Injunctions Concerning the Funeral Procession Following The Bier: To follow a Muslims bier is among the rights due to every Muslim from other Muslims.
Method of following The Bier:
There are two basic ways of following the bier. Both ways were done by the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa salam), but he favoured the second method by indicating that its reward was greater. Abu Hurayrah narrated that Allaah's Messenger (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said:
"Whoever attends the funeral procession till he offers the funeral prayer for it, will get a reward equal to one Qirat, and whoever accompanies it till burial, will get a reward equal to two Qirats." It was asked. What are two Qirats?" He replied. "like two huge mountains."(Bukhari)
The Participation of Women: The virtue of following the bier is basically for men alone. Women are not encouraged to take part based on the fact that the Prophet (sallallaahualayhi wa sallam) prohibited their participation.
The Dhikr: Following the bier with.wailing. chanting dhikr, dirges, burning incense etc. are all forbidden and considered bidah (religious innovations). The way of the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) and his companions was to maintain silence while walking with the bier.
Haste in carrying the Bier:
The bearers of the coffin are required to walk quickly from the deceased house to the prayer site, and from there to the graveyard. Abu Hurayra (RA) said:
"Make your funerals speedy,for it is only good that you are advancing him towards, or evil that you are taking off your necks." (Muwatta)
Standing For The Bier: In the early days of lslaam, the Prophet (sallalaahu alayhi wa sallam) