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Rules of Prayer for the Dead.

593. It is obligatory to offer Namaz-e-Mayyit for every dead Muslim, even if he/she is a child, provided that his/her father or mother or grandfather or grandmother is Muslim and it has completed 6 years of its age

594. Namaz-e-Mayyit should be offered after the dead body has been given Ghusl, Hunut and Kafan and if it is offered before or during the performance of these acts, it does not suffice, even if it is due to forgetfulness or on account of not knowing the rule

595. It is not necessary for a person who offers Namaz-e-Mayyit to be in Wudhu or Ghusl or Tayammum nor is it necessary that his body and dress be Pak. Rather there is no harm even if his dress is a usurped one. However, it is better that while offering this Namaz one should observe all the formal rules which are normally observed in other prayers, as an recommended precaution

596. One who offers Namaz-e-Mayyit should face the Qibla, and it is also obligatory that at the time of Namaz-e-Mayyit, the dead body remains before him on its back, in a manner that its head is on his right and its feet on his left side

597. The place where a man stands to offer Namaz-e-Mayyit should not be higher or lower than the place where the dead body is kept. However, its being a little higher or lower is immaterial

598. The person offering Namaz-e-Mayyit should not be distant from the dead body. However, if he is praying in a congregation, then there is no harm in his being distant from the dead body in the rows which are connected to each other

599. In Namaz-e-Mayyit, one who offers prayers should stand in such a way that the dead body is in front of him, except if the Namaz is prayed in Jama’at and the lines extend beyond on both sides, then praying away from the dead body will not be objectionable

600. There should be no curtain or wall or any other obstruction between the dead body and the person offering Namaz-e-Mayyit. However, there is no harm if the dead body is in a coffin or in any other similar thing

601. The private parts of the dead body should be concealed when Namaz-e-Mayyit is being offered. And if it was not possible to give Kafan, even then at least its private parts should be covered with a board or brick or any similar thing

602. A person should be standing while offering Namaz-e-Mayyit and should offer it with the Niyyat of Qurbat, specifying the dead person for whom he is praying. For example, he should make his intention thus: “I am offering Namaz for this dead person in compliance with the pleasure of Allah.”

603. If there is no one who is capable of praying Namaz-e-Mayyit while standing, then it can be offered while sitting

604. If the deceased had made a will that a particular person should lead the prayers for him, the obligatory precaution is that such a person should take permission form the guardian of the dead person, and it is an obligatory precaution that the guardian grants permission

605. It is Makrooh to repeat Namaz-e-Mayyit a number of times, unless the dead person was an Aalim and pious one, in which case it is not Makrooh.

606. If a dead body is buried without Namaz-e-Mayyit, either intentionally or forgetfully, on account of an excuse, or if it transpires after its burial that the prayers offered for it was void. It is obligatory to pray for him/her by the graveside, if the decay has not yet taken place.

Method of Prayer for the Dead

607.There are 5 Takbirs (saying Allahu Akbar) in Namaz-e-Mayyit and it is sufficient if a person recites those 5 Takbirs in the following order:

After making Niyyat to offer the prayers and pronouncing the 1st Takbir he should say: “Ash hadu an la ilaha illal lah wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan Rasulullah.” (I bear witness that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is Allah’s Messenger.)

After the 2nd Takbir he should say: “Alla humma sallli ‘ala Muhammadin wa ‘ali Muhammad.” (O’Lord! Bestow peace and blessing upon Muhammad and his progeny.)

After the 3rd Takbir he should say: “Alla hummaghfir lil mu’minina wal mu’minat.” (O’ Lord! Forgive all believers - men as well as women.)

After the 4th Takbir he should say: “Alla hummaghfir li hazal Mayyit.” (O’ Lord! Forgive this dead body.) If the dead person is a woman, he would say: “Alla hummaghfir li hazihil Mayyit.”

Thereafter, he should pronounce the 5th Takbir

It is, however, better that he should pronounce the following supplications after the Takbirs respectively.

After the 1st Takbir: Ash hadu an la ilaha illallah wahdahu la sharika lah. Wa Ashhadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa Rasuluh, arsalahu bil haqqi bashiran wa naziran bayna yada yis sa’ah.

