Suara.com – In Islam, one part of caring for the dead is the funeral prayer. Considering the importance of carrying out this prayer, as Muslims we must know the procedures for the funeral prayer, the intention and the law.
Muhamad Bagir in a book entitled Practical Fiqh explains that funeral prayers can be performed at any time, even though it is forbidden to pray even once. However, if there is no urgent reason, then it is appropriate to carry out prayer at the time permitted for prayer. It is known that there are differences in the procedures for performing funeral prayers between women and men.
For this reason, as Muslims, we need to know the laws and procedures for carrying out funeral prayers so that the prayers performed are valid. Technically, the procedures for funeral prayers are different from the procedures for prayers in general, because there are no bowing, i'tidal or prostration movements.
Funeral Prayer Procedures and Intentions
Sheikh Muhammad Nawawi al-Bantani in his book Tausyih ala Ibni Qasim explains briefly the procedures for carrying out this funeral prayer. The following include:
1. Reading the Funeral Prayer Intention
The intention for the funeral prayer can be recited silently and simultaneously with the takbiratul ihram movement. This is the same as what applies when carrying out intentions during fardhu prayers. The reading for the intention to pray for a funeral prayer alone with a male corpse is as follows:
I pray for this dead person, an obligation for God Almighty.
Ushalli 'ala hadzal mayyiti fardlan lillâhi ta'ala
Meaning: I intend to pray over the body (of a man) this is fardhu because Allah ta'âlâ.
Meanwhile, when praying alone and the body is female, the pronunciation of intention that must be said is as follows:
I pray for this dead person as an obligation for God Almighty.
Ushalli 'ala hâdzihil mayyitati fardlan lillâhi ta'âlâ
Meaning: I intend to pray over the body (of the woman) this is fardhu because Allah ta'âlâ.
Then, when praying the body in congregation and as a congregation, you must recite the following intentions, whether the body is male or female:
I pray for the one upon whom the imam prays, as he is led in prayer, as an obligation for God Almighty.
Ushalli 'Ala man shalla 'Alaihil imam ma'muman fardlan lillâhi ta'âlâ.
Meaning: I intend to pray over the corpse that the fardhu imam prayed for because of Allah ta'âlâ.
2. Stand up
The funeral prayer must be performed standing, because the funeral prayer is classified as a fardhu prayer. Remember that fardhu prayers must be done standing. However, if someone is unable to stand, then he can perform the funeral prayer sitting, just as is the provision in the obligatory prayers.
3. Takbir Four Akalis
The performance of the funeral prayer becomes invalid if the number of takbirs performed is less than four. It is sunnah when reciting the takbir to raise both hands parallel to the shoulders, the same as is done when praying five times a day.
4. Reading Surah al-Fatihah.
Reading Surah al-Fatihah can be done after the first takbir (takbiratul ihram). It is best to keep your voice low when reading Surah al-Fatihah, in case you can still hear the reading, even if the funeral prayer is performed at night.
In addition, it is sunnah before reading Surat al-Fatihah to read ta'awwudz according to the strongest opinion, but it is not sunnah to read the opening prayer. The cremation prayer is better done briefly.
5. Reading Shalawat
Prayers can be read after performing the second takbir. The reading of the prayer that is at least sufficient to make the funeral prayer valid is as follows:
Blessings be upon him
Allâhumma shalli 'alâsayyidinâ Muhammad.
Meaning: Oh God, bestow mercy on Prophet Muhammad.
Meanwhile, the prayer reading that is considered the most perfect is the Ibrahimiyah prayer reading. The Ibrahimiyah prayers are read during the final tasyahud of the five daily fardhu prayers, as follows:
O God, bless our master Muhammad, and the family of our master Muhammad, as You sent blessings upon our master Abraham, and the family of our master Abraham, and bless our master Muhammad, and The family of our master Muhammad, just as you blessed our master Abraham, and the family of our master Abraham, in the worlds. Indeed, you are Praiseworthy and Glorious.
Allâhumma shalli 'alâ sayyidinâ Muhammad wa 'alâ âli sayyidinâ Muhammad, kamâ shallaita 'alâ sayyidinâ Ibrâhîm wa 'alâ âli sayyidinâ Ibrâhim, wa bârik 'alâ sayyidinâ Muhammad, wa 'alâli sayyidinâ Muhammad, kamâ bârakta 'alâ sayyidina Ibrâhîm wa 'alâ âli Sayyidinâ Ibrâhîm fil 'âlamîna innaka hamîdun majîd.
Meaning: O Allah, bestow mercy on the Prophet Muhammad and the family of the Prophet Muhammad, as You have bestowed mercy on the Prophet Ibrahim and the family of the Prophet Ibrahim. Also shower blessings on Prophet Muhammad and on the family of Prophet Muhammad, just as You showered blessings on Prophet Ibrahim and on the family of Prophet Ibrahim. Truly in the universe You are Praiseworthy and Great.
6. Praying for the remains
Praying for the body can be done after performing the third takbir. The prayer reading for a male corpse is as follows:
Oh God, forgive him
Allâhumaghfir lahu
Meaning: O Allah, forgive him (man).
Meanwhile, the minimum prayer reading for a woman's body is:
Oh God, forgive her
Allâhumaghfir lahâ
Meaning: O Allah, forgive her (woman).
