| Salat al-Janazah | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Official name | صلاة الجنازة |
| Also called | Funeral prayer |
| Observed by | Muslims |
| Type | Islamic |
| Significance | AnIslamic funeral prayer performed for a deceasedMuslim |
| Observances | Supplications for the deceased and all dead Muslims |
| Frequency | Occasionally |
| First time | 7th-century |
| Started by | Islamic ProphetMuhammad |
| Related to | Salah,Islamic funeral,Fard Kifayyah |
Ṣalāt al-Janāzah (Arabic:صلاة الجنازة) is theIslamic funeral prayer performed for a deceasedMuslim. It is performed in congregation to seekpardon for the deceased and all deadMuslims,[1] and is a communal obligation (farḍ al-kifāya) upon all able-bodied Muslims; meaning if someMuslims take the responsibility of conducting the prayer, then the obligation is fulfilled, but if this obligation is not fulfilled by anyone, allMuslims will be accountable.[2]
The funeral prayer (Salat al-Janazah) as a distinct ritual began with theIslamic ProphetMuhammad and the earlyMuslim community inMedina. The earliest accounts of this prayer describe it as a simple act ofsupplication and remembrance for the deceased, which was very different frompre-Islamic funerals, which were often accompanied by wailing and lamentations. The practice was established to offer a final act of honour and intercession for a fellow Muslim before burial. It's a key part of theIslamic funeral process, signifying the community's collective support and prayer for the deceased's forgiveness.[3]
After washing the body thoroughly (ghusl) and shrouding it, the congregation is arranged in rows, often in odd numbers, with animam positioned at the front facing theqibla. The body of the deceased is placed before theimam,[4] and in cases involving multiple bodies, they are arranged in sequence. The prayer is most commonly performed in an open area, although it may also be conducted inside amosque.[5] Unlike the five daily prayers, the funeral prayer does not include bowing (ruku) or prostration (sujud).[6]
The structure of the Salat al Janazah differs from region to region, but classical sources describe a generally consistent form. It is performed while standing and usually consists of:[7][8]
Following the completion of the funeral prayer, the body is taken to the place of burial, where it is laid to rest according to Islamic rites.[4]
Salat al ghaib is a funeral prayer performed for a Muslim who has died far away from those offering the prayer (i.e., when the body is not present). The practice is based on a story of theMuhammad praying forNajashi, the king ofAbyssinia. This event is documented in well-known Islamic texts.[9][10]
Jurisprudentially,Sunni scholars have different views. TheShafi'i andHanbali schools of thought usually allow for this prayer. However, theHanafi andMaliki traditions often consider the Prophet's action to be a special case, or they limit the situations in which the prayer is appropriate.[11] Contemporaryfatwas and summaries ofFiqh still show these same differences and provide specific conditions for when the absentee prayer is recommended or allowed.
Shia jurisprudence generally does not permit the absentee funeral prayer, regarding the Prophet's prayer for theNegus as an exceptional case rather than a normative practice.[12]
According to an authentichadith, Muhammad did not perform funeral prayer of a person who committed suicide;[13]
Jabir b. Samura reported: [The dead body] of a person who had killed himself with a broad-headed arrow was brought before the Apostle of Allah, but he did not offer prayers for him.Another exception is for one who hasn't paid off debts until someone paid them on the deceased person's behalf.
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