The Janaazah Namaaz is Fardh Kifaayah on all Muslims present. It consists of four Fardh Takbeers, Thana, Durood, and a Masnoon Duaa for the deceased and two Salaams. All these are said silently by both, the Imam and the Muqtadies. Only the Imam must say the Takbeers and Salaams loudly. There are two Fardhs in the Janaazah Namaaz
a. To stand and perform Namaaz.
b. To recite all the Takbeers.
THE MASNOON MANNER OF PERFORMING THE JANAAZAH PRAYERS
1. The body of the Mayyit should be placed with the head on the right side of the Imam, who will face the Qiblah.
2. The Imam must stand in line with the chest of the deceased when performing Namaaz.
3. It is Mustahab to make an odd number of Safs (rows). The Safs for Janaazah Namaaz should be close to one another, because there are no Sajdahs to be made.
4. After the
Safs are straightened the Niyyah should be made. The Niyyah must be that: "I am performing this Janaazah Namaaz for Allah behind this Imam." (The
Namaaz being a Duaa for the Mayyit). After the Niyyah the hands should
be raised up to the ears, and the Imam shall say Allahu Akbar loudly, and
the Muqtadies softly. Then fold them under the navel similar to all daily
Namaazes.
5. Then recite the Thana softly:
Trans.; Glory be to You Oh Allah, and praise be to You, and blessed is Your name, and exalted is Your Majesty, and there is none to be served besides You.
6. Now the Imam will recite the Takbeer loudly, and the Muqtadies softly for the second time. The hands must not be raised when saying this and all subsequent Takbeers. The Durood-e-Ibrahim must now be read:
Trans.; Oh! Allah, shower Your Mercy upon Muhammad and the followers of Muhammad, as You showered Your Mercy upon Ibrahim and the followers of Ibrahim. Behold You are Praiseworthy, Glorious. Oh! Allah, shower Your Blessings upon Muhammad, and the followers of Muhammad, as You showered Your Blessings upon Ibrahim and the followers of Ibrahim. Behold, You are Praiseworthy, Glorious.
7. Now the Takbeer should be said for the third time, and the following Duaa recited for an adult male or female.
Trans.: Oh! Allah, forgive those of us that are alive and those of us that are dead; those of us that are present, and those of us that are absent; those of us that are young and those of us that are adults; Oh! Allah, whomsoever of us You keep alive, let him live as a follower of Islam; and whomsoever of us You cause to die, let him die a believer.
For a child who has not reached puberty the following Duaa must be recited after the third Takbeer:
Trans.: Oh! Allah, make him/her (this child) a source for our salvation; and make him/her a source of reward and treasure for us; and make him/her an intercessor for us, and one whose intercession is accepted.
8. The Imam will say the fourth Takbeer and thereafter recite the Salaam (Assalamualaykum Warahmatullah) loudly twice, while turning his face first towards the right shoulder and then once again while turning his face towards the left shoulder. The Muqtadies must follow by saying the Takbeer and Salaam softly. There is no Duaa immediately after the namaaz
THE SHAR'EE METHOD OF DAFN (BURIAL)
1. After Janaazah Namaaz is performed the Mayyit should be buried as soon as possible. The Janaazah should be carried and placed on the Qiblah side of the grave. The head should be on the right side of the grave if one faces the Qiblah.
2. It is desirable that, Mahrams or close relatives (of female Mayyits) should enter the grave to lower the body. The husband should not enter the grave to bury his wife. It is NOT Masnoon (Sunnat) that they be an odd number. All those who enter the grave must face the Qiblah.
3. It is Mustahab to hold a sheet over the grave while lowering and burying a female. If there is fear of her Kafn opening then it is Waajib to do so.
4. It is Mustahab for those present to read this Duaa while lowering the body:
In the name of Allah and on the creed, religion and faith of Rasuiullah.
