Why Do Muslims Solat Jenazah?

When we entered this world, our fathers gave the azan (Islamic call to prayer). Upon our departure from this world, a prayer will be performed. The fleeting nature of life calls us to love and care for one another. 

There may be sins we have yet to ask Allah s.w.t for forgiveness for, but Islam has prescribed a way for us to pray for the departed—seeking forgiveness for their sins and blessings on their behalf. This prayer is to be performed only after the necessary preparations and rituals have been completed, which include washing and shrouding the deceased's body. The Jenazah Prayer is Fardu Kifayah, meaning it is a communal obligation. This implies that if one person fulfils this responsibility, the obligation is lifted from the entire community.

This prayer reaffirms our faith in Allah s.w.t. As Muslims, we believe that every action is an opportunity for reflection, and death, in particular, brings us a chance to renew our faith. Deep down, we know that life is temporary, yet we often become negligent of the consequences of our actions. This act of worship reminds us of the fleeting nature of life and can inspire us to be more mindful of how we live and what we leave behind.

Solat Jenazah is a form of prayer, and like all acts of worship, it requires proper preparations. These preparations can be divided into two categories: 1) the preparation of the prayer area and 2) the individual preparations.

First, the prayer area must be clean and pure. It is important to ensure that the space where the prayer will take place is free from any impurities. Second, those performing the prayer must be Muslims who are Mumayyiz (able to discern right from wrong, typically from the ages of 7 or 10) and in a state of ritual purity, meaning they must be free from janabah (major impurity) or hadath (minor impurity).

To prepare for this prayer, one must start by performing wudhu (ablution), ensuring physical and spiritual cleanliness.

Now that the area and personal preparations are complete, and everyone is solemnly and patiently waiting for the prayer to commence, certain questions arise: who should lead the prayer (Imam)? Who is the best person to lead the prayers for the deceased lying before them? 

Ideally, the husband should serve as the Imam if the deceased is his wife. Next, the responsibility falls on the wali (custodian) to be the Imam, which refers to the father or paternal grandfathers of the deceased. If neither is present, the responsibility falls on any of the sons present. Next in line are the male siblings. This is why we must equip ourselves with the knowledge to perform this prayer. The wisdom behind it is to ensure that only our sincerest prayers will accompany our departed family member, as only these sincere prayers will be answered by Allah s.w.t.

Positioning of the Deceased’s Body

Once an Imam has been appointed to lead the prayer, we must know how to position the body. There are several pointers we need to take note: 

1. First, the body must be placed in front of the Imam, not behind. 

2. Second, the distance between the body and the Imam must not exceed 150 meters. Should the distance between the body and the Imam, or the final saf (row) to the one in front of it, exceed the limits of 150 meters, then the prayer is deemed invalid. Do note that the body’s right side should face the qiblah. Hence, congregants are strongly encouraged to close the gap in their respective rows (saf). 

Position of the Imam and Congregants During Solat Jenazah

If the deceased is male, the Imam stands nearer towards the head. If the deceased is a female, the Imam should stand nearer to the waist area. The makmum (congregants) would stand behind the Imam. Additionally, it is recommended for the congregants to arrange themselves in a minimum of 3 rows. Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. mentioned in a hadith:

ما مِن مسلمٍ يموتُ فَيُصَلِّي عليه ثلاثةُ صفوفٍ من المسلمينَ إلا أَوْجَبَ
“If any Muslim dies and three rows of Muslims pray over him, it will assure him (of Paradise).”

(Musnad Ahmad) 

Let us now dive into the method of praying for the Jenazah. This includes three simple steps. 
1. Niat (intention)
2. Recite four takbir while standing
3. Give salam 

3 Steps to Pray Solat Jenazah

Step 1: Set Intention (Niat)

The first step is to set the intention. As mentioned in Al-Fiqh Al-Manhaji, the intention must be present in his mind that he is performing the prayer with four takbir upon this deceased as a communal obligation (fardu kifayah). While specific wordings are commonly used, the most important aspect is the sincerity of intention in one’s heart. The intention can be made in any language as long as the meaning is clear to the person making the prayer.

Niat for a Male Deceased
أُصَلِّيَ عَلَى هَذَا الْمَيِّتِ أَرْبَعَ تَكْبِيرَاتٍ فَرْضَ كِفَايَةٍ لله تَعَالَى
Usalli ‘ala hadzal-mayyiti arba‘a takbiratin fardha kifayah lillahi ta‘ala.
“I intend to perform the funeral prayer for this deceased male with four takbirs as a communal obligation for the sake of Allah, the Most High.”

