ‘Allahu Akbar’ audibly after the Imam’s recitation
- After the first Takbeer, reading the Sanaa
- After the second Takbeer, reading Darood-e-Ibraheemi
- After the third Takbeer, to read a Dua (supplication) relating to the deceased. There are specific Duas that can be recited for adults as opposed to children, and for girls as opposed to boys. All Duas must be from the noble Quran. If one cannot remember any Dua relating to the forgiveness of the deceased, then one can read something simple like:
“Rabbana atina fid dunya hasanatan wa fil Aakhirati hasanatan waqina ‘adhaaban naar”
“Our Lord, give us in this world [that which is] good and in the Hereafter [that which is] good and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.”
- After the fourth Takbeer, complete prayer with Tasleem (Assalamu Alaikum).
- Disperse the prayer formation immediately after the Janazah prayer and do not gather to lament
- Both men and women can partake
Some people wish to see the face of the deceased for a final goodbye. Whilst this is not obligatory or necessary, it is also not forbidden to do so. However, we must be careful of Islamic rulings that stipulate only Mahram (non-marriageable people of the opposite gender) can have physical contact with the deceased or be in close proximity to the body.
Are we allowed to conduct Janazah prayers more than once?
Burial in Islam is recommended to be swift and holy Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, instructed us to “Hasten the funeral rites”, therefore it is recommended to conduct one Janazah prayer for the deceased. However, it is permissible to repeat funeral prayers due to circumstantial reasons for e.g., some family members travelling from a distance who could not attend the first Janazah prayer. It is recommended that the most senior person in the family makes the decisions about funeral prayers and he should join the final Janazah prayer to seal the farewell process for their loved one.
There are some days and months of the Islamic year which are very holy and confer greater blessings for the deceased, such as Ramadan, Fridays and the time of Asr (late afternoon). Angels join the ranks of funeral prayers and any place where the Remembrance of Allah Almighty takes place. Some Angels are known to alternate and rotate ‘shifts’ for their respective tasks, and do so at the time of Asr, and therefore conducting Salat Al Janazah at the time of Asr can mean two sets of Angels can potentially the join the prayers. May Allah Almighty give us all the opportunity to pray for our Muslim brothers and sisters and may we also be prayed upon when we pass away.