Funeral prayer

Janazah prayer

The funeral prayer for deceased Muslims

How many rakats is Janazah?

Janazah is not counted like ordinary rakats with rukūʿ and sujūd; it is four takbīrs with prescribed supplications between them, as summarized on this page.

Rakats breakdown

Takbirs (no bowing or prostration)

Sunnah and witr in this table follow one common presentation (Hanafi) where schools differ; obligatory (fardh) rakats are the same across Sunni schools. Minor variations appear in other schools.

Overview

Janazah prayer is the funeral prayer performed for deceased Muslims. It's unique in that it has no ruku (bowing) or sujood (prostration). Instead, it consists of four Takbirs (saying Allahu Akbar) with specific supplications between them. It's a Fardh Kifayah (communal obligation), meaning if some Muslims perform it, the obligation is lifted from others, but if no one performs it, all are sinful.

When it is prayed

After the body is prepared and before burial

"The Prophet (ﷺ) used to hasten with the funeral and would not pray over it at the times when prayer is disliked."

— Sunan al-Nasa'i 1965

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Key reminders

Fardh Kifayah (communal obligation) - if some perform it, obligation lifted from others
No ruku (bowing) or sujood (prostration)
Consists of four Takbirs with specific supplications
Should be performed before burial

Other prayers
See the rest of the non-daily prayer pages on the site.

Sources

"If a Muslim dies and forty men who do not associate anything with Allah stand over his funeral prayer, Allah will accept their intercession for him."

— Sahih Muslim 948

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"Whoever attends the funeral procession until he offers the funeral prayer will have a reward equal to one Qirat, and whoever attends until the burial will have a reward equal to two Qirats. It was asked: 'What are two Qirats?' He said: 'Like two huge mountains.'"

— Sahih al-Bukhari 1325