Learn How to Pray the Janazah (funeral) Prayer : The complete beginner’s guide

1 – Say first Takbeer (‘Allahu Akbar’) and raise both hands up to your earlobes and then place your right hand over your left hand.

سُبْحَاْنَكَ اَلْلّٰھُمَّ وَبِحَمدِكَ وَتَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ وَتَعَالٰی جَدُّكَ وَلَا اِلٰه غَیْرِكَ

“Subhaanaka allaahumma wa bihamdika wa tabaaraka ismuka wa ta’aala jadduka wa jalla thannaa-uka wa laal ilaaha ghayruka.”

English Translation : Glory be to you Oh Allah, and praise be to You, and blessed is your name, and exalted is Your Majesty, and there is none to be served besides.

2 – Say second Takbeer. You can either choose to raise your hands again up to your earlobes or leave them as is. Both are permissible.

أللهم صل على محمد وعلى آل محمد كما صليت على إبراهيم وعلى آل إبراهيم إنك حميد مجيد. أللهم بارك على محمد وعلى آل محمد كما باركت على إبراهيم وعلى آل إبراهيم إنك حميد مجيد

“Allahumma Salli aala Muhammadin wa a ala aali Muhammadin kamaa sallayta a ala Ibrahim wa  a ala aali Ibrahim innaka hameedun majeed, Allahumma baarik a ala Muhammadin wa aala aali Muhammadin kamaa baarakta a ala Ibrahim wa aala aali Ibrahim innaka hameedun majeed.”

English Translation : O Allah! Send blessings upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad as You sent blessings upon Abraham and upon the family of Abraham; indeed, You are praiseworthy and glorious. O Allah! Bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as You blessed Abraham and the family of Abraham; indeed, You are praiseworthy and glorious.

3 – Say third Takbeer. You can either choose to raise your hands again up to your earlobes or leave them as is. Both are permissible.

اللهُـمِّ اغْفِـرْ لِحَيِّـنا وَمَيِّتِـنا وَشـاهِدِنا ، وَغائِبِـنا ، وَصَغيـرِنا وَكَبيـرِنا ، وَذَكَـرِنا وَأُنْثـانا. اللهُـمِّ مَنْ أَحْيَيْـتَهُ مِنّا فَأَحْيِـهِ عَلى الإِسْلام ،وَمَنْ تَوَفَّـيْتَهُ مِنّا فَتَوَفَّـهُ عَلى الإِيـمان

Allaahumma ighfir lihayyinaa, wa mayyitinaa, wa shaahidinaa, wa ghaa-ibinaa, wa sagheerinaa, wa kabeerinaa, wa dhakarinaa wa unthaanaa. Allaahumma man ahyaytahoo minnaa fa ahyihee alal islaam wa man tawaffaytahoo minnaa fatawaffahoo alal iemaan.

Translation: Oh Allah ! Forgive those of us that are alive and those of us that are dead; those of us that are present, and those of us who are absent: those of that are young, and those of us that are adults; our males and females. Oh Allah! Whomsoever of us You keep alive, let him live as a follower of Islam, and whomsoever You cause to die, let him die as a Believer.

If the deceased is a male child, the invocation is:

Allaahumma ij’alhu lanaa faratan, wa j’alhu lanaa ajran wa dhukharn wa j’alhu lanaa shaafi’an wa mushaffa’an. 

If the deceased is a female child, the invocation is :

Allaahumma ij’alhu lanaa faratan, wa j’alhaa lanaa ajraan wa dhukhran wa j’alhaa lanaa shaafi’atan wa mushaffa’atan. 

Translation: Oh Allah, make him/her (this child) a source for our salvation; and make him/her a source of reward and treasure for us; and make him/her an intercessor for us, and one whose intercession is accepted.

4 – Say fourth Takbeer and pause for a little while. You can either choose to raise your hands again up to your earlobes or leave them as is. Both are permissible. Some scholars say to recite general supplications for yourself, family, friends, and all Muslims during this period.

5 – Then end by saying one Tasleem to the right (‘Assalaamu ‘alaykum wa rahmat-Allaah’). Doing it on both sides as in regular prayer is also ok.