5. After putting the body into the recess of the grave it is Masnoon to turn it onto its right side to face the Qiblah.
6. The strips of cloth tied at the headside, chest and legside should now be untied.
7. The recess must then be covered with unbaked bricks, bamboo or timber. It is Mustahab to begin closing the recess or trench from the leg side for males and from the headside for females. All the remaining little openings must be closed with mud or grass. The use of any fabric or blankets is unnecessary and wasteful.
SOME NOTEWORTHY MASAA'IL RELATING TO DEATH
The Trustees of the deceased should pay all debts as soon as possible. Isaale Thawaab for the deceased should be made by feeding the poor, or by giving Sadaqah, making Istighfaar etc. No specific dates or days such as the third, seventh, eleventh or fortieth are mentioned in the Shariah for such devotions. When giving charity on behalf of a deceased, it is desirable to make Niyyah for the fulfilment of Qaza Namaaz.
The Shariat has not specified any particular type or colour of clothing that should be worn by those who are bereaved.
A Mayyit is one who was born alive, then passes away. There is no Janaazah Namaaz for still born babies.
If any one of the parents of a dead child is a Muslim, then that child will be regarded as a Muslim. And Janaazah Namaaz must be performed for him.
Janaazah Namaaz shall be said for a person that has committed suicide. It is desirable that someone other than the appointed Imam or reputable person of the community lead this prayer. Janaazah Namaaz will be said for all Muslims, be they pious or sinful.
Women do not follow the Janaazah, nor visit the Kabrastan.
It is related from Hazrat Abu Hurairah (Radiallahu Anhu) that Rasuiullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said: 'One that accompanies the Janaazah of a Muslim with sincerity and with the Niyyah of Thawaab, and remains with it till the Janaazah prayers are performed, and (the Mayyit) buried, he will come home with two Qiraat Thawaab, of which one Qiraat is equal to the mountain of Uhud. And a person who only performs the Janaazah Namaaz and returns, he will return with one Qiraat Thawaab.'
MALPRACTICES ON THE OCCASION OF DEATH
Unfortunately, many un-Islamic and evil customs prevail among Muslims on occasions of Maut (Death). Among these unlawful practices some are listed hereunder:
(1) Gathering of males and females in violation of Islamic Hijaab laws at the home of the mayyit (deceased). Once Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasal-lam) saw a group of females gathered at the home of the mayyit. He asked them whether they would be participating in the ghusl and actual burial of the mayyit. When they replied in the negative, he ordered them to go home. The practice of women trooping into the home of the mayyit in full view of the men is shameless and invites the Wrath of Allah Ta'ala on them.
(2) Viewing the mayyit. Men and women, again in flagrant violation of Hijaab, file into the room to view the face of the mayyit. It is haraam for females to look at the face of a ghair mahram male even if he is deceased. Similarly, it is haraam for males to look at the face of even a dead woman.
(3) The practice
of exposing the face of the mayyit for all and sundry is in emuÂlation of kuffaar customs. Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) has forÂbidden
such emulation of kuffaar.
(4) Reciting Qur'aan Shareef in proximity to the mayyit prior to ghusl having been executed. To do so is not permissible.
(5) The custom
of people, especially women, gathering in the home of the mayyÂit to carry
out a Qur'aan khatam before burial and even after burial is bid'ah and
haraam. Such a practice is in conflict with the Sunnah.
(6) There is also a custom of the ladies performing a 'special' Salaat on this occasion in the home of the mayyit. This too is bid'ah.
(7) Delaying the burial in anticipation of a bigger crowd for the Janaazah Salaat is not permissible. Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) has ordered the mayyit to be buried immediately. There should be no unnecessary delay.
(8) Transporting the body to another town for burial. This is not permissible. The mayyit should be buried in the same place where death had occurred unless one is living in such a place where there is no Muslim cemetry or facilities for burial.
(9) Unnecessarily transporting the mayyit by vehicle when the Qabrustaan is within walking distance and when there are sufficient people to carry the Janaazah.
(10) Erecting walls around the grave. This is a haraam practice of the kuffaar. According to the Sunnah, the grave should be left in its natural state.
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