Janazah guide — washing, shrouding, salaah and burial

After death

1. 1

   Close the eyes and jaw, and cover the body

   The eyes should be shut and the jaws closed with a band fastened from the lower chin to the top of the head; then the deceased is covered with a sheet and fragrance placed nearby.

   Sources: AskImam
2. 2

   Hasten to settle debts and inform people

   It is desirable to hasten in settling the deceased’s debts and to inform neighbours, relatives and friends so that they can make du‘a for him. Bathing and burial should be hastened.

   Sources: AskImam

Ghusl (washing the deceased)

3. 3

   Who washes

   Washing the deceased is fardh kifayah. Preferably the closest of people to the deceased, or a pious person, washes. A wife may wash her deceased husband, but a husband does not wash his deceased wife.

   Sources: AskImam
4. 4

   Prepare and cover

   Place the deceased on a broad bench, remove the clothes and keep the area from the navel to the knees covered.

   Sources: AskImam
5. 5

   Wudhu without rinsing mouth and nose

   Make wudhu for the deceased without rinsing the mouth or nose; a thin cloth may be used to clean the mouth, nose, teeth and lips.

   Sources: AskImam
6. 6

   Wash the head, then each side

   Wash the head and beard with soap; lay the deceased on the left side and wash, then on the right side and wash, pouring water three times each time the side is turned.

   Sources: AskImam
7. 7

   Wipe the stomach, dry and apply fragrance

   Sit the deceased up leaning on the washer and gently wipe the stomach; wash any impurity that comes out (ghusl is not repeated). Dry the body, and place camphor on the forehead, nose, hands, knees and feet.

   Sources: AskImam

Kafan (shrouding)

8. 8

   Men: three cloths

   It is Sunnah for a man to be shrouded in three cloths — izar, qamis and lifafah; izar and lifafah alone are also permissible. Hair and beard are not combed and the nails are not cut.

   Sources: AskImam
9. 9

   Women: five cloths

   It is Sunnah for a woman to be shrouded in five cloths — izar, qamis, khimar, a chest cloth and lifafah; izar, khimar and lifafah alone are also permissible.

   Sources: AskImam

Janazah salaah

10. 10

    Intention

    Make the intention of performing Janazah salaah upon the deceased. The imam stands in line with the chest of the deceased.

    Sources: Mufti Online, AskImam
11. 11

    First takbeer, then Thana

    Raise the hands to the ears with the first takbeer, tie them below the navel and recite the Thana.

    Sources: Mufti Online
12. 12

    Second takbeer, then Durood

    Say the second takbeer without raising the hands and recite the Durood (preferably Durood-e-Ebrahim).

    Sources: Mufti Online
13. 13

    Third takbeer, then du‘a for the deceased

    Say the third takbeer without raising the hands and recite the du‘a for the deceased (the du‘a differs for an adult and for a child).

    Sources: Mufti Online
14. 14

    Fourth takbeer, then salaam

    Say the fourth takbeer without raising the hands and make salaam to the right and then the left. There is no At-Tahiyyaat or Qur’an recitation in this salaah.

    Sources: Mufti Online

The four takbeers and the salaam are required for validity; the Thana, Durood and du‘a are Sunnah. Sources: Mufti Online, AskImam

Burial

15. 15

    The grave

    Dig the grave with an incision on the qiblah side; the deceased is entered from the qiblah side.

    Sources: AskImam
16. 16

    Lay the deceased facing the qiblah

    Lay the deceased on the right side facing the qiblah and untie the knots of the shroud. On placing the deceased it is mustahab to say “Bismillahi wa ‘ala millati Rasulillah”.

    Sources: AskImam
17. 17

    Fill the grave

    Close the incision with unbaked bricks and fill the grave with the soil dug out of it; those present may pour three handfuls of soil.

    Sources: AskImam
18. 18

    After burial

    Raise the grave about a foot in a hump, and remain for a while making du‘a and zikr for the deceased.

    Sources: AskImam