Salat al-Janazah is the final right a Muslim owes another Muslim. Brief in motion, profound in mercy — here is how to perform it, step by step.
Salat al-Janazah (Arabic: صلاة الجنازة) is one of the most touching acts of worship in Islam — the funeral prayer offered for a deceased Muslim before burial. The Prophet ﷺ described it as the right a Muslim has upon his brother. Among the six rights of a Muslim he ﷺ listed: "When he dies, follow his funeral." (Sahih Muslim 2162).
Unlike the five daily prayers, the Janazah prayer has no ruku' or sujud. It is performed entirely standing, consists of four takbeerat, and is concluded with a single (or two) salam. It is typically completed in under five minutes — brief in form, immense in mercy.
Salat al-Janazah is fard kifayah — an obligation that, if performed by a sufficient number of Muslims, is lifted from the rest of the community. But if every member of the community fails to attend, every one of them bears the sin. This is the same status given to responding to the salam, learning beneficial knowledge, and answering an invitation. It is the community's collective accountability before Allah.
The structure was established by the Prophet ﷺ and preserved by the Companions. After the opening takbeer (which is the takbeerat al-ihram and signals entry into the prayer), three more takbeerat follow. Between them:
The deceased's wasiyyah (will) may designate an imam. In its absence, the wali (closest male relative) is the most entitled — though he may yield to a more knowledgeable person, the local imam, or a scholar. The imam stands level with the head of a male deceased and level with the middle (waist) of a female deceased, per the hadith of Anas ibn Malik (Abu Dawud 3194 — sahih per al-Albani).
The congregation forms straight rows behind the imam, ideally in an odd number: one, three, five or seven. Malik ibn Hubayrah narrated: "Whoever is prayed over by three rows is forgiven." (Abu Dawud 3166). The bier is placed between the rows and the qiblah.
The Prophet ﷺ said: "Whoever attends the funeral until the prayer is offered has the reward of a qirat. And whoever attends until the burial has the reward of two qirats." When asked what a qirat was, he ﷺ replied: "Like two great mountains." (Sahih al-Bukhari 1325). Mountains of reward — earned in under thirty minutes, simply by walking with the dead.
Yes. Aisha (RA) prayed the Janazah of Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas in the mosque (Sahih Muslim). The majority of scholars permit women to attend the prayer itself. Women's attendance at the burial is debated; the majority discourage it without prohibiting it outright.
Non-Muslims may attend the burial as a sign of respect, but the Janazah prayer itself is offered only for Muslims and by Muslims. A non-Muslim is welcome to stand beside the grave during burial and offer their own respects.
Join immediately at whatever takbeer you arrive at. After the imam concludes with salam, complete the remaining takbeerat (with the recitations of each) on your own. Some scholars allow completing only the remaining takbeerat without their recitations if the funeral is leaving — both views have support.
Yes. Salat al-Janazah is a salah and all the conditions of salah apply — wudu, covering 'awrah, facing the qiblah and freedom from impurity. The same conditions that invalidate any prayer invalidate this one.
The four schools differ. The Hanafi and Maliki view: pray only if the child cried (a sign of life). The Shafi'i and Hanbali view: pray if the child reached four months of fetal development (when the soul is breathed in). Consult your local scholar.