Niat for a Female Deceased
أُصَلِّيَ عَلَى هَذِهِ الْمَيِّتَةِ أَرْبَعَ تَكْبِيرَاتٍ فَرْضَ كِفَايَةٍ لله تَعَالَى
Usalli ‘ala hadzihil-mayyitah arba‘a takbiratin fardha kifayah lillahi ta‘ala.
“I intend to perform the funeral prayer for this deceased female with four takbirs as a communal obligation for the sake of Allah, the Most High.

Niat for a Group of Deceased (Male and/or Female)
أُصَلِّيَ عَلَى هَؤُلَاءِ الْأَمْوَاتِ أَرْبَعَ تَكْبِيرَاتٍ فَرْضَ كِفَايَةٍ لله تَعَالَى
Usalli ‘ala ha’ula’i al-amwat arba‘a takbiratin fardha kifayah lillahi ta‘ala.
“I intend to perform the funeral prayer for these deceased individuals with four takbirs as a communal obligation for the sake of Allah, the Most High.”

Step 2: Recite Four Takbir

After setting the right intention, the next step is to begin the prayers with Takbiratul Ihram. To do this, raise your hands so that your thumbs are on the same level as your earlobes and your palms are on the same level as your shoulder. Then, say 'Allahu Akbar' while keeping your intention in mind.

After the first takbir, place your right hand over your left hand, with your hands placed anywhere below the chest and above your navel area. Surah Al-Fatihah is then recited silently.

بِسمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحمٰنِ الرَّحيمِ.
Bismillāhir-Raḥmānir-Raḥīm.
الحَمدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ العالَمينَ
Alḥamdulillāhi Rabbil-ʿālamīn
الرَّحمٰنِ الرَّحيمِ
Ar-Raḥmānir-Raḥīm
مالِكِ يَومِ الدّينِإِ
Māliki yawmid-dīn
يّاكَ نَعبُدُ وَإِيّاكَ نَستَعينُ
iyyāKa naʿbudu wa-iyyāKa nastaʿīn
 اهدِنَا الصِّراطَ المُستَقيمَ
Ihdināṣ-ṣirāṭal-mustaqīm
صِراطَ الَّذِينَ أَنعَمتَ عَلَيهِم غَيرِ المَغضُوبِ عَلَيهِم وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ
ṣirāṭallazīna anʿamta ʿalayhim ghayril-maghḍūbi ʿalayhim wa-lāḍḍāllīn

  ______

In the name of God The Most Compassionate and Merciful.
Praise be to Allah, Lord of all the worlds.
The Compassionate, The Merciful. Ruler on the Day of Reckoning.
You alone do we worship, and You alone do we ask for help.
Guide us along the straight path,
the path of those on whom You have bestowed Your Grace,
not those You are displeased with, or those who are astray.

Amin.
 ______

After the second takbir, selawat is recited upon the Prophet s.a.w. The Selawat Ibrahimiyah is highly recommended. 

اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى سَيِّدِنَا إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَى آلِ سَيِّدِنَا إِبْرَاهِيمَ، وَبَارِكْ عَلَى سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى سَيِّدِنَا إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَى آلِ سَيِّدِنَا إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ.
Allahumma salli ‘ala Sayyidina Muhammadin wa ‘ala ali Sayyidina Muhammadin kama sallayta ‘ala Sayyidina Ibrahima wa ‘ala ali Sayyidina Ibrahima, wa barik ‘ala Sayyidina Muhammadin wa ‘ala ali Sayyidina Muhammadin kama barakta ‘ala Sayyidina Ibrahima wa ‘ala ali Sayyidina Ibrahima innaka Hamidun Majid.

The third takbir represents the main purpose of this prayer - the recitation of supplications for the deceased. 

اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لَهُ وَارْحَمْهُ وَعَافِهِ وَاعْفُ عَنْهُ
Allahumma aghfir lahu warhamhu, wa ‘afihi wa’fu ‘anhu,
“O Allah, forgive him, have mercy on him, pardon him, and grant him security.”

For a female deceased
اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لَهَا وَارْحَمْهَا، وَعَافِهَا وَاعْفُ عَنْهَا
Allahumma aghfir laha warhamha, wa ‘afiha wa‘fu ‘anha.
“O Allah, forgive her, have mercy on her, pardon her, and grant her security.”

