How to Perform the Funeral Prayer

Question

The funeral prayer consists of five takbirs (saying 'Allahu Akbar'). After each takbir, specific supplications are recited.

Answer 1

Peace be upon you.

Ayatollah Khamenei (may Allah protect him):

The procedure for the funeral prayer is as follows:

1. After the first takbir, recite the two testimonies of faith: "I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His messenger, peace be upon him and his family." It is preferable to say: "I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, alone without partner, the One, the Eternal, who begets not, nor is He begotten. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger, whom He sent with guidance and the religion of truth to manifest it over all religions, even if the polytheists dislike it."

2. After the second takbir, send blessings upon the Prophet and his family. It suffices to say: "O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad." The preferable form is: "O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, and grant mercy to Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, the best of what You have blessed and granted mercy to Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. Indeed, You are Praiseworthy and Glorious, and send blessings upon all prophets and messengers."

3. After the third takbir, pray for the believers, saying: "O Allah, forgive the believing men and women." The preferable form is: "O Allah, forgive the believing men and women, the living and the dead, and grant us and them goodness. Indeed, You are capable of all things."

4. After the fourth takbir, pray for the deceased, saying: "O Allah, forgive this deceased person." The preferable form is: "O Allah, this body before us is Your servant, the son of Your servant, and the son of Your maidservant. He has come to You, and You are the best of those to whom one can come. O Allah, You have taken his soul to You, and he is in need of Your mercy, while You are free from his punishment. O Allah, we know nothing of him except good, and You know him better than we do. O Allah, if he was good, increase his goodness, and if he was sinful, overlook his sins, and forgive us and him. O Allah, gather him with those who love him and are loyal to him, and distance him from those who disown him and hate him. O Allah, record him among the highest ranks, and grant him a good legacy among those who remain, and make him among the companions of Muhammad and his pure family. Have mercy on him and us with Your mercy, O Most Merciful of the merciful. O Allah, Your pardon, Your pardon, Your pardon."

If the deceased is a woman, say: "This body before us is Your maidservant, the daughter of Your servant, and the daughter of Your maidservant..." If the deceased is a child, after the fourth takbir, pray for his parents, saying: "O Allah, make him a forerunner and a reward for his parents and for us."

Then, perform the fifth takbir and conclude the prayer.

Source: Fiqh al-Wali: Rulings on the Funeral Prayer

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Ayatollah Sistani (may Allah protect him):

The funeral prayer consists of five takbirs, and the prayer for the deceased follows one of the first four takbirs. In the remaining three, one may choose between sending blessings upon the Prophet (peace be upon him), the testimonies of faith, praying for the believers, and glorifying Allah. However, it is recommended to first perform the takbir, then recite the testimonies, then perform the second takbir and send blessings upon the Prophet, then perform the third takbir and pray for the believers, then perform the fourth takbir and pray for the deceased, and finally perform the fifth takbir and conclude the prayer. It is preferable to combine the supplications after each takbir, and there is no recitation or salutation in between.

Source: Minhaj al-Salihin, Vol. 1, Funeral Prayer, Section 303

May you be successful in all good deeds.