Question 349) - Describe the Salah for the dead.

A: The Imam will stand in line with the corpse's chest. The people will stand behind him and try to form three rows. Malik bin Hubayrah RADI. narrates: I heard Rasulullaah (s.a.w.) say, "There is no Muslim who dies and three rows of Muslims pray upon him except that [jannah] becomes compulsory." Because of this Hadith Malik would form the people in to three rows when they were few at a funeral. [Abu Dawud] The Imam and the followers will proclaim Takbir and recite Thana and Allaah's praises. If they wish they may recite, "subhanakAllaahumma ..." until the end. After a second Takbir, Salat 'alan Nabi (S.A.W.) is recited. After a third Takbir du'a is made for the deceased and the Muslim, living and dead. After a fourth Takbir, Salam is made.

Abu Bakr bin Abi Shaybah narrates from Hafs bin Ghiyath who narrates from Ash'ath who narrates from ash-Shu'ba that after the first Takbir Hamd and Thana is recited, salat 'alan Nabi (S.A.W.) after the second, du?a after the third and Salam after the fourth.

In India and Pakistan the du'a narrated by at-Tirmizi is most frequently recited, "Allamaghfir lihayyina wa mayyitina...?

~ al-Quduri ~