For a group of deceased
اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لَهُمْ وَارْحَمْهُمْ، وَعَافِهِمْ وَاعْفُ عَنْهُمْ
Allahumma aghfir lahum warhamhum, wa ‘afihim wa‘fu ‘anhum.
“O Allah, forgive them, have mercy on them, pardon them, and grant them security.”
 

And in the final takbir, we recite:

اللَّهُمَّ لَا تَحْرِمْنَا أَجْرَهُ وَلَا تَفْتِنَّا بَعْدَهُ وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا وَلَهُ
Allahumma la tahrimna ajrahu wa la taftinna ba‘dahu, waghfir lana walahu.
”O Allah, do not deny us the reward (for our patience over his loss), and do not subject us to trials after him, and forgive us and him.”

For a female deceased
اللَّهُمَّ لَا تَحْرِمْنَا أَجْرَهَا وَلَا تَفْتِنَّا بَعْدَهَا، وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا وَلَهَا
Allahumma la tahrimna ajraha wa la taftinna ba‘daha, waghfir lana walahaa.
”O Allah, do not deny us the reward (for our patience over her loss), and do not subject us to trials after her, and forgive us and her.”

For a group of deceased
اللَّهُمَّ لَا تَحْرِمْنَا أَجْرَهُمْ وَلَا تَفْتِنَّا بَعْدَهُمْ، وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا وَلَهُمْ
Allahumma la tahrimna ajrahum wa la taftinna ba‘dahum, waghfir lana walahum.
”O Allah, do not deny us the reward (for our patience over their loss), and do not subject us to trials after them, and forgive us and them.”

Step 3: Conclude Prayer by Giving Salam

You then complete the prayer by turning your head first over your right shoulder, saying: 

السَّلَامُ عَلَيكُم وَرَحمَةُ اللهِ
Assalamualaikum warahmatullah
Peace and blessings upon you

Then, repeat these words while turning your head over your left shoulder. 

If we are unable to join the Imam from the beginning of the prayer—such as joining him during the second or third takbir—we should follow the Imam and recite the appropriate prayers for the takbir we are joining. Once the Imam completes the salam, we should continue with the remaining takbirs to finish our prayer.

Alhamdulillah, upon completing the funeral prayer for the deceased, we have gained a reward equivalent to one qirat. As mentioned in a hadith:

مَنِ اتَّبَعَ جَنَازَةَ مُسْلِمٍ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا، وَكَانَ مَعَهُ حَتَّى يُصَلَّى عَلَيْهَا، وَيَفْرُغَ مِنْ دَفْنِهَا، فَإِنَّهُ يَرْجِعُ مِنَ الأَجْرِ بِقِيرَاطَيْنِ، كُلُّ قِيرَاطٍ مِثْلُ أُحُدٍ، وَمَنْ صَلَّى عَلَيْهَا ثُمَّ رَجَعَ قَبْلَ أَنْ تُدْفَنَ فَإِنَّهُ يَرْجِعُ بِقِيرَاطٍ
“Whoever follows the funeral procession of a Muslim with faith and seeking reward from Allah s.w.t, and remains with it until the prayer is performed and the burial is completed, will return with the reward of two qirats, each qirat being as great as Mount Uhud. And whoever prays over the deceased but leaves before the burial, will return with the reward of one qirat.”

(Sahih Bukhari) 

Perform Solat Jenazah in Absentia for a Deceased

Now that we have covered the steps to perform the funeral prayer, it's important to consider situations where the deceased may pass away in a distant country. In Singapore, where most of our loved ones are located nearby, we generally have easy access to them and can attend funerals easily. However, there may be times when we cannot be present, especially if a loved one passes away abroad. In such cases, travelling in time for the funeral prayers can be challenging. Alhamduillah, the Prophet s.a.w. has allowed Muslims to conduct the Jenazah Prayer in absentia. 

This is in accordance with a hadith narrated by Abu Huraira r.a:

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم نَعَى النَّجَاشِيَّ فِي الْيَوْمِ الَّذِي مَاتَ فِيهِ، خَرَجَ إِلَى الْمُصَلَّى، فَصَفَّ بِهِمْ وَكَبَّرَ أَرْبَعًا
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) informed (the people) about the death of An-Najashi on the very day he died. He went towards the Musalla (praying place) and the people stood behind him in rows. He said four Takbir (i.e. offered the Funeral prayer). 