If you want to read a prayer that is much more perfect, then when the corpse is male it is recommended to read the following prayer:
O God, forgive him, have mercy on him, pardon him, honor his abode, widen its entrance, wash him with water, ice, and hail, and purify him of etc. Cleanse it just as you cleanse a white garment of filth, and replace it with a house better than its house, and a family better than its family, and a husband better than his wife, and bring him into the world. Paradise and protect him from the torment of the grave. And from the torment of the Fire
Allâhummaghfir lahu warhamhu wa 'âfihi wa'fu anhu wa akrim nuzulahu wa wassi' madkhalahu waghsilhu bilmâ'i wats tsalji wal baradi, wa naqqihi mainal khathâyâ kamâ naqaita ats-tsauba al-abyadh minad danasi, wa abdilhu dâran khairan min dârihi wa ahlan khairan min ahlihi wa zaujan khairan min zaujihi wa adkhilhu al-jannata wa a'idzhu min 'adzâbil qabri wa min adzâbinnâr
Meaning: O Allah, forgive him, have mercy on him, set him free and forgive him. Honor his place, widen his grave, and bathe him with water, snow, and ice. Cleanse him from all faults, as You clean a white shirt from dirt. Give him a house that is better than his home (in the world), a family that is better than his family, a partner that is better than his partner. Then enter him into heaven and protect him from the torment of the grave and the torment of hell.
Meanwhile, when the corpse is female, it is recommended to recite the following prayer:
O God, forgive her, have mercy on her, pardon her, honor her residence, widen her entrance, wash her with water, ice, and hail, and purify her. from sins just as you purify a white garment from filth, and replace it with a better house than its house, a family better than its family, and a husband better than its wife. And admit her into Paradise and protect her from the torment of the grave. And from the torment of the Fire
Allâhummaghfir lahâ warhamhâ wa 'fihâ wa'fu anhâ wa akrim nuzulahâ wa wassi' madkhalahâ waghsilhâ bilmâ'i wats tsalji wal baradi, wa naqqihâ mainal khathâyâ kamâ naqaita ats-tsauba al-abyadh minad danasi, wa abdilhâ dâran khairan min dârihâ I love hair min ahlihâ wa zaujan khairan min zaujihâ wa adkhilhâ al-jannata wa a'idzhâ min 'adzâbil qabri wa min adzâbinnâr
Meaning: O Allah, forgive him, have mercy on him, set him free and forgive him. Honor his place, widen his grave, and bathe him with water, snow, and ice. Cleanse him from all faults, as You clean a white shirt from dirt. Give him a house that is better than his home (in the world), a family that is better than his family, a partner that is better than his partner. Then enter him into heaven and protect him from the torment of the grave and the torment of hell.
After reading the prayer above, you can continue with the fourth takbir movement. After that, it is sunnah to recite the following prayer.
For male remains:
O God, do not deprive us of his reward, and do not tempt us after him, and forgive us and him.
Allâhumma the tahrimnâ ajrahu wa the taftinna ba'dahu waghfir lanâ wa lahu
Meaning: O Allah, do not forbid us from the reward and do not give fitnah (trial) for us until death. Forgive us and forgive him.
For female remains:
O God, do not deprive us of her reward, and do not test us after her, and forgive us and her.
Allâhumma the tahrimnâ ajrahâ the taftinna ba’dahâ waghfir lanâ wa lahâ
Meaning: O Allah, do not forbid us from the reward and do not give fitnah (trial) for us until death. Forgive us and forgive him.
7. Reading greetings
Reading the greeting can be done after carrying out the fourth takbir and after reading the prayer that is recited after the fourth takbir movement. The greetings read during the funeral prayer are exactly the same as the greetings read during the five daily fardhu prayers.
Not only that, the sunnah of turning your face to the right when reading the first greeting and turning your face to the left during the second greeting also applies when performing the funeral prayer.
Muslims, it is recommended to read the perfect greeting:
May the peace, blessings, and mercy of God be upon you
Assalamu'alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh
Meaning: May safety, love and blessings from Allah be upon you.
Funeral Prayer Law
Muhammad Nashiruddin al-Albani in a book titled Ahkaamul Janaa'iz wa Bid'ihaa translated from the book Complete Guide to Caring for the Dead explained that the law of burying dead bodies is fardhu kifayah or based on the order of the Prophet SAW.
He then quoted the hadith of Zaid bin Khalid al-Juhni as the basis of his law. Zaid bin Khalid said: “One of the companions of the Prophet SAW died during the battle of Khaibar, and the companions informed the Prophet SAW about it. He said, 'Pray your friends.' (HR Malik, Abu Dawud, Nasa'i Ibnu Majah, Hakim & Ahmad).
In addition, the funeral prayer will be more important if it is done in congregation because the more people who pray, the greater the reward will be. For the corpse will also receive intercessory prayer as the Prophet SAW said.
The Prophet SAW once said which means, “Not a single Muslim dies, and his body is prayed for by 40 people who do not associate Allah SWT with anything other than Him, except that Allah SWT will accept their intercessory prayers for him.” (HR Muslim, Ahmad, & Abu Dawud).
Such is the procedure for the funeral prayer, from the intention to the law.
Contributor: Putri Ayu Nanda Sari