The funeral prayer

The funeral prayer is, for the majority of jurists, a communal obligation — some Malikis said a communal sunna — discharged once some perform it; it consists of takbirs and supplication for the deceased, without bowing or prostration. ¹

For the Hanafis: the takbirs and standing. For the Malikis, five: intention, four takbirs, supplication between them, one salam, and standing for whoever is able. For the Shafi'is: intention, takbirs, the Fatiha, the blessing on the Prophet, a minimal supplication for the deceased, and the first salam. For the Hanbalis: standing in an obligatory prayer for whoever is able, four takbirs, the Fatiha, the blessing on the Prophet, a minimal supplication specific to the deceased, and salam. ²

It requires the conditions of other prayers — purity of body, garment and place, covering the 'awra, facing the qibla, intention — except the time. The Hanafis and Malikis required the body's presence before the worshippers; the Shafi'is and Hanbalis allowed prayer over an absent deceased. For the Hanafis the imam must stand level with a part of the body; for the Hanbalis this is only recommended. ^{2 3 4}

For the Hanafis two salams are obligatory after the fourth takbir; for the Malikis, Shafi'is and Hanbalis one, on the basis of "its dissolution is the salam" — the second salam is sunna for the Shafi'is and permitted for the Hanbalis. ⁴

The imam stands level with the chest of the deceased, male or female, for the Hanafis; at the man's head and the woman's pelvis for the Shafi'is. Praise after the first takbir is sunna for the Hanafis, the blessing on the Prophet after the second, and supplication for the deceased, oneself and all Muslims after the third — among the transmitted words: "O God, forgive him, have mercy on him, keep him well and pardon him…". ^{5 6}

The Sheikh says that Umar ibn al-Khattab (may God be pleased with him) asked to be buried quickly, since if he was good he would go to good, and if not he would be removed from people (needs_source). ⁷ He holds that walking in a funeral procession and reflecting on it is worth a thousand lessons (his view, needs_source). ⁸ He relates that Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan came to watch a body being washed by Abu Hazim, who answered him (needs_source). ⁹ He relates reports on the washing of the Prophet and the disagreement of the Companions about turning him, and says that what was done for him was done only with God's help (needs_source). ^{10 11}