(Sahih Bukhari and Muslim)

The funeral prayer in absentia is permissible as long as the deceased was a Muslim at the time of death. However, Dr Wahbah Az-Zuhaili, in his book Fiqhul Islam wa Adillatuhu, opined that the period allowed to perform this prayer is limited to a maximum of one month after the deceased’s passing.

There are two conditions that we need to observe when performing this prayer:

1. The jenazah prayer in absentia should be conducted in a location different from where the deceased is.
2. The prayer should only be performed once the deceased has been ritually bathed.

The methods of praying the jenazah prayer compared to absentia are the same. The only difference is the absence of the deceased body before the Imam.

Additionally, the recitations for the third and fourth takbir may vary, with longer versions of the Dua available. 
For dua after the third takbir, you may recite:

اللهُـمِّ اغْفِـرْ لَهُ وَارْحَمْـه ، وَعافِهِ وَاعْفُ عَنْـه ، وَأَكْـرِمْ نُزُلَـه ، وَوَسِّـعْ مُدْخَـلَه ، وَاغْسِلْـهُ بِالْمـاءِ وَالثَّـلْجِ وَالْبَـرَدْ ، وَنَقِّـهِ مِنَ الْخطـايا كَما نَـقّيْتَ الـثَّوْبَ الأَبْيَـضَ مِنَ الدَّنَـسْ ، وَأَبْـدِلْهُ داراً خَـيْراً مِنْ دارِه ، وَأَهْلاً خَـيْراً مِنْ أَهْلِـه ، وَزَوْجَـاً خَـيْراً مِنْ زَوْجِه ، وَأَدْخِـلْهُ الْجَـنَّة ، وَأَعِـذْهُ مِنْ عَذابِ القَـبْر [وَعَذابِ النّـار]

Allahumma-ghfir lahu warhamhu, wa ‘afihi wa‘fu ‘anhu, wa akrim nuzulahu, wa wassi‘ mudkhalahu, waghsilhu bil-ma’i wath-thalji wal-barad, wanaqqihi minal-khataya kama naqqayta ath-thawba al-abyada minad-danas, wa abdilhu daran khayran min darihi, wa ahlan khayran min ahlihi, wa zawjan khayran min zawjihi, wa adkhilhul-jannah, wa a‘idhhu min ‘adhabil-qabri [wa ‘adhabin-nar].
--
O Allah, forgive him and have mercy on him, and give him strength and pardon him. Be generous to him, expand his entrance, and wash him with water, s now, and hail. Purify him of sins as white cloth is purified of stains. Grant him an abode better than his earthly home, and a family better than his earthly family, and a spouse better than his earthly spouse. Admit him into Paradise, and protect him from the punishment of the grave [and from the torment of the fire]. 

(Muslim)

For dua after the fourth and final takbir, you may recite:

اللهُـمِّ اغْفِـرْ لِحَيِّـنا وَمَيِّتِـنا، وَشـاهِدِنا وَغائِبِـنا ، وَصَغيـرِنا وَكَبيـرِنا ، وَذَكَـرِنا وَأُنْثـانا . اللهُـمِّ مَنْ أَحْيَيْـتَهُ مِنّا فَأَحْيِـهِ عَلى الإِسْلام ، وَمَنْ تَوَفَّـيْتَهُ مِنّا فَتَوَفَّـهُ عَلى الإِيـمان ، اللهُـمِّ لا تَحْـرِمْنـا أَجْـرَه ، وَلا تُضِـلَّنا بَعْـدَه
Allahumma-ghfir lahu warhamhu, wa ‘afihi wa‘fu ‘anhu, wa akrim nuzulahu, wa wassi‘ mudkhalahu, waghsilhu bil-ma’i wath-thalji wal-barad, wanaqqihi minal-khataya kama naqqayta ath-thawba al-abyada minad-danas, wa abdilhu daran khayran min darihi, wa ahlan khayran min ahlihi, wa zawjan khayran min zawjihi, wa adkhilhul-jannah, wa a‘idhhu min ‘adhabil-qabri [wa ‘adhabin-nar].
O Allah forgive our living and our dead, those who are present with us and those who are absent, our young and our old, our men and our women. O Allah, whomever you allow to live among us, let them live in Islam, and whomever you take away from us, take them in a state of faith. O Allah, do not deprive us of their reward and do not send us astray after them. 

