Janaza Namaz Ka Tarika – Funeral Prayer Step by Step (Urdu & English)

What is the Janaza Prayer?

Salat al-Janazah is the prayer offered for a deceased Muslim before burial. Unlike the regular prayers, it has no bowing (ruku') and no prostration (sujud) — it is performed standing, and it consists of four takbirs. Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet ﷺ offered the funeral prayer for An-Najashi and said four takbirs.

— Sahih al-Bukhari 1333

The scholars hold that offering it is a communal obligation (fard kifayah): if a group of Muslims performs it, the obligation is lifted from the rest.

The Reward of the Funeral Prayer

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Whoever attends the funeral procession till he offers the funeral prayer for it, will get a reward equal to one qirat, and whoever accompanies it till burial, will get a reward equal to two qirats." It was asked, "What are two qirats?" He replied, "Like two huge mountains."

— Sahih al-Bukhari 1325; Sahih Muslim 945

Janaza Namaz Ka Tarika – Step by Step

Step 1: Stand in rows behind the Imam

The deceased is placed in front of the Imam. Make the intention in your heart of praying the funeral prayer for the deceased. The Imam stands level with the middle of the body when the deceased is a woman, as the Prophet ﷺ stood by the middle of the coffin when he led the funeral prayer of a woman (Sahih al-Bukhari 1331).

Step 2: First Takbir – recite Surah Al-Fatiha

Raise your hands and say the first takbir: "Allahu Akbar". Then recite Surah Al-Fatiha quietly. Talha ibn 'Abdullah ibn 'Awf narrated: "I offered the funeral prayer behind Ibn 'Abbas and he recited Al-Fatiha and said, 'You should know that it (i.e. recitation of Al-Fatiha) is the tradition of the Prophet ﷺ.'"

— Sahih al-Bukhari 1335

Step 3: Second Takbir – send blessings on the Prophet ﷺ

Say the second takbir (without raising the hands, as is the practice of many scholars), then recite the salat upon the Prophet ﷺ — the same Darood Ibrahim that is recited in the tashahhud of the regular prayer: "Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammadin wa 'ala ali Muhammad..."

Step 4: Third Takbir – dua for the deceased

Say the third takbir, then make sincere dua for the deceased. 'Awf ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet ﷺ offered a funeral prayer and he memorised this dua from it:

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 دَارًا خَيْرًا مِنْ دَارِهِ، وَأَهْلاً خَيْرًا مِنْ أَهْلِهِ، وَزَوْجًا خَيْرًا مِنْ زَوْجِهِ، وَأَدْخِلْهُ الْجَنَّةَ، وَأَعِذْهُ مِنْ عَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ وَعَذَابِ النَّارِ

"O Allah, forgive him and have mercy on him, grant him well-being and pardon him. Honour his reception and expand his entry. Wash him with water, snow and hail, and cleanse him of sins as a white garment is cleansed of dirt. Give him a home better than his home, a family better than his family and a spouse better than his spouse. Admit him to Paradise, and protect him from the punishment of the grave and the punishment of the Fire."
— Sahih Muslim 963

Step 5: Fourth Takbir – then Salam

Say the fourth takbir, pause briefly (you may continue making dua), and then end the prayer with the salam, turning the head to the right (and to the left, according to many scholars).

If the Funeral Prayer Is Missed

If a person misses the funeral prayer in congregation, it is permissible to offer it at the grave. Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that a man (or woman) who used to clean the mosque died, and the Prophet ﷺ was not informed. When he found out, he said: "Show me his grave." He then went to his grave and offered the funeral prayer.

— Sahih al-Bukhari 1336

Important Notes

• The whole prayer is performed standing — there is no ruku' or sujud in the Janaza prayer.
• If the deceased is a woman, the words of the dua are adjusted to the feminine form (e.g. "Allahummaghfir laha warhamha...").
• After the prayer, accompanying the deceased to the burial completes the reward of two qirats (Sahih al-Bukhari 1325).