Bahá'í Funeral Program Template — How to Structure the Service

There's No Official Order of Service — Which Is the Hard Part

For a deceased believer aged 15 or older, the Bahá'í Faith prescribes exactly one liturgical requirement for a funeral: the congregational Prayer for the Dead. Everything else — readings, music, eulogies, the overall flow — is left entirely to the family.

That freedom sounds liberating until you're grieving and staring at a blank page. Here's a working template you can adapt, along with the practical details that keep the service running smoothly.

A Sample Program Structure

This structure works for a 30- to 45-minute service held at a funeral home chapel, community center, or graveside. Adjust the number of readings and the order to fit your family's preferences.

1. Welcome and opening (2–3 minutes) A family member or community volunteer welcomes guests, briefly explains the format, and notes that during the Prayer for the Dead everyone will be asked to stand in silence. This orientation is especially important for non-Bahá'í guests who may not know what to expect.

2. Opening prayer or reading (3–5 minutes) A short prayer or passage from the Bahá'í writings that sets the spiritual tone. Prayers about the nature of the soul, the journey after death, or trust in God's mercy work well here.

3. First musical selection (3–5 minutes) A vocal, instrumental, or recorded piece. Choose something reflective — the music should create space for quiet contemplation, not fill it with energy.

4. Personal tribute or eulogy (5–7 minutes) One or two speakers share memories of the deceased. Keep each speaker to five minutes or less. Humor, personal stories, and specific details about the person's character are appropriate. There's no prohibition on warmth or lightness — Bahá'í funerals don't require an unbroken mood of solemnity.

5. Second reading (3–5 minutes) A prayer for the departed — asking God to grant the soul forgiveness, progress, and nearness to the divine presence. Bahá'u'lláh, the Báb, and 'Abdu'l-Bahá all revealed prayers for this purpose.

6. Second musical selection (3–5 minutes) Optional. If the service is running long or the family prefers brevity, skip this and move to the Prayer for the Dead.

7. The Prayer for the Dead The reciter stands. Everyone else who is physically able rises. The reciter speaks the opening supplication (adjusted for the deceased's gender), then says "Alláh-u-Abhá" once before each of six verses, repeating each verse exactly 19 times. The congregation remains in absolute silence — no group recitation, no joining in. Allow enough time for the complete recitation.

8. Closing reading and instructions (2–3 minutes) A brief closing prayer or passage, followed by practical instructions: directions to the cemetery for the graveside burial, or information about the reception if burial happens privately.

Printing a Program

A printed program isn't required, but it serves two purposes: it helps non-Bahá'í guests follow along, and it becomes a keepsake for the family.

Include on the printed program:

• The deceased's name, birth date, and date of passing
• The order of service (readings, music, prayer, tribute)
• A brief note about the Prayer for the Dead: "One reader will recite the Prayer for the Dead. All guests are asked to stand in respectful silence during this prayer."
• The name(s) of readers, speakers, and musicians
• Reception details, if applicable

Keep the design simple and the text readable. Ornate funeral programs with full-page photographs and extensive biographical essays are a cultural convention, not a Bahá'í one. A single card or folded sheet is sufficient.

Practical Considerations

Timing the Prayer for the Dead. The Prayer must happen before burial, but it can occur at any point in the service. Most families place it near the end — after readings and tributes, before the closing. Some hold it at the graveside just before the casket is lowered. Either works; the graveside option can feel more intimate and connected to the physical act of burial.

Non-Bahá'í readers. Close friends or family members of other faiths may read a Bahá'í prayer or passage during the service. They don't need to be believers to read sacred text aloud. The Prayer for the Dead itself, however, should be recited by a Bahá'í.

Children at the service. Children are welcome. If they're too young to stand silently through the Prayer for the Dead, a family member can step out with them quietly. No one will judge a parent for leaving during the prayer with a restless toddler.

Service length. The template above runs 30 to 45 minutes. There's no minimum or maximum, but Bahá'í funerals tend toward simplicity. An hour-long service with multiple eulogies and five musical pieces isn't wrong, but it's unusual. The emphasis is on spiritual reflection, not performance.

Our Bahá'í Funeral Guide includes a printable service planning worksheet and a program template that families can fill in directly, along with suggested prayer selections organized by theme.