(Sunan Ibn Majah)

For Female Deceased
اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لَهَا وَارْحَمْهَا، وَعَافِهَا وَاعْفُ عَنْهَا، وَأَكْرِمْ نُزُلَهَا، وَوَسِّعْ مُدْخَلَهَا، وَاغْسِلْهَا بِالْمَاءِ وَالثَّلْجِ وَالْبَرَدِ، وَنَقِّهَا مِنَ الْخَطَايَا كَمَا نَقَّيْتَ الثَّوْبَ الْأَبْيَضَ مِنَ الدَّنَسِ، وَأَبْدِلْهَا دَارًا خَيْرًا مِنْ دَارِهَا، وَأَهْلًا خَيْرًا مِنْ أَهْلِهَا، وَزَوْجًا خَيْرًا مِنْ زَوْجِهَا، وَأَدْخِلْهَا الْجَنَّةَ، وَأَعِذْهَا مِنْ عَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ [وَعَذَابِ النَّارِ].
Allahumma aghfir laha warhamha, wa ‘afiha wa‘fu ‘anha, wa akrim nuzulaha, wa wassi‘ mudkhalaha, waghsilha bil-ma’i wath-thalji wal-barad, wanaqqiha minal-khataya kama naqqayta ath-thawba al-abyada minad-danas, wa abdilha daran khayran min dariha, wa ahlan khayran min ahliha, wa zawjan khayran min zawjiha, wa adkhilhul-jannah, wa a‘idhha min ‘adhabil-qabri [wa ‘adhabin-nar].

Upon the completion of the prayer, the Imam may recite additional supplications taken from the teachings of the Prophet s.a.w:

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ، وَالصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَى أَشْرَفِ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ وَالْمُرْسَلِينَ سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ أَجْمَعِينَ. اللهُـمِّ اغْفِـرْ لَهُ وَارْحَمْـه ، وَعافِهِ وَاعْفُ عَنْـه ، وَأَكْـرِمْ نُزُلَـه ، وَوَسِّـعْ مُدْخَـلَه ، وَاغْسِلْـهُ بِالْمـاءِ وَالثَّـلْجِ وَالْبَـرَدْ ، وَنَقِّـهِ مِنَ الْخطـايا كَما نَـقّيْتَ الـثَّوْبَ الأَبْيَـضَ مِنَ الدَّنَـسْ ، وَأَبْـدِلْهُ داراً خَـيْراً مِنْ دارِه ، وَأَهْلاً خَـيْراً مِنْ أَهْلِـه ، وَزَوْجَـاً خَـيْراً مِنْ زَوْجِه ، وَأَدْخِـلْهُ الْجَـنَّة ، وَأَعِـذْهُ مِنْ عَذابِ القَـبْر وَعَذابِ النّـار. اللهُـمِّ اغْفِـرْ لِحَيِّـنا وَمَيِّتِـنا، وَشـاهِدِنا وَغائِبِـنا ، وَصَغيـرِنا وَكَبيـرِنا ، وَذَكَـرِنا وَأُنْثـانا . اللهُـمِّ مَنْ أَحْيَيْـتَهُ مِنّا فَأَحْيِـهِ عَلى الإِسْلام ، وَمَنْ تَوَفَّـيْتَهُ مِنّا فَتَوَفَّـهُ عَلى الإِيـمان ، اللهُـمِّ لا تَحْـرِمْنـا أَجْـرَه ، وَلا تُضِـلَّنا بَعْـدَه اللهُـمِّ عَبْـدُكَ وَابْنُ أَمَـتِك، احْتـاجَ إِلى رَحْمَـتِك، وَأَنْتَ غَنِـيٌّ عَنْ عَذابِـه، إِنْ كانَ مُحْـسِناً فَزِدْ في حَسَـناتِه، وَإِنْ كانَ مُسـيئاً فَتَـجاوَزْ عَنْـه.
رَبَّنَآ ءَاتِنَا فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةًۭ وَفِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ حَسَنَةًۭ وَقِنَا عَذَابَ ٱلنَّارِ.
وَصَلَّى اللهُ عَلَى سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ أَجْمَعِينَ وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim
Alhamdu lillahi Rabbil ‘alamin, was-salatu was-salamu ‘ala ashrafil anbiya’i wal-mursalin Sayyidina Muhammadin wa ‘ala alihi wa sahbihi ajma‘in.
Allahumma aghfir lahu warhamhu, wa ‘afihi wa‘fu ‘anhu, wa akrim nuzulahu, wa wassi‘ mudkhalahu, waghsilhu bil-ma’i wath-thalji wal-barad, wanaqqihi minal-khataya kama naqqayta ath-thawba al-abyada minad-danas, wa abdilhu daran khayran min darihi, wa ahlan khayran min ahlihi, wa zawjan khayran min zawjihi, wa adkhilhul-jannah, wa a‘idhhu min ‘adhabil-qabri wa ‘adhabin-nar.
Allahumma aghfir lihayyina wa mayyitina, wa shahidina wa gha’ibina, wa saghirina wa kabirina, wa dhakarina wa unthana.
Allahumma man ahyaytahu minna fa-ahyihi ‘ala al-Islam, wa man tawaffaytahu minna fatawaffahu ‘ala al-Iman.
Allahumma la tahrimna ajrahu, wa la tudillana ba‘dahu.
Allahumma, ‘abduka wabnu amatika, ihtaja ila rahmatika, wa anta ghaniyyun ‘an ‘adhabihi, in kana muhsinan fazid fi hasanatihi, wa in kana musian fatajawaz ‘anhu.
Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanatan wa fil-akhirati hasanatan wa qina ‘adhaban-nar.

