Janaza Prayer Steps Guide
The Janaza prayer is the funeral prayer for a deceased Muslim. It is prayed standing in rows, with four Takbeers, and it has no Ruku and no Sajdah.
Etiquette and important points
- Stand in straight rows behind the Imam, as in a normal congregational prayer.
- There is no Ruku and no Sajdah in the Janaza prayer — you stand for all four Takbeers.
- Keep your hands folded as in normal prayer after every Takbeer.
- The Imam says each Takbeer loudly; you repeat it silently and recite what belongs after it.
- After the prayer, make dua quietly for the deceased. Follow local burial customs with respect.
- For a female deceased, the Imam stands opposite her middle; for a male, opposite his head. The dua wording changes slightly (him/her), which is shown in the reference below.
Full reference
Make the intention in your heart: "I am praying the Janaza prayer for this deceased, behind the Imam, for the sake of Allah."
Raise your hands and say the first Takbeer with the Imam: "Allahu Akbar" — Allah is the Greatest.
"Subhanakallahumma wa bihamdika wa tabarakasmuka wa taala jadduka wa jalla thanauka wa la ilaha ghairuk"
Meaning: "Glory be to You, O Allah, and praise be to You. Blessed is Your name, exalted is Your majesty, and there is no god but You."
"Allahumma salli ala Muhammadin wa ala ali Muhammadin kama sallayta ala Ibrahima wa ala ali Ibrahima innaka hamidum majid. Allahumma barik ala Muhammadin wa ala ali Muhammadin kama barakta ala Ibrahima wa ala ali Ibrahima innaka hamidum majid."
Meaning: "O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You sent blessings upon Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. Indeed You are Praiseworthy and Glorious. O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. Indeed You are Praiseworthy and Glorious."
Choose any of these duas. Replace "him" wording with "her" wording for a female deceased.
1. "Allahummaghfir lahu warhamhu wa afihi wafu anhu wa akrim nuzulahu wa wassi madkhalahu"
Meaning: "O Allah, forgive him, have mercy on him, grant him health, pardon him, honor his arrival, and make his entrance spacious."
2. "Allahummaghfir li hayyina wa mayyitina wa saghirina wa kabirina wa dhakarina wa unthana wa shahidina wa ghaibina"
Meaning: "O Allah, forgive our living and our dead, our young and our old, our men and our women, our present and our absent."
3. "Allahumma man ahyaytahu minna fa ahyihi alal Islam wa man tawaffaytahu minna fa tawaffahu alal iman"
Meaning: "O Allah, whoever You keep alive among us, keep him alive upon Islam, and whoever You cause to die among us, cause him to die upon faith."
"Allahu Akbar" — then pause silently. Nothing specific is recited here; you may make a short personal dua if you wish.
"Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah" — turn your face to the right.
Meaning: "Peace and mercy of Allah be upon you." Turning to the right ends the prayer. The Imam may also turn to the left; follow the Imam.