JANAAZA
FAMILY PRAYER SERVICE
JANAAZA PRAYER SERVICE
Just as the Muslim is welcomed into this world at birth with prayers and joy, and just as the entire earth is made a dwelling place for him or her, he is likewise honored in death by the washing and shrouding of the body, and the Janaazah (funeral) prayer offered. It is an honor and obligation for those who are around the deceased to attend and participate in the Janaazah service.
This honor of the Janaazah upon the deceased should not be delayed more than two days. Muhammad the Prophet, upon him be the prayers and the peace, said, “Hasten with the dead-body, if it was pious you will be taking good in advance to its piety; and if it was other than that you will be putting off evil from your shoulders.”
Prayer For The Deceased
O Allah! Make his affair light for him, render easy what he is going to face after this, bless him with Your Meeting, and make his new abode better for him than the one he has left behind.
Washing The Body
The entire body is washed to remove all impurities. As the body is being washed with soap and water the stomach is pressed to relieve it of waste mater. The hair is washed also.
After the body is cleansed from its impurities, Wudu, the washing that prepares that person for prayer, is preformed for the deceased. Water should not be placed in the mouth, nose, or ears, that it may reach the stomach. after the Wudu, the whole body is washed with water beginning with the limbs of the right side, then left side.
The hair is combed; and the women’s hair braided if possible. Both the male and the female are to groomed without cutting any hairs or nails or using cosmetics although the body and the shroud are scented.
Shrouding the Body
In shrouding the male, three cotton sheets are used, and for the female five are used. The first sheet, the winding sheet is placed on the table, then the second sheet, the lower garment sheet, and sleeveless, shirt on the top.
The wrapping starts with the sleeveless sheet. The male is wrapped from the neck to the feet with the arms out. Next, the lower garment sheet is wrapped over covering the body from the head to the toes. Finally, the winding sheet, which is approximately two feet longer and wider than the deceased person, is wrapped in the same manner. The garment is them tied at the head, waist, and feet.
The female is shrouded by using two additional garments, a head piece and a sheet that will cover her breasts and thighs. The wrapping is the same as the male except that the head piece is wrapped after the sleeveless dress. The breast and thigh piece are wrapped after the lower garment is wrapped.
The Prayer Service
The prayer is said standing in horizontal lines. The Imam (leaders of the prayer) will say the takbir four times, “Allahu Akbar (God is Greater),” aloud while raising both hands to his ears. The congregation lined behind the Imam will follow his lead saying the same. Afterwards the right hand is placed over the left, below the waist, while the prayers are being said.
First Takbir: Allahu Akbar
Pure and glorified are You, O Allah, blessed is Your name and exalted is Your majesty, and there is nothing worthy of worship except, You.
The Opening
With the name Allah, the Merciful Benefactor, the Merciful Redeemer. The praise belong to Allah, The Lord of the worlds. The Merciful Benefactor. The Merciful Redeemer, Master of the day of judgement. You alone do we worship, and You alone to we beseech for help. Guide us to the straight path. The path of those on whom You have bestowed favors, not those whom You have become angered, nor those who have gone astray.
Second Takbir: Allahu Akbar
O Allah! Exalt Muhammad and the followers of Muhammad as You exalted Abraham and the followers of Abraham; surely You are Praised, magnified.
Third Takbir: Allahu Akbar
O Allah! Forgive him/her and have mercy upon him, pardon his sins, honor his arrival, widen his place of entering, wash him/her with heavenly waters, and clean him of faults as the white cloth is cleansed of stain.
Fourth Takbir: Allahu Akbar
O Allah! Grant protection to our living and our dead, to those of us who are present and to those who are absent, to our young and our old, and to our males and our females.
O Allah! Whomsoever You grant to live from among us, cause him to live in Al-Islam, and whomsoever of us You cause to die, make him die in faith;
O Allah! Do not deprive us of his/her reward and do not make us fall into a trial after him.
Conclusion of Prayer
The Imam turns his head to the right saying the final greeting aloud. The congregation then follows in saying the same. The greetings is: Peace be upon you and the Mercy of Allah.
Burial
The body is taken to the gravesite, whereupon the grave should be dug North and South. The body is placed on its right facing East with the head at the south side of the grave. As the body is being lowered in the grave a short prayer is said:
With Allah’s name and upon the way of the Messenger of Allah.
The grave is then filled and a prayer is offered
For guidance or support with funeral services for our loved one, contact our Partner:
Rahman Funeral Home
Address:
12924 Joseph Campau
Detroit, MI 48212
Phone:
(313) 366-2310