Janaza namaaz (Funeral Prayer)

Taken from al-islam.edu.pk

The funeral prayer, called the Janaza Prayer, is necessary for all Muslims, males or females, and also for infants who have lived only for a few seconds. Taking part in this service is Farze-Kefayah. If some of the Muslims perform it, the remaining Muslims will not be held up for sin. It is, however, a duty of every member of the Muslim community to attend the funeral and burial service of the deceased. Those who take part in the prayer must perform ablution.

The Janaza shall be placed in front. The Imam shall stand near the breast of the deceased and facing it, and the people present will form themselves in close rows of three, five, seven, in odd numbers.

The Imam will open the prayer by reciting Allaho-Akber in a loud voice and the hands will be raised up to the ears and then placed as in prayer.

Then the following is recited:-
Subhanakal’la Humma wa ba Ham Daka wa Tabbarak A’snija wata’la Judduka wa Ja’lla Sanna’uaka wa la il’ha ghiroka.

Glory to Thee, O Allah, and Thine is the praise, and blessed is Thy name, and exalted is Thy Majesty, and there is none to be served besides Thee.

Now again Allaho-Akber is called out and the following is recited:-
Allahumma salli ‘ala Muhamadin wa ‘ala ali Muhammadin kama sallayta ‘ala Ibrahima wa ‘ala ali Ibrahima innaka Hamidu ’m-Majid. Allahumma barik ‘ala Muhamadin wa ‘ala ali Muhammadin kama barakta ‘ala Ibrahima wa ‘ala ali Ibrahima innaka Hamidu ’m-Majid.

“O Allah! Exalt Muhammad and the followers of Muhammad as Thou didst exalt Abraham and the followers of Abraham, for surely Thou art Praised and Magnified. O Allah! Bless Muhammad and the followers of Muhammad, as Thou didst bless Abraham and the followers of Abraham, for surely Thou art Praised and Magnified.”

Again the third time Allaho-Akber is recited and the following is read:-
Allahumma’ghfir li hayina wa mayyitina wa shahidna wa ghai’bna wa saghirina wa kabirina wa zakarina wa unsana. Alla humma man ahy-yaitahu minna fa-ahiyihi ‘ala’l-Islam wa man tawaffayta-tu mina fatawaffahu ‘ala’l-Iman.

“O Allah! Forgive our living and our dead and those of us who are present and hose who are absent and our little ones and our full grown ones and our men and our women. O Allah! Whom Thou keepest alive from amongst us, keep him alive in Islam, and whom Thou causest to die from amongst us, make him die in faith (in Thee).”

The fourth time again Allaho-Akber is recited and thereafter both Salaams are performed. This completes the funeral prayer for adults.

In the case of a minor male child the following is read after the third Takbir:-
Allahumma ’j’alho lana Faratan waj’alho lana Ajran wa zukharan waj’alho lana Sha Faan wa Mushaf Faan.

“O Allah! Make him for s a cause of recompense in the world to come and as one going before and a treasure and a reward.”

And in the case of a minor female child the following is likewise read:-
Allahumma ’j’alha lana Faratan waj’alha lana Ajan wa zukharan waj’alha lana Sha Faattan wa Mushaf Fa-Attan.

“O Allah! Make her for us a cause of recompense in the world to come and as one going before and a treasure and a reward.”

Useful reading:

Muslim Funeral Guide - UK Muslim Directory
(A basic guide for brothers and sister in the UK.)