Janazah, the funeral prayer: the 4 takbirs, step by step
What is said after each takbir, standing and without prostration, and the positions of the four schools
The funeral prayer (Janazah) is prayed standing, without bowing or prostration: 4 takbirs, then the salam; the recitation and supplications are silent. After the first, Al-Fatiha, or depending on the school a praise or a supplication; after the second, prayers upon the Prophet ﷺ; after the third, a supplication for the deceased. It is a collective obligation.
What the schools agree on
The four schools count 4 takbirs, said standing, without bowing or prostration, and recite silently. The prayer ends with the salam.
It is a collective obligation: it is enough for some Muslims to pray it. Attending it, then following the procession to the burial, carries a great reward.
| Rak‘ahs | none: 4 takbirs, standing |
|---|---|
| Time | after a death, before the burial |
| Voice | silent |
On the day the Negus died, the Prophet ﷺ announced his death, went out to the prayer ground, lined the people up and said four takbirs.
The Prophet ﷺ said that whoever attends a funeral until the prayer receives one qirat of reward, and whoever stays until the burial receives two, each like a great mountain.
Janazah, takbir by takbir
After each takbir, what is said. The imam stands in front of the deceased, the worshippers in rows behind him.
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First takbir
You raise your hands, say the takbir, then recite Al-Fatiha silently. The Hanafis say the opening praise instead, the Malikis a supplication.
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بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
bismi llāhi r-raḥmāni r-raḥīm
In the name of Allāh, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.
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ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
al-ḥamdu lillāhi rabbi l-ʿālamīn
[All] praise is [due] to Allāh, Lord of the worlds -
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ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
ar-raḥmāni r-raḥīm
The Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful,
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مَـٰلِكِ يَوْمِ ٱلدِّينِ
māliki yawmi d-dīn
Sovereign of the Day of Recompense.
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إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ
iyyāka naʿbudu wa'iyyāka nastaʿīn
It is You we worship and You we ask for help.
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ٱهْدِنَا ٱلصِّرَٰطَ ٱلْمُسْتَقِيمَ
ihdina ṣ-ṣirāṭa l-mustaqīm
Guide us to the straight path -
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صِرَٰطَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ ٱلْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا ٱلضَّآلِّينَ
ṣirāṭa lladhīna 'anʿamta ʿalayhim ghayri l-maghḍūbi ʿalayhim wala ḍ-ḍāllīn
The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have earned [Your] anger or of those who are astray.
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Second takbir
You say the takbir, then send prayers upon the Prophet ﷺ, as at the end of the prayer.
What is said
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ، وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، كَمَا صَلَّيتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ، وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ، اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ
Allâhumma salli 'alâ Muhammadin, wa 'alâ âli Muhammadin, kamâ sallayta 'alâ Ibrâhîma, wa 'alâ âli Ibrâhîm, innaka hamîdun majîd, Allâhumma bârik 'alâ Muhammadin wa 'alâ âli Muhammadin, kamâ bârakta 'alâ Ibrâhîma wa 'alâ âli Ibrâhîm, innaka hamîdun majîd
O Allah, send prayers upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad, as You sent prayers upon Ibrahim and upon the family of Ibrahim. You are worthy of praise and glory. O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. You are worthy of praise and glory.
Sahih al-Bukhari 3370 · grade: sahih (authentic), graded by al-Bukhari -
Third takbir
You say the takbir, then call upon Allah for the deceased.
What it means
You ask Allah to forgive the deceased, to have mercy on them, to keep them safe and to welcome them kindly. These requests come from the Sunnah; you can also say them in your own words.
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Fourth takbir, then the salam
You say the takbir, may make a short supplication, then end with the salam, to the right, and to the left for the schools that give two.
Ibn ‘Abbas recited Al-Fatiha in a funeral prayer and explained he did so for people to know it is the Sunnah.
The four schools, all valid
What is recited in Janazah?
Only Al-Fatiha is recited, after the first takbir, by the schools that recite it: no surah is added to it.
Frequently asked questions
How many takbirs in the funeral prayer?
4, for the four schools. They are said standing, without bowing or prostration.
What if I don’t know the supplication for the deceased?
Ask Allah, in your own words, to forgive them and have mercy on them. The supplications of the Sunnah can be learned afterwards, little by little.
Can you pray over someone who died far away?
The Shafi‘is and Hanbalis allow it, based on the prayer over the Negus; the Hanafis and Malikis do not. Ask your imam what your community does.
How can I check my Fatiha and the surahs I recite in prayer?
Recite them out loud in the Tilawa app: it follows your recitation word by word and shows you the words and tajweed rules to work on. During prayer, it can also follow the verses you recite.
Tilawa editorial team · Updated 2026-10-24 · Report an error