Wasallallahu ‘ala Sayyidina Muhammadin wa ‘ala alihi wa sahbihi ajma‘in, walhamdu lillahi Rabbil ‘alamin.

Which means:

“In the Name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful.
All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of all creation. May peace and blessings be upon the Prophet Muhammad, the best of all messengers, and upon his family and companions.

O Allah, forgive this person, have mercy on them, pardon their shortcomings, and grant them ease in their final resting place. Honour their return to You and make their entrance into the next life wide and welcoming. Cleanse them of their sins with water, snow, and hail, and purify them as a white garment is purified of stains. Replace their earthly home with a better home, their family with a better family, and their spouse with one more noble. Admit them into Paradise and protect them from the punishment of the grave and the torment of the Fire.

O Allah, forgive all of us—the living and the deceased, those present and those absent, the young and the old, and the men and women among us. O Allah, for those You allow to remain among us, grant them life in submission to You, and for those You take, let them depart in a state of faith. O Allah, do not deprive us of the blessings of their prayers and good deeds, and do not let us go astray after their passing.

O Allah, Your servant, who was always in Your care and mercy, is in need of Your compassion. You are free from any need to punish them. If they were righteous, increase their reward. If they fell short, forgive and overlook their mistakes.

Our Lord, bless us with goodness in this life and the Hereafter and protect us from the torment of the Fire.

May Allah send His peace and blessings upon the Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his companions. All praise belongs to Allah, the Lord of all creation.” 

Conclusion

When we attend the jenazah (funeral) rites of a fellow Muslim, there are several etiquettes (adab) and practices that can help to alleviate the grief of the bereaved family. This act of offering condolences is called takziah. It serves to console those who are deeply saddened by the passing of their loved ones, reminding them of rewards from Allah s.w.t for their patience. It encourages contentment with what has been preordained by Allah s.w.t.  

A meaningful way to offer condolences is by reciting prayers that bring comfort and hope to the grieving. For example:

إِنَّ لِلَّهِ مَا أَخَذَ وَلَهُ مَا أَعْطَى، وَكُلُّ شَيْءٍ عِنْدَهُ بِأَجَلٍ مُسَمًّى... فَلْتَصْبِرْ وَلْتَحْتَسِبْ.
Inna lillahi ma akhadh, wa lahu ma a‘ta, wa kullu shay’in ‘indahu bi ajalin musamma. faltasbir waltahtasib
“Surely, Allah takes what is His, and what He gives is His, and to all things He has appointed a time. So have patience and seek His reward.”

وَإِنْ قَالَ: "أَعْظَمَ اللَّهُ أَجْرَكَ، وَأَحْسَنَ عَزَاءَكَ، وَغَفَرَ لِمَيِّتِكَ" 
Azamallahu ajrak, wa ahsana aza’ak, wa ghafara limayyitik.
“May Allah magnify your reward, and perfect your solace, and forgive your departed.”

May this brief article inspire us to deepen our understanding of Islam, enriching ourselves and our families with blessings in this life and the hereafter. Amin.

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