Salat al-Mayyit: The Shia 5-Takbir Funeral Prayer with Transliteration

Salat al-Mayyit — the congregational funeral prayer — is one of the clearest markers that distinguish a Shia funeral from a Sunni one. Where Sunni practice uses four takbirs, the Shia method requires five, each followed by a specific supplication. The prayer has no bowing, no prostration, and no concluding salutation. It's performed entirely standing, and it's over in minutes — but those minutes carry immense theological weight.

Here's the complete procedure with transliteration for each recitation.

Before the Prayer: Physical Arrangement

The coffin or bier is placed on the ground directly in front of the congregation. The head of the deceased points to the right of the congregation, feet to the left, so the face is directed toward the Qiblah.

The prayer leader (imam) stands as close to the coffin as possible — tradition says close enough that a light wind would cause the leader's garments to brush against it. Position depends on the deceased's gender:

• Male deceased: The leader stands in line with the middle of the body
• Female deceased: The leader stands in line with the chest

Ritual purity (wudu) is not an absolute condition for Salat al-Mayyit's validity, but it is highly recommended. If you're part of the congregation and don't have wudu, you can still participate — your prayer counts.

The prayer should preferably not be performed inside a mosque (it's classified as makruh), with the sole exception of Masjid al-Haram in Mecca. Open spaces, dedicated funeral prayer halls, or the cemetery itself are all appropriate locations.

The Five Takbirs and Their Recitations

Niyyah (intention): Before beginning, formulate the intent: "I pray Salat al-Mayyit for this deceased person, seeking nearness to Allah."

First Takbir: "Allahu Akbar"

Recite the Shahadatain (testimony of faith):

Ash-hadu an la ilaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lah, wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan abduhu wa rasuluh, arsalahu bil-haqqi bashiran wa nadhiran bayna yadayi-s-sa'ah.

("I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, He alone without partner; and I testify that Muhammad is His servant and His messenger, whom He sent with the truth as a giver of glad tidings and a warner before the advent of the Hour.")

The shorter version — just the two testimonies without the extended phrase — is also valid.

Second Takbir: "Allahu Akbar"

Recite the Salawat (blessings on the Prophet and his household):

Allahumma salli ala Muhammadin wa ali Muhammad.

("O Allah, bless Muhammad and the progeny of Muhammad.")

The expanded version adds blessings on all prophets and righteous servants of God, but the short form above fulfills the requirement.

Third Takbir: "Allahu Akbar"

Recite the supplication for all believers:

Allahumma-ghfir lil-mu'mineena wal-mu'minaat.

("O Allah, forgive the believing men and the believing women.")

Fourth Takbir: "Allahu Akbar"

Recite the supplication specifically for the deceased.

For a male deceased:

Allahumma inna hadha-l-musajja quddamana abduka wa-bnu abdika wa-bnu amatik, nazala bika wa anta khayru manzulin bih. Allahumma inna la na'lamu minhu illa khayran, wa anta a'lamu bihi minna.

("O Allah, indeed this shrouded corpse before us is Your servant, son of Your servant, son of Your maidservant. He has taken abode with You and You are the best of those with whom one takes abode. O Allah, we do not know from him anything but good, and You are more knowing of him than we.")

For a female deceased, the pronouns change to the feminine form.

The supplication continues with a request: if the deceased was benevolent, increase their good deeds; if they were sinful, overlook their sins and forgive them.

Fifth Takbir: "Allahu Akbar"

This concludes the prayer. No additional recitation is required after the fifth takbir — the prayer ends here. There is no taslim (salutation) to close.

Key Differences from Sunni Practice

The most obvious difference is structural: five takbirs instead of four. But there are other distinctions worth noting:

• No Surah al-Fatiha: Sunni funeral prayer typically includes al-Fatiha after the first takbir; the Shia method replaces it with the Shahadatain
• Specific dua after the fourth takbir: The Shia supplication names the deceased before God in a distinctive way ("this shrouded corpse before us")
• No taslim: The Shia prayer ends with the fifth takbir, period — no turning of the head

If you're a Sunni Muslim attending a Shia funeral, simply follow the congregation. The structure will feel familiar through the first four takbirs; the fifth will be new, but you simply say "Allahu Akbar" with the rest of the congregation.

Congregation Rules

Salat al-Mayyit is highly recommended to be performed in congregation (jama'at), though it's valid if performed individually when a congregation cannot be assembled. The imam recites the takbirs and supplications aloud; the congregation repeats them silently.

Gender segregation applies: men stand in the front rows, women behind, as with regular congregational prayer.

Who Requires This Prayer?

Salat al-Mayyit is a communal obligation (wajib kifa'i) for every deceased Muslim who had reached six years of age, or a younger child who was discerning and understood prayer. No funeral prayer is recited for a stillborn child, regardless of gestational age.

The Muslim (Shia) Funeral Guide includes the full Arabic text with line-by-line transliteration and translation for all five takbir recitations, formatted so the prayer leader can read directly from the guide if needed. When you're standing in front of a bereaved congregation, having the exact words in your hands beats relying on memory under pressure.