A last act of worship of a dead Muslim is the Islamic funeral prayer, called Namaz e Janaza. It is an effective prayer for their forgiveness and peace. This common prayer brings together Muslims in a time of common sorrow and encouragement. Knowledge of how to carry out the Janaza prayer is a crucial aspect of being a Muslim that every Muslim needs to know. Therefore, this book is a clear and easy way of explaining this significant ritual.
Namaz e Janaza is not just a tradition. It is an in-depth articulation of faith, humility, and togetherness. Muslim community prayer is the collective responsibility or fard kifayah. This implies that when it is done by several Muslims, the duty is relieved on the rest. But when no one does it, the whole community does it. Therefore, it brings out the compassion and oneness that are core to the Islamic beliefs. Thus, by attending the prayer, it encourages the bereaved family and makes everyone remember that life is short.
In this post, I am going to take you through all you need to know. We will discuss its significance, the preparations one has to make before the prayer, and we will go through the process step by step to learn how to go about it. You will also be informed about how it contributes to the building of community ties.
Understanding the Importance of Namaz e Janaza
The prayer of the Janaza is very important in Islam. It has several functions that go beyond the need to honor the dead to a reminder of their mortality to the living.
A Final Act of Respect
The final Muslim care towards a dead person is performing the Janaza prayer. It is taught in Islam that each human being must be treated with dignity, even at death. Therefore, the community respects the life of an individual through washing, shrouding, and praying over the body. It is a formal parting that also tries to find eternal peace of the soul.
A Health and Safety Jointly
The Janaza prayer is a fard kifayah; it is an emphasis on the role of society in the life and death of any Muslim. It is the duty of the local Muslim people to organize and conduct these rituals. Thus, this communal duty will see to it that no Muslim will be deprived of a decent farewell. It strengthens this concept of the Ummah (global Muslim community) as one body.
A Plea for Allah’s Mercy
The essence of the Janaza prayer is to request Allah to be merciful and forgive the dead. The congregation specifically requests that the person have his/her sins forgiven or a dua. They wish they were kept cozy in the grave and also to avoid the ordeal of the afterlife. This is an act of selflessness in praying on behalf of another person, and this action demonstrates the altruistic Islamic values.
Enhancing Community ties
The funeral prayer is a unifying factor in the community. By being present at the Janaza, individuals get to experience the grief of the bereaved family. It also provides them with solace and reassures them that they are not lonely. This act of unity acts as a strong communication between the Muslims. It is also an actual lesson on the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) on empathy and mutual support.
A Reminder of Mortality
Lastly, the prayer of Janaza is a stark reminder that life is short-lived. It also teaches the believers to look back on their living lives and be ready to enter the hereafter. Attending a funeral ceremony leaves a mark on the minds of the people that they are bound to die. This compels them to lead a godly, loving, and meaningful life because they understand that their actions will be left behind.
Before the Janaza Prayer.
There are a number of preparations to be made before the Namaz e Janaza can be performed. This is done to make sure that the body is treated with respect as per Islamic directives.
Ghusl (Washing the Body)
- Washing the body ritually is the first process. This is known as Ghusl, which is a final cleansing.
- This is usually carried out by close family members or members of the community who are of the same sex with the deceased.
- There is modesty during the process of washing. The corpse is put on an elevated area and wrapped.
- Water should be sprayed over the body at least three times, beginning at the right-hand side, so that it completely covers the body.
- The washing is done according to ritual washing (wudu), washing the mouth, nose, face, arms, and legs.
Kafan (Shrouding the Body)
- The body is then covered with a plain white cover known as a Kafan after the Ghusl.
- The shroud must be pure and simple and of plain material.
- In the case of men, the shroud is usually made of three huge white sheets.
- In women, it is made up of five pieces, including extra coverings for the head and chest.
- The corpse is neatly wrapped, and the ends are knotted. The simplicity of the shroud shows the equality of all men before God in death.
Preparing for the Prayer
After shrouding, the body is then taken to where the Janaza prayer will take place. This is typically a mosque or prayer room. The corpse is put at the center of the congregation, facing the qibla (the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca). The head of the dead man or woman should be on the right.
The family informs the local Muslim community when and where the prayer is to be offered. This gives other people the chance to participate and complete their communal responsibility. Neighbors tend to assist the bereaved family by bringing them food and doing condolence services before and after the funeral.
A Step-by-Step Guide to Performing Namaz e Janaza
The Namaz e Janaza is a unique prayer performed while standing, with no bowing (ruku) or prostration (sujood). It consists of four Takbirs (saying “Allahu Akbar”). Here is how to perform it step by step.
اِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّـا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُوْنَ
“Indeed, we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we will return.”
(Surah Al-Baqarah 2:156)
Step 1: Make Your Intention (Niyyah)
You begin by making a silent intention in your heart to perform the Janaza prayer for the deceased. You are praying for Allah’s forgiveness and mercy upon them. Also, you should be facing the qibla.
كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذَائِقَةُ الْمَوْتِ
“Every soul shall taste death.”
(Surah Al-Imran 3:185)
Step 2: The First Takbir
The Imam will say the first Takbir (“Allahu Akbar”) out loud. You will also say it while raising your hands to your ears or shoulders, then fold them over your chest (right hand over left). After this first Takbir, you silently recite the Thana (praise to Allah) and then Surah Al-Fatiha.
Thana:
Subhanakallahumma wa bihamdika, wa tabarakasmuka, wa ta’ala jadduka, wa jalla thana’uka, wa la ilaha ghairuk.
(Glory be to You, O Allah, and all praise. Blessed is Your name, and exalted is Your majesty, and glorious is Your praise. There is no god but You.)
Surah Al-Fatihah (Arabic and Translation):
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ
إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ
اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ
صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ
“In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds. The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Master of the Day of Judgment. You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help. Guide us on the Straight Path—the path of those who have received Your grace, not the path of those who have brought down wrath nor of those who go astray.”
Step 3: The Second Takbir
The Imam will say the second Takbir. You will say it as well, but without raising your hands. After the second Takbir, you silently recite the Durood-e-Ibrahim, the same prayer upon the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) that is recited in the final sitting of regular daily prayers.
Durood-e-Ibrahim:
Allahumma salli ‘ala Muhammadin wa ‘ala aali Muhammadin, kama sallayta ‘ala Ibrahima wa ‘ala aali Ibrahima, innaka Hamidum Majid. Allahumma barik ‘ala Muhammadin wa ‘ala aali Muhammadin, kama barakta ‘ala Ibrahima wa ‘ala aali Ibrahima, innaka Hamidum Majid.
Step 4: The Third Takbir
The Imam will say the third Takbir. Again, you repeat it without raising your hands. After this Takbir, you make a specific dua (supplication) for the deceased. A well-known prayer is:
Allahumma ighfir lihayyina wa mayyitina wa shahidina wa ghaibina wa saghirina wa kabirina wa dhakarina wa unthana. Allahumma man ahyaytahu minna fa ahyihi ‘ala’l-Islam wa man tawaffaytahu minna fa tawaffahu ‘ala’l-iman.
(O Allah, forgive our living and our dead, those who are present and those who are absent, our young and our old, our males and our females. O Allah, whomever You keep alive among us, keep him alive in Islam, and whomever You cause to die among us, cause him to die with faith.)
If the deceased is an adult male or female, you add:
Allahumma ighfir lahu warhamhu… (for male) or Allahumma ighfir laha warhamha… (for female).
رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لَنَا وَلِإِخْوَانِنَا الَّذِينَ سَبَقُونَا بِالْإِيمَانِ
“Our Lord, forgive us and our brothers who preceded us in faith.”
(Surah Al-Hashr 59:10)
Step 5: The Fourth Takbir and Tasleem
The Imam says the fourth and final Takbir. You repeat it. After a brief pause, the prayer is concluded with the Tasleem. You turn your head to the right and say, “Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullah,” and then turn to the left and say it again. This completes the Namaz e Janaza.
Conclusion
The Namaz e Janaza is a deeply spiritual practice that binds the Muslim community together in a final, shared responsibility. It is not just a ritual for the deceased; it is a profound experience for the living. The prayer’s structure, with its focus on supplication rather than physical movement, channels the collective energy of the congregation into a powerful plea for mercy. Each Takbir raises the prayer to a new level, moving from praise of Allah to blessings for the Prophet, and culminating in a direct appeal for the soul of the departed.
This final farewell reminds us that our connections extend beyond this life. By standing shoulder to shoulder, we affirm our bond as a community and our shared faith in the afterlife. Therefore, the Janaza prayer is a testament to the Islamic principles of mercy, compassion, and collective duty. Thus, it is a moment where the material world fades, and the spiritual connection between the Creator, the deceased, and the community comes into sharp focus. It is the ultimate expression of hope, a final gift of prayer offered from one soul to another on their journey back to God.
