Janazah (Funeral) Prayer: Questions & Answers
What are the Islamic funeral rites?
Funerals in Islam (called جنازة Janazah in Arabic) follow fairly specific rites, though they are subject to regional interpretation and variation in custom. In all cases, however, Islamic practice requires burial of the body as soon as possible, preceded by a simple ritual involving bathing and shrouding the body, followed by salah (prayer). Burial is usually within 24 hours of death to protect the living from any sanitary issues, except in the case of a person killed in battle or when foul play is suspected; in those cases it is important to determine the cause of death before burial. Cremation of the body is strictly forbidden in Islam.
What is the process of bathing and shrouding the body of a deceased Muslim?
The corpse is washed (ghusl, bathed), with the purpose to physically cleanse the deceased with warm water. Bathing the dead body is an essential ritual of the Sunnah (practice) of prophet Muhammad, (peace and blessings be upon him) and therefore a part of the Islamic law. This should occur as soon as possible after death, preferably within hours.
The "washers" are commonly adult members of the immediate family, who are of the same gender as the deceased. If there are no Muslim members of the family this duty is carried out by Muslim members of the community who are knowledgeable of its order and purpose. In cases of violent deaths or accidents, where the deceased has suffered trauma or mutilation, morgue facilities mend the body and wrap it in a shroud to minimize fluid leakage prior to surrendering it to mourners for washing.
What is Janazah Prayer?
Salat al-Janazah is the Islamic funeral prayer; a part of the Islamic funeral ritual. The prayer is performed in congregation to seek pardon for the deceased. The prayer is performed as a requirement on the community and all Muslims present will stand in rows (separated by gender) seeking to make an odd number of rows. The prayer is silent and led by either a family member or an assigned Imam.
The Islamic funeral rights are usually very brief, lasting only 15-20 minutes. Islamic beliefs encourage a brief funeral to offer relief to the grieving family and surrender the deceased quickly to their final resting place out of respect for the deceased. There is no eulogy, or sermon, only brief words of greetings to the attendees and the Janazah salat (prayer) offered by all Muslims in attendance.
What do you wear to a Janazah?
Men should wear business trousers and a shirt, and a jacket/blazer if available. If women attend they should wear a full length skirt or pants, a long sleeved opaque blouse (covering cleavage), as well as a headscarf. Everyone attending the funeral will remove their shoes before going into the masjid (prayer hall). For this reason socks or stockings should be presentable.
Who can I contact at the Islamic Association of DeSoto Texas (IADT) for family support with planning a Janazah for my Muslim family member?
Imam Abdul Malik Muhammad – 214-597-8591
Imam Shu’ayb Haneef – 214-240-7436
Funerals in Islam (called جنازة Janazah in Arabic) follow fairly specific rites, though they are subject to regional interpretation and variation in custom. In all cases, however, Islamic practice requires burial of the body as soon as possible, preceded by a simple ritual involving bathing and shrouding the body, followed by salah (prayer). Burial is usually within 24 hours of death to protect the living from any sanitary issues, except in the case of a person killed in battle or when foul play is suspected; in those cases it is important to determine the cause of death before burial. Cremation of the body is strictly forbidden in Islam.
What is the process of bathing and shrouding the body of a deceased Muslim?
The corpse is washed (ghusl, bathed), with the purpose to physically cleanse the deceased with warm water. Bathing the dead body is an essential ritual of the Sunnah (practice) of prophet Muhammad, (peace and blessings be upon him) and therefore a part of the Islamic law. This should occur as soon as possible after death, preferably within hours.
The "washers" are commonly adult members of the immediate family, who are of the same gender as the deceased. If there are no Muslim members of the family this duty is carried out by Muslim members of the community who are knowledgeable of its order and purpose. In cases of violent deaths or accidents, where the deceased has suffered trauma or mutilation, morgue facilities mend the body and wrap it in a shroud to minimize fluid leakage prior to surrendering it to mourners for washing.
What is Janazah Prayer?
Salat al-Janazah is the Islamic funeral prayer; a part of the Islamic funeral ritual. The prayer is performed in congregation to seek pardon for the deceased. The prayer is performed as a requirement on the community and all Muslims present will stand in rows (separated by gender) seeking to make an odd number of rows. The prayer is silent and led by either a family member or an assigned Imam.
The Islamic funeral rights are usually very brief, lasting only 15-20 minutes. Islamic beliefs encourage a brief funeral to offer relief to the grieving family and surrender the deceased quickly to their final resting place out of respect for the deceased. There is no eulogy, or sermon, only brief words of greetings to the attendees and the Janazah salat (prayer) offered by all Muslims in attendance.
What do you wear to a Janazah?
Men should wear business trousers and a shirt, and a jacket/blazer if available. If women attend they should wear a full length skirt or pants, a long sleeved opaque blouse (covering cleavage), as well as a headscarf. Everyone attending the funeral will remove their shoes before going into the masjid (prayer hall). For this reason socks or stockings should be presentable.
Who can I contact at the Islamic Association of DeSoto Texas (IADT) for family support with planning a Janazah for my Muslim family member?
Imam Abdul Malik Muhammad – 214-597-8591
Imam Shu’ayb Haneef – 214-240-7436