How to Pray Janazah (Hanafi)
Salat al-Janazah is a Fard Kifayah (collective obligation) — 4 Takbeers, standing only. No Ruku or Sajdah.
Janazah prayer is Fard Kifayah — obligatory on the Muslim community as a whole. If some perform it, the obligation is lifted from all; if none perform it, all are sinful. The prayer consists of 4 Takbeers while standing — there is no Ruku, Sajdah, or sitting. The body of the deceased is placed in front of the congregation.
Niyyah (Intention)
Make the intention in your heart. It is not necessary to say it aloud.
I intend to offer the Janazah prayer for this deceased person, for the sake of Allah, facing the Qiblah.
First Takbeer + Thana
Rakat 1Say the opening Takbeer (Takbeeratul Ihram). Raise hands to earlobes, then fold them. Recite Thana silently.
اللهُ أَكْبَر
Allahu Akbar
Allah is the Greatest
Recite Thana silently:
سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ وَتَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ وَتَعَالَى جَدُّكَ وَلَا إِلَهَ غَيْرُكَ
Subhanakallahumma wa bihamdika wa tabarakasmuka wa ta'ala jadduka wa la ilaha ghairuk
Glory be to You, O Allah, and praise. Blessed is Your name and exalted is Your majesty. There is no god but You.
Second Takbeer + Darood
Rakat 1Say the second Takbeer (drop hands, then refold). Recite Darood Ibrahim silently.
اللهُ أَكْبَر
Allahu Akbar
اَللّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلٰى مُحَمَّدٍ وَّعَلٰى اٰلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلٰٓى اِبْرَاهِيْمَ وَعَلٰٓى اٰلِ اِبْرَاهِيْمَ اِنَّكَ حَمِيْدٌ مَّجِيْدٌ
aَللّٰهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلٰى مُحَمَّدٍ وَّعَلٰى اٰلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلٰٓى اِبْرَاهِيْمَ وَعَلٰٓى اٰلِ اِبْرَاهِيْمَ اِنَّكَ حَمِيْدٌ مَّجِيْدٌ
Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammadin wa 'ala ali Muhammadin kama sallayta 'ala Ibrahima wa 'ala ali Ibrahima innaka hamidun majid.
Allahumma barik 'ala Muhammadin wa 'ala ali Muhammadin kama barakta 'ala Ibrahima wa 'ala ali Ibrahima innaka hamidun majid.
O Allah, send Your blessings upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad, as You sent Your blessings upon Ibrahim and upon the family of Ibrahim. Indeed, You are the Most Praiseworthy, the Most Glorious.
O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. Indeed, You are the Most Praiseworthy, the Most Glorious.
Third Takbeer + Dua Janazah
Rakat 1Say the third Takbeer (drop hands, then refold). Recite the Dua Janazah silently. Select the appropriate dua:
اللهُ أَكْبَر
Allahu Akbar
Select the deceased:
اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لَهُ وَارْحَمْهُ وَعَافِهِ وَاعْفُ عَنْهُ وَأَكْرِمْ نُزُلَهُ وَوَسِّعْ مُدْخَلَهُ وَاغْسِلْهُ بِالْمَاءِ وَالثَّلْجِ وَالْبَرَدِ وَنَقِّهِ مِنَ الذُّنُوبِ وَالْخَطَايَا كَمَا يُنَقَّى الثَّوْبُ الْأَبْيَضُ مِنَ الدَّنَسِ وَأَبْدِلْهُ دَارًا خَيْرًا مِنْ دَارِهِ وَأَهْلًا خَيْرًا مِنْ أَهْلِهِ وَزَوْجًا خَيْرًا مِنْ زَوْجِهِ وَأَدْخِلْهُ الْجَنَّةَ وَأَعِذْهُ مِنْ عَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ وَمِنْ عَذَابِ النَّارِ
Allahumma-ghfir lahu warhamhu wa 'afihi wa'fu 'anhu wa akrim nuzulahu wa wassi' mudkhalahu wa-ghsilhu bil-ma'i wath-thalji wal-baradi wa naqqihi minadh-dhunubi wal-khataya kama yunaqqa-th-thawbul-abyadu minad-danas, wa abdilhu daran khayran min darihi wa ahlan khayran min ahlihi wa zawjan khayran min zawjihi wa adkhilhul-jannata wa a'idhhu min 'adhabil-qabri wa min 'adhabin-nar
O Allah, forgive him, have mercy on him, grant him safety and pardon him, honour his resting place, widen his entry, wash him with water, snow and hail, purify him of sins and errors as a white garment is purified of filth, give him an abode better than his home, a family better than his family, a spouse better than his spouse, admit him into Paradise and protect him from the punishment of the grave and the Fire.
