FUNERAL PAYER

Do join the funeral prayers. The funeral prayers is a petition of mercy for the deceased and this is a duty which everyone owes to the dead. If you fear the funeral prayers will be over by the time you have performed ablutions, then perform ' Tayammum' and join the prayers at once.

The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) has observed:

" Do say the funeral prayers. May be this prayer induces feelings of sorrow in you. A sorrowful man remains under the shadow of God and welcomes every pious deed". (Hakim)

The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) also affirmed:
"The deceased whose funeral prayers are offered by three lines of Muslims will certainly be admitted to Paradise". (Abu Dawud)

At the time of saying funeral prayers, put the bier on the ground so that the head is towards the north, the feet towards the south and the face of the dead is turned in the direction of the Qiblah.

If you are leading the funeral prayer, stand facing the bosom of the dead.

The number of lines in a funeral prayer must be odd. A single line would suffice if those present at the funeral prayer are few, but if there are enough present, fall in three. As the number of people increases, form more lines, yet the number of lines should be kept odd.

Make a resolve in your mind before starting the funeral prayer that you are saying the funeral prayers to beg Mercy from the Kind and Beneficent Lord for the deceased. The Imam as well as the followers should make this resolve.

Whatever the Imam says in the funeral prayer, the followers must repeat the same. The followers should not keep silent. However, the Imam should say ' Takbirs ' in the loud voice and the followers should repeat them in a low sound.

Say four Takbirs in the funeral prayer. Raise your hands up to the ears while saying the first Takbir and then fold them on your abdomen and offer praise to God

Subhanakallhumma wa bihamdika wa tabarakasmuka wa ta'ala jadduka wa jalla sana'ukawala ilaha ghairuk.
" God ! Thou art pure and Supreme. High praise and Thanksgiving is due to Thee. Thy Name is the Most Blessed one and the Bestower of Good. Thy Exaltedness and Glory art Most High. Thy Praise is Great and there is deity except Thee".

Now say the second ' Takbir ' but do not raise your hands, nor make a motion of the head. At the end of the second ' Takbir ' recite teh 'Darud'

Allahumma Salli 'ala Muhammadin wa 'ala ali Muhammadin kama sallaita 'ala Ibrahima wa 'ala-ali Ibrhima innaka Hamid-um-majid. Allahumma barik 'ala Muhammadin wa 'ala ali Muhammadin kama barikta 'ala Ibrahima wa 'ala-ali Ibrhima innaka Hamid-um-majid.
" God : May Thy peace and blessing be upon Muhammad and his family, as Thou sent Thy peace and blessing upon Ibrahim and his family. Without doubt Thou possesseth the the greatest attributes and art Most High. God ! May Thy peace and blessings be upon Muhammad and his family, as Thou sent peace and blessing upon Ibrahim and his family. Without doubt Thou possesseth the greatest attributes and art Most High.
Now say the third ' Takbir ' without raising your hands and offer a prayer with prescribed supplication to beg mercy form the Lord for the dead. Finally , say the fourth ' Takbir 'and say ' Salam ' turning the head to right and left.

If the deceased is an adult male or female, say this prayer after the third ' Takbir

Allahummaghfir lihayyina wa mayyitina wa shahidina wa gha'ibina wa saghirina wa kabeerina wa zakarina wa unsana. Allaumma man-ahyaitahu minna faahyihi alal-islam wa man tawaffaitahu minna fatawaffahu alal-iman.
" God ! Show mercy to our living, to our dead, to those who are present with us here us here and to those who are not present, to our Youngsters, to our elders, to our men and to our women. God ! Whomsoever it pleases Thee to keep alive among us, keep him alive as faithful of Islam and upon whomsoever it pleases Thee to send death, let him die in faith".

If the deceased is a minor boy, say this prayer

Allahummaj'alhu lana faratan waj'alhu lana ajran wa zukhran waj'alhu lana shafi'an wa mushaffa'a.

" God ! Let this body serve as a means of Thy grant of salvation to us and let him be a repository of our reward and welfare in the eternal world and let him be our successful intercessor".

If the deceased is a minor girl, say this prayer. The meaning of this prayer is identical with the prayer offered for the body.

Allahummaj'alhu lana faratan waj'alhu lana ajran wa zukhran waj'alhu lana shafi'atan wa mushaffa'atan.
" God ! Let this body serve as a means of Thy grant of salvation to us and let him be a repository of our reward and welfare in the eternal world and let him be our successful intercessor".

While going along with a funeral procession think over your own end and visualise that as you are proceeding to commit the deceased to earth, in the same way others will be proceeding one day to bury you in the earth. In this pensive and thoughtful frame of mind, you will gain the favour of remembering your ultimate end for some time at least and the worries and cares of the world will vanish from your mind.

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