Janazah prayer: how to pray the funeral prayer
The janazah (funeral) prayer, known in Urdu as namaz-e-janaza, is prayed standing, with four takbirs and no ruku‘ or sujud: Al-Fatihah, blessings on the Prophet ﷺ, du‘a for the deceased, and the salam. Here is each step, the du‘as for adults and children in Arabic with their meaning, and practical notes for UK families.
Last updated: 4 October 2026
How to pray janazah, step by step
| Step | What to do |
|---|---|
| First takbir | Raise the hands and say “Allahu Akbar”. Recite Al-Fatihah (in the Hanafi school, the opening praise “Subhanakallahumma…” is recited instead). |
| Second takbir | Send blessings on the Prophet ﷺ: the Salat al-Ibrahimiyyah, as in the final sitting of salah. |
| Third takbir | Make du‘a for the deceased (below). |
| Fourth takbir | Pause briefly, optionally making a short du‘a, then end with the salam to the right (and the left, in most schools). |
The imam says the takbirs aloud; the congregation follows silently. Make the intention to pray for the deceased person.
The dua for the deceased
اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لَهُ وَارْحَمْهُ، وَعَافِهِ، وَاعْفُ عَنْهُ، وَأَكْرِمْ نُزُلَهُ، وَوَسِّعْ مُدْخَلَهُ، وَاغْسِلْهُ بِالْمَاءِ وَالثَّلْجِ وَالْبَرَدِ، وَنَقِّهِ مِنَ الْخَطَايَا كَمَا نَقَّيْتَ الثَّوْبَ الأَبْيَضَ مِنَ الدَّنَسِ، وَأَبْدِلْهُ دَاراً خَيْراً مِنْ دَارِهِ، وَأَهْلاً خَيْراً مِنْ أَهْلِهِ، وَزَوْجَاً خَيْراً مِنْ زَوْجِهِ، وَأَدْخِلْهُ الْجَنَّةَ، وَأَعِذْهُ مِنْ عَذَابِ القَبْرِ [وَعَذَابِ النَّارِ]
“O Allah, forgive him and have mercy on him, keep him safe and pardon him, honour his place of rest and widen his entrance; wash him with water, snow and hail, and cleanse him of sin as a white garment is cleansed of dirt. Give him a home better than his home and a family better than his family. Admit him to Paradise and protect him from the punishment of the grave and the punishment of the Fire. (For a woman, the pronouns change.)”
Source: Sahih Muslim. Arabic text: Hisn al-Muslimاللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِحَيِّنَا وَمَيِّتِنَا، وَشَاهِدِنَا وَغَائِبِنَا، وَصَغِيرِنَا وَكَبيرِنَا، وَذَكَرِنَا وَأُنْثَانَا. اللَّهُمَّ مَنْ أَحْيَيْتَهُ مِنَّا فَأَحْيِهِ عَلَى الْإِسْلاَمِ، وَمَنْ تَوَفَّيْتَهُ مِنَّا فَتَوَفَّهُ عَلَى الإِيمَانِ، اللَّهُمَّ لاَ تَحْرِمْنَا أَجْرَهُ، وَلاَ تُضِلَّنَا بَعْدَهُ
“O Allah, forgive our living and our dead, those present and those absent, our young and our old, our males and our females. O Allah, whoever of us You keep alive, keep him alive upon Islam, and whoever of us You take, take him upon faith. O Allah, do not deprive us of his reward and do not let us go astray after him.”
Source: Sunan Ibn Majah and Musnad Ahmad (graded sahih). Arabic text: Hisn al-MuslimThe dua for a child
اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْهُ لَنَا فَرَطاً، وَسَلَفاً، وَأَجْراً
“O Allah, make him for us a forerunner, a precursor and a reward.”
Source: Reported from al-Hasan al-Basri in Sahih al-Bukhari (ta‘liq). Arabic text: Hisn al-MuslimFor UK families
- Islam asks for burial as soon as possible. In the UK, the death must be certified and registered first; many councils and mosques offer fast-track registration for faith burials, and Muslim funeral services can advise.
- Washing (ghusl) and shrouding are usually done by trained volunteers at the mosque or a Muslim funeral service.
- The prayer is usually held at the mosque after one of the daily prayers, or at the cemetery.
When hearing of a death, say “Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji‘un” (Al-Baqarah 2:156). For the steps of the daily prayer, see how to pray salah, and for more du‘as, our daily duas.
Frequently asked questions
Is there ruku‘ or sujud in janazah prayer?
No. The whole prayer is performed standing, with four takbirs.
Is janazah prayer obligatory?
It is a communal obligation (fard kifayah): if some of the community pray it, the obligation is lifted from the rest. The reward is great: one qirat for attending the prayer and two for staying until the burial (Sahih al-Bukhari 1325).
Can women attend janazah prayer?
Women may pray the janazah prayer; many UK mosques have space for sisters. Practice on following the funeral to the graveyard varies; follow the guidance of your local mosque.
What do I say to the family?
A common, authentic form of condolence is: “Inna lillahi ma akhadha wa lahu ma a‘ta, wa kullu shay’in ‘indahu bi ajalin musamma” (To Allah belongs what He took and what He gave, and everything with Him has an appointed time) (Sahih al-Bukhari 1284).
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