Namaz Wahshat: How to Pray Salat al-Wahshah on the Night of Burial

What Namaz-e-Wahshat Is and Why It Matters

Namaz-e-Wahshat (also called Salat Laylat al-Dafn or Salat al-Hadiyya) is a two-rakat prayer performed on the first night after a Muslim's burial. Its purpose is direct: to bring comfort to the departed soul during what Shia theology considers the most difficult night — when the deceased lies alone in the grave and the angels Munkar and Nakir arrive for their questioning.

This prayer is mustahabb (highly recommended), not obligatory. But in Shia communities, it is treated as an essential act of love. A family member, friend, or community member prays it on behalf of the deceased and sends the spiritual reward directly to their grave.

When to Pray It

The prayer is performed between the Maghrib (sunset) and Isha (night) prayers on the night of the burial itself — not the night after the funeral service, but the night following the actual interment of the body. If someone was buried in the afternoon, that same evening is when Namaz-e-Wahshat is prayed.

Any Muslim can perform this prayer on behalf of the deceased. It does not need to be an imam or cleric, though mosque communities often organize a volunteer to ensure it gets done.

Method A: The Standard Method (Ayatollah Sistani)

This is the most commonly followed method:

Rakat 1:

• Recite Surah al-Hamd (al-Fatihah)
• Follow with Ayat al-Kursi (Verse 255 of Surah al-Baqarah) — one time

Rakat 2:

• Recite Surah al-Hamd (al-Fatihah)
• Follow with Surah al-Qadr (Chapter 97) — ten times

Complete the prayer with the standard sitting and salam.

Method B: The Prophetic Tradition Method

An alternative method, transmitted as a Prophetic tradition for easing the accounting of the deceased's deeds:

Rakat 1:

• Recite Surah al-Hamd (al-Fatihah)
• Follow with Surah al-Tawheed (al-Ikhlas) — two times

Rakat 2:

• Recite Surah al-Hamd (al-Fatihah)
• Follow with Surah al-Takathur (Chapter 102) — ten times

Both methods are valid. Most families following the rulings of Ayatollah Sistani use Method A.

The Concluding Supplication

After completing the salam, recite this supplication:

"Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammadin wa Aali Muhammad, wab'ath thawabaha ila qabri [Name of Deceased] ibne/ibnate [Father's Name]."

Translation: "O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, and send the reward of this prayer to the grave of [Name], son/daughter of [Father's Name]."

The prayer's reward is transferred to the deceased through this explicit dedication. Substitute "ibne" (son of) or "ibnate" (daughter of) based on the deceased's gender.

The Intention (Niyyah)

Before beginning the prayer, form the intention:

"I pray Namaz-e-Wahshat for [Name of Deceased] son/daughter of [Father's Name], wajib qurbatan ilallah."

The niyyah does not need to be spoken aloud — forming it clearly in the mind is sufficient.

Common Questions

Can multiple people pray Namaz-e-Wahshat for the same person? Yes. There is no limit. Each prayer sends additional spiritual reward to the deceased.

What if I miss the Maghrib-Isha window? The prayer can be performed later that night, though the preferred window is between the two evening prayers.

Does the person praying need to be in a state of wudu? Yes. Unlike the funeral prayer (Salat al-Mayyit), Namaz-e-Wahshat is a standard prayer that requires ritual purity.

Can it be prayed at home? Yes. It can be performed anywhere — at home, at the mosque, or at any clean location.

For the complete set of Shia funeral prayers — from the deathbed recitations through the graveside Talqin and this first-night prayer — the Muslim (Shia) Funeral — Iran guide includes full Arabic text, phonetic English transliterations, and translations that allow non-Arabic speakers to perform each prayer with confidence.