Q. How to perform Salaatul Janaza in detail?
A. In Salaatul Janaza there are two acts that are held as being compulsory. These are:-
Saying the Takbeer (Allahu Akbar) four times.
Qiyam, that is offering the Salaatul Janaza in a standing posture.
In the Janaza Salaah, there is no Azaan, Iqaamah, Qiraah (recitation from the Holy Quran), ruku, Sajda, qadah (sitting position in Salaah).
The Sunnah acts in the Salaatul Janazaa are:-
Praising Allah (Hamd and Thana).
Reciting Darood, invoking of Allah’s blessings for the Holy Prophet (SAS).
Dua for the deceased.
All these take place within the Janaza Salaah itself.
Jama’ah or congregation is not a condition for the validity of this Salaah. Even if one person performs this Salaah, then the obligation will be fulfilled.
Method of Salaah Al Janazaa.
The manner of performing this Salaah is as follows:-
The body of the deceased must be placed in front of the Imam who leads the Salaah. The Imam stands on line with the chest of the deceased.
Everyone in the congregation must have the intention of performing Salaah Al Janaazah for the sake of Allah and in prayer for the deceased.
One must then say Allahu Akbar while raising both hands as in Takbeer At Tahreema (the same manner in which one raises his hands to begin the daily Salaah).
Then fold your hands over the navel as one does in his daily Salaah. At this time, one must recite the Thana. The Thana is:-
Subhanakallahumma wa bihamdika wa Tabarakasmuka wa Ta’aala Jadduka wa laa ilaha Ghairuka.
After this, a person must say Allahu Akbar again, but must not raise his hands. At this time, one will recite the Darood, (preferably the same as recited in the daily Salaah). Then say Allahu Akbar once again without raising the hands. After this takbeer, one will make the dua for the deceased. Based on who the deceased is, one will recite the relevant dua. That is, there is a special dua for adults, and one for a minor boy and another for a minor girl.
The dua for an adult is :-
Allaahurnmaghfir li hayyinaa wa mayyitinaa wa shahidinaa wa gha-ibinaa wasaghirinaa wa kabirinaa wa dhakarinaa wa unthanaa,
Allaahumma man ahyaitahu minnaa fa’ahyihi ‘alal islam wa man tawaffaitahu minnaa fatawaffahu ‘alal imaan.
Oh Allah! Forgive those of us that are alive and those of us who are dead, those of us that are present, those of us who are absent, those of us that are young and those of us that are adults; our males and our females. Oh Allah! Whomsoever of us you keep alive lit him live as a follower of Islam and whomsoever you cause to die, let him die as a believer.
The dua for a girl child is :-
Allaahum maj ‘alhaa lanaa fa-ra—tanw waj ‘alhaa lana aj-ranw wa zukhranw waj ‘alhaa lana shaafi’atanw wa mushaf-fa;ah
O Allah, make her our fore runner, a source of reward and treasure and make her a pleader for us and one whose plea has been accepted.
The dua for a boy child is:-
Allaahum maj ‘alhu lanaa fa-ra—tanw waj ‘alhu lana aj-ranw wa zukhranw waj ‘alhu lana shaafi’atanw wa mushaf-fa;ah
O Allah, make him our fore runner, a source of reward and treasure and make him a pleader for us and one whose plea has been accepted.
When the Salaah Al Janaza is finished the body should be taken to the cemetery for burial.
And Allah knows best.
Mufti Waseem Khan