Shia Funeral Prayer: The Five Takbirs of Salat al-Mayyit Explained

What Makes the Shia Funeral Prayer Different

The Shia funeral prayer (Salat al-Mayyit or Namaz-e-Mayyit) is structurally distinct from the Sunni janazah prayer in one immediately visible way: it uses five Takbirs instead of four. The litanies between the Takbirs include the testimony of faith, blessings on Muhammad and his progeny, supplication for believers, and a prayer for the deceased.

The prayer is also performed entirely standing. There is no bowing (ruku) or prostration (sajdah). No one sits during this prayer.

Who Must Pray It and When

Salat al-Mayyit is a collective obligation (wajib al-kifa'i). If at least one person performs it correctly, the obligation is fulfilled for the entire community. If no one performs it, everyone present bears the sin.

The prayer is required for every deceased Muslim who has completed six years of age. It must be performed after the body has been washed (ghusl), camphorated (tahnit), and shrouded (kafan), but before the actual burial.

An important practical detail: ritual purity (wudu or ghusl) is highly recommended for those participating, but it is not strictly mandatory for this specific prayer. Someone who has not performed wudu can still participate.

How to Position the Body and Congregation

The shrouded body is placed on its back directly in front of the prayer leader, between the leader and the Qiblah. The head of the deceased is positioned to the right of the congregation, the feet to the left.

The prayer leader stands at a specific position relative to the body:

• For a male deceased: the leader stands near the waist
• For a female deceased: the leader stands near the chest

The congregation stands in rows behind the leader, all facing the Qiblah.

The Five Takbirs and Their Recitations

Intent (before the first Takbir): "I pray Salat al-Mayyit for this deceased person, wajib qurbatan ilallah."

1st Takbir: Allahu Akbar

Ashhadu an la ilaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lah, wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan 'abduhu wa Rasuluh, arsalahu bil-haqqi bashiran wa nadhiran bayna yadayis-sa'ah.

(I testify there is no god but Allah, alone without partner, and I testify that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger, sent with the truth as a giver of glad tidings and a warner before the Day of Judgment.)

2nd Takbir: Allahu Akbar

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammadin wa Aali Muhammad, wa barik 'ala Muhammadin wa Aali Muhammad, warham Muhammadan wa Aala Muhammadin, ka-afdhali ma sallayta wa barakta wa tarahhamta 'ala Ibrahima wa Aali Ibrahima, innaka Hamidum Majid.

(O Allah, bless Muhammad and the progeny of Muhammad, send bounty upon them, and have mercy upon them, as the best blessing, bounty, and mercy You showered upon Ibrahim and the progeny of Ibrahim; indeed You are Praised, Majestic.)

3rd Takbir: Allahu Akbar

Allahummaghfir lil-mu'minina wal-mu'minat, wal-muslimeena wal-muslimat, al-ahya'i minhum wal-amwat, tabi'illahunma baynana wa baynahum bil-khayrat, innaka mujibud-da'awat, innaka 'ala kulli shay'in Qadir.

(O Allah, forgive the believing men and believing women, the submitting men and submitting women, the living and the dead among them; join us and them with good deeds; indeed You are the Answerer of supplications, powerful over all things.)

4th Takbir: Allahu Akbar

For a male deceased: Allahumma inna hadha 'abduka wabnu 'abdika wabnu amatika, nazala bika wa anta khayru manzulin bihi. Allahumma inna la na'lamu minhu illa khayra, wa anta a'lamu bihi minna. Allahumma in kana muhsinan fazid fi ihsanihi, wa in kana musi'an fatajawaz 'an sayyi'atihi waghfir lahu.

For a female deceased: Allahumma inna hadhihi amatuka wabnatu 'abdika wabnatu amatika, nazalat bika wa anta khayru manzulin bihi. Allahumma inna la na'lamu minha illa khayra, wa anta a'lamu biha minna. Allahumma in kanat muhsinatan fazid fi ihsaniha, wa in kanat musi'atan fatajawaz 'an sayyi'atiha waghfir laha.

(O Allah, this is Your servant, son/daughter of Your servant; they have taken abode with You. We know nothing but good of them, and You know them better than we do. If they were benevolent, increase their benevolent deeds; if they were sinful, overlook their sins and forgive them.)

5th Takbir: Allahu Akbar

This concludes the prayer. There is no salam or additional recitation after the fifth Takbir.

Practical Notes for Leading or Participating

Even when the prayer is performed in congregation, every individual must recite the prayers and Takbirs themselves — the prayer leader does not recite on behalf of the congregation as in daily prayers.

If you are not confident in the Arabic, following along silently with the intention to participate is accepted. The Muslim (Shia) Funeral — Iran guide provides the full Arabic text, transliteration, and translation side by side, formatted for easy reading during the actual prayer.