After the 2nd Takbir: Alla humma salli ‘ala muhamadin wa Ali Muhammad wa barik ‘ala Muhammadin wa Ali Muhammad warham Muhammadan wa Ala Muhammadin ka afzali ma sallayta wa barakta wa tarah hamta ‘ala Ibrahima wa Ali Ibrahima innaka Hamidum Majid wa salli ‘ala jami’il ambiya’iwal-mursalina wash-shuhada’I was-siddiqina wa jami’I ‘ibadilla his-salihin.

After the 3rd Takbir: Alla hum maghfir lil mu’minina wal mu’minati wal muslimina wal muslimat, al ahya’I minhum wal amwat tabi’baynana wa baynahum bil khayrati innaka mujibud-da’wat innak’ala kulli shay’in Qadeer.

After the 4th Takbir (if the dead is a man): Alla humma inna haza Almosajja Ghoddo Amana Abduk wa bino amatika nazala bika wa anta khayru manzulin bihi Alla humma inna la na’lamu minhu illa khayra wa anta A’alamu bihi minna. Alla humma in kana mohsinan fa zid fi ihsanihi wa in kana musi’an fatajawaz anhu waghfir lahu. Alla hummaj’alhu ‘indaka fi a’la’illiyyin wakhluf ‘ala ahlihi fil ghabirin warbamhu bi-rahmatika ya ar hamar Rahimin. And then the 5th Takbir.

If the dead body is that of a woman, he should say: Alla humma inna hazihi Misajjah Ghodda Amana ‘amatuka wabnatu ‘abdika wabnatu amatika nazalat bika wa anta khayra manzulin bihi alla humma in kanat mohsinatan fa zid fi ihsaniha wa in kanat musi’atan fatajawaz ‘anha waghfir laha. Alla hummajal ha ‘indaka fi a’la ‘iliyin wakhluf ‘ala ahliha fil ghabirin warhamha bi-rahmatika ya ar hamar Rahimin.

608. A person offering prayers for the dead body should recite Takbirs and supplications in a sequence, so that Namaz-e-Mayyit does not lose its form.

609. A person who joins Namaz-e-Mayyit to follow an Imam should recite all the Takbirs and supplications.

Recommended Acts for the Namaz-e-Mayyit (Prayer for the Dead)

610. The following acts are Mustahab in the prayers for the dead body:

I. A person who offers prayers for the dead body should have had Ghusl or performed Wudhu or Tayammum. And the precaution is that he should perform Tayammum only when it is not possible to do Ghusl, or Wudhu, or if he fears that if he goes for Ghusl or Wudhu, it will not be possible for him to participate in the prayers.

II. If the dead body is that of a male the Imam or a person who is offering the prayers alone should stand at the center of its height, that is, the middle part of the dead body, and if the dead body is that of a female, he should stand at the chest of the dead body.

III. To pray bare-footed.

IV. To raise one’s hands (up to the ears) while pronouncing every Takbir.

V. The distance between the person offering prayers and the dead body should be so short that, when the wind blows, the dress of the person offering the prayers would touch the coffin.

VI. To pray in congregation.

VII. The Imam to recite the Takbirs and supplications loudly and those offering the prayers with him to recite them in a low voice.

VIII. If there is only one person joining the Namaz-e-Mayyit being offered in Jama’at, he would stand behind the Imam.

IX. One who offers the prayers should earnestly and persistently pray for the dead as well as for all the believers.

X. Before the commencement of the congregational prayers for the dead body, one should say: “as-Salat” three times.

XI. The prayers be offered at a place where people often go for Namaz-e-Mayyit.

XII. If a Haaez participates in the congregational prayers for a dead person, she should stand alone and should not join the lines

611. It is Makrooh to perform prayers for dead bodies in Masjids, except in Masjid-al-Haraam. If there is only one person joining the Namaz-e-Mayyit being offered in Jama’at, he would stand behind the Imam.

IX. One who offers the prayers should earnestly and persistently pray for the dead as well as for all the believers.

X. Before the commencement of the congregational prayers for the dead body, one should say: “as-Salat” three times.

XI. The prayers be offered at a place where people often go for Namaz-e-Mayyit.

XII. If a Haaez participates in the congregational prayers for a dead person, she should stand alone and should not join the lines