How to Pray Janazah Prayer: Complete Step-by-Step Guide

What Makes Salat al-Janazah Different from Regular Prayer

Salat al-Janazah is unlike any other prayer in Islam. There is no bowing, no prostration, and no sitting. The entire prayer is performed standing, and the congregation recites silently behind the Imam throughout. It is a communal obligation (Fard Kifayah) — meaning that if a sufficient number of community members perform it, the obligation is lifted from the rest.

The prayer consists of four Takbeers (declarations of "Allahu Akbar"), each followed by a specific recitation. What those recitations are depends on which school of thought (madhhab) the congregation follows.

The Four Takbeers: Step by Step

First Takbeer

The Imam says "Allahu Akbar." Raise your hands to your ears (or shoulders), then fold them — right hand over left — either over the chest or below the navel depending on your school's practice.

Hanafi school: Recite the opening praise (Thana):

"Subhanaka Allahumma wa bihamdika, wa tabarakasmuka, wa ta'ala jadduka, wa jalla thana'uka, wa la ilaha ghayruk."

(Glory be to You, O Allah, and praise be to You. Blessed is Your name, exalted is Your majesty, glorious is Your praise, and there is no deity but You.)

Shafi'i, Maliki, and Hanbali schools: Recite Surah al-Fatiha silently.

One key difference: Hanafi worshippers keep their hands folded and do not raise them again for the remaining Takbeers. Shafi'i, Maliki, and Hanbali worshippers raise their hands with each Takbeer.

Second Takbeer

The Imam says "Allahu Akbar." All schools recite the Durood-e-Ibrahim (salutations upon the Prophet):

"Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammadiw wa 'ala aali Muhammadin, kama sallayta 'ala Ibrahima wa 'ala aali Ibrahima, innaka Hamidun Majeed. Allahumma barik 'ala Muhammadiw wa 'ala aali Muhammadin, kama barakta 'ala Ibrahima wa 'ala aali Ibrahima, innaka Hamidun Majeed."

Third Takbeer

The Imam says "Allahu Akbar." This is the core supplication for the deceased.

For an adult:

"Allahummaghfir li-hayyina wa-mayyitina, wa-shahidina wa-gha'ibina, wa-saghirina wa-kabirina, wa-dhakarina wa-unthana. Allahumma man ahyaytahu minna fa-ahyihi 'alal-Islam, wa-man tawaffaytahu minna fa-tawaffahu 'alal-Iman."

(O Allah, forgive our living and our dead, those present and those absent, our young and our old, our males and our females. O Allah, whomever among us You keep alive, let them live upon Islam, and whomever You cause to die, let them die upon faith.)

For a male child:

"Allahummaj'alhu lana farataw-waj'alhu lana ajraw-wa-dhukhraw-waj'alhu lana shafi'aw-wa-mushaffa'a."

For a female child:

"Allahummaj'alha lana farataw-waj'alha lana ajraw-wa-dhukhraw-waj'alha lana shafi'ataw-wa-mushaffa'ah."

Fourth Takbeer

The Imam says "Allahu Akbar." Pause briefly for silent personal supplications for the deceased. Then the prayer concludes with the Taslim:

• Hanafi and Shafi'i: Two Taslims — turn your head right and say "Assalamu 'alaykum wa rahmatullah," then turn left and repeat.
• Maliki and Hanbali: A single Taslim to the right side.

What to Do If You Arrive Late

If you miss one or more Takbeers, join the Imam immediately at whichever Takbeer they are currently on. That becomes your first Takbeer, and you recite the corresponding portion silently.

When the Imam says the final Taslim, do not say Salam yourself. Instead, stand and quickly recite the Takbeers you missed with their corresponding supplications. If you are worried the body will be carried away before you finish, you can repeat the verbal Takbeers in rapid succession without the full supplications, then say your own Taslim.

Where the Deceased Is Positioned

The body is placed on a bier or in a simple carrier at the front of the prayer hall, perpendicular to the direction of the Qiblah. In Hanafi practice, the Imam stands at chest level for a male deceased and at head level for a female deceased; other schools position the Imam at the middle of the body. Follow the local Imam's instructions.

Rows form behind the Imam exactly as in regular congregational prayer. There is no minimum number of worshippers required — the prayer is valid even with one person, though a larger congregation is encouraged because the Prophet ﷺ said that the more rows of people who pray over the deceased, the more it benefits them.

Key Differences Between Hanafi and Shafi'i at a Glance

If you follow the Hanafi school but the mosque's Imam leads according to the Shafi'i method (or vice versa), follow the Imam. The prayer is valid regardless — scholars across all four schools agree that differences in these details do not invalidate the Janazah prayer.

The most visible differences: whether hands are raised at each Takbeer (Shafi'i/Hanbali yes, Hanafi no), whether al-Fatiha is recited after the first Takbeer (Shafi'i/Maliki/Hanbali yes, Hanafi no), and whether one or two Taslims close the prayer.

If family members follow different schools, this is normal and expected. The prayer's validity is not compromised by a mixed congregation.

Preparing Before You Attend

You need to be in a state of ritual purity (wudu) to pray Salat al-Janazah. Remove your shoes before entering the prayer space. Stand in the rows and follow the Imam's lead — even if you do not have every supplication memorized, your sincere presence and silent du'a for the deceased are what matter most.

For a printable reference with the full Arabic text, transliteration, and step-by-step instructions for all four schools, the Muslim (Sunni) Funeral Guide includes a complete Janazah prayer companion alongside every other ritual you need to navigate from the moment of death through burial.