The Practice of Funeral Prayer and Its Procedures

According to Dr. Triono Ali Mustofa, S.Pd.I., M.Pd.I., an Islamic Education lecturer at Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta (UMS), funeral prayer is a form of collective supplication by Muslims for the deceased. "It is the final tribute to a fellow Muslim," he said in an interview on Thursday (9/4/2026).

The ruling on funeral prayer is fardhu kifayah (communal obligation). This means if some Muslims have performed it, the obligation is lifted from the rest. However, if no one performs the funeral prayer, all Muslims will bear the sin.

Triono explained that the Prophet SAW also performed funeral prayers for his companions and instructed them to carry out funeral prayers. "This forms a strong foundation in Muhammadiyah's manhaj (methodology)," he added.

The command to perform funeral prayer is in accordance with the words of the Prophet SAW in the following hadith:

عَنْ سَلَمَةَ بْنِ الأَكْوَعِ ، رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أُتِيَ بِجَنَازَةٍ لِيُصَلِّيَ عَلَيْهَا ، فَقَالَ : هَلْ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ دَيْنٍ ؟ قَالُوا : لاَ فَصَلَّى عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ أُتِيَ بِجَنَازَةٍ أُخْرَى ، فَقَالَ : هَلْ عَلَيْهِ مَنْ دَيْنٍ قَالُوا نَعَمْ قَالَ صَلُّوا عَلَى صَاحِبِكُمْ قَالَ أَبُو قَتَادَةَ عَلَيَّ دَيْنُهُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ فَصَلَّى عَلَيْهِ – رواه البخاري

From Salamah bin al-Akwa' (may Allah be pleased with him), he said: "A funeral was brought to the Prophet (peace be upon him) so that he might pray over it. He asked, 'Does he have any debt?' They replied, 'No,' so he prayed over him. Then another funeral was brought, and he asked, 'Does he have any debt?' They replied, 'Yes.' He said, 'Pray for your companion.' Abu Qatadah said, 'I will bear his debt, O Messenger of Allah.' Then he prayed over him." (Narrated by Bukhari)

How should one make the intention for funeral prayer according to Muhammadiyah's tarjih (religious ruling)?

Triono explained that Muhammadiyah's tarjih principle affirms that the intention is sufficient when made in the heart and does not need to be verbally pronounced. However, for the purpose of understanding, Muslims may use the following wording:

Intention for male deceased:

"I intend to pray over this male deceased with four takbir, as a communal obligation, for the sake of Allah Ta'ala."

The procedure for funeral prayer according to Muhammadiyah's Tarjih ruling is as follows:

1. Standing (for those who are able)
2. Making intention in the heart
3. Four takbir (without bowing or prostration)
4. Concluding with salam

First Takbir: Recite Surah Al-Fatihah. Second Takbir: Recite salawat (blessings) upon the Prophet: 

اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، وَبَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، فِي الْعَالَمِينَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ

Meaning: "O Allah, bestow blessings upon our master Prophet Muhammad and upon the family of our master Prophet Muhammad, as You bestowed blessings upon our master Prophet Ibrahim and upon the family of our master Prophet Ibrahim. And grant grace upon our master Prophet Muhammad and upon the family of our master Prophet Muhammad, as You granted grace upon our master Prophet Ibrahim and upon the family of our master Prophet Ibrahim. Throughout all the worlds, indeed You are Praiseworthy and Glorious."

Third Takbir: Recite supplication for the deceased. For male deceased:

 اَللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لَهُ وَارْحَمْهُ وَعَافِهِ وَاعْفُ عَنْهُ، وَأَكْرِمْ نُزُلَهُ، وَوَسِّعْ مَدْخَلَهُ

Meaning: "O Allah, forgive him, have mercy on him, grant him safety, pardon him, honor his place of rest, and widen his grave."

Sementara doa untuk jenazah perempuan:   

اَللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لَهَا وَارْحَمْهَا وَعَافِهَا وَاعْفُ عَنْهَا، وَأَكْرِمْ نُزُلَهَا، وَوَسِّعْ مَدْخَلَهَا

Meaning: "O Allah, forgive her, have mercy on her, grant her safety, pardon her, honor her place of rest, and widen her grave."

Fourth Takbir: Recite a brief supplication. For male deceased:

اللَّهُمَّ لاَ تَحْرِمْنَا أَجْرَهُ وَلاَ تَفْتِنَّ بَعْدَهُ وَاغْفِرْلَناَ وَلَهُ

Meaning: "O Allah, do not deprive us of his reward, do not put us to trial after him, and forgive us and him."

For female deceased:

اللَّهُمَّ لَا تَحْرِمْنَا أَجْرَهَا وَلَا تَفْتِنَّا بَعْدَهَا وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا وَلَهَا

Meaning: "O Allah, do not deprive us of her reward, do not put us to trial after her, and forgive us and her."

The funeral prayer concludes with salam to the right and to the left.

Triono noted that there are two versions of the funeral prayer supplication, a short version and a long version. The difference in versions, he said, does not affect the validity of the funeral prayer. "Whether you recite the long or short version, the funeral prayer remains valid," he said.

Triono explained that funeral prayer holds profound wisdom, including:

1. Supplication and intercession for the deceased

Funeral prayer contains requests for forgiveness, mercy, and protection from punishment.

2. Reminder of death

Funeral prayer cultivates awareness of the transience of this world and encourages improvement of deeds.

3. Social solidarity among Muslims

The performance of funeral prayer demonstrates that Muslims are one body and pray for one another even after returning to Allah's mercy.

4. Spiritual education

Funeral prayer teaches Muslims the importance of sincerity, simplicity, and equality.

"Funeral prayer does not distinguish differences in status when a servant returns to the Creator," Triono concluded.

Writer: Gede Arga Adrian

Translator: Farizal Luqman Majid

Editor: Al Habiib Josy Asheva