Sahih Muslim
اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لَهَا وَارْحَمْهَا وَعَافِهَا وَاعْفُ عَنْهَا وَأَكْرِمِي نُزُلَهَا وَوَسِّعِي مُدْخَلَهَا وَاغْسِلْهَا بِالْمَاءِ وَالثَّلْجِ وَالْبَرَدِ وَنَقِّهَا مِنَ الذُّنُوبِ وَالْخَطَايَا كَمَا يُنَقَّى الثَّوْبُ الْأَبْيَضُ مِنَ الدَّنَسِ وَأَبْدِلْهَا دَارًا خَيْرًا مِنْ دَارِهَا وَأَهْلًا خَيْرًا مِنْ أَهْلِهَا وَزَوْجًا خَيْرًا مِنْ زَوْجِهَا وَأَدْخِلْهَا الْجَنَّةَ وَأَعِذْهَا مِنْ عَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ وَمِنْ عَذَابِ النَّارِ
Allahumma-ghfir laha warhamha wa 'afiha wa'fu 'anha wa akrim nuzulaha wa wassi' mudkhalaha wa-ghsilha bil-ma'i wath-thalji wal-baradi wa naqqiha minadh-dhunubi wal-khataya kama yunaqqa-th-thawbul-abyadu minad-danas, wa abdilha daran khayran min dariha wa ahlan khayran min ahliha wa zawjan khayran min zawjiha wa adkhilhal-jannata wa a'idhha min 'adhabil-qabri wa min 'adhabin-nar
O Allah, forgive her, have mercy on her, grant her safety and pardon her, honour her resting place, widen her entry, wash her with water, snow and hail, purify her of sins and errors as a white garment is purified of filth, give her an abode better than her home, a family better than her family, a spouse better than her spouse, admit her into Paradise and protect her from the punishment of the grave and the Fire.
Sahih Muslim
اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْهُ لَنَا فَرَطًا وَاجْعَلْهُ لَنَا أَجْرًا وَذُخْرًا وَاجْعَلْهُ لَنَا شَافِعًا وَمُشَفَّعًا
Allahumma j'alhu lana faratan waj'alhu lana ajran wa dhukhra waj'alhu lana shafi'an wa mushaffa'a
O Allah, make him our forerunner, a reward and a treasure for us, and make him an intercessor for us who will be accepted.
Abu Dawud
اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْهَا لَنَا فَرَطًا وَاجْعَلْهَا لَنَا أَجْرًا وَذُخْرًا وَاجْعَلْهَا لَنَا شَافِعَةً وَمُشَفَّعَةً
Allahumma j'alha lana faratan waj'alha lana ajran wa dhukhra waj'alha lana shafi'atan wa mushaffa'ah
O Allah, make her our forerunner, a reward and a treasure for us, and make her an intercessor for us who will be accepted.
Abu Dawud
Fourth Takbeer
Rakat 1Say the fourth Takbeer. Drop both hands to the sides.
اللهُ أَكْبَر
Allahu Akbar
Allah is the Greatest
Tasleem
Rakat 1Turn head to the right and say Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullah, then turn to the left and repeat.
السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ
Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullah
Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah.
Say this turning your head to the right first, then repeat turning to the left.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Janazah prayer Farz?
Janazah prayer is Fard Kifayah — a collective obligation on the Muslim community. At least one person must perform it; if no one does, the whole community bears the sin.
What are the conditions for Janazah prayer?
The deceased must be a Muslim. The body must be present (or facing the direction of the body). The one praying must be in a state of purity (Wudu). The prayer is valid for men praying over a deceased woman and vice versa.
How many Takbeers are in Janazah prayer?
There are 4 Takbeers in Janazah prayer. After the 1st: recite Thana. After the 2nd: recite Darood Ibrahim. After the 3rd: recite Dua Janazah. After the 4th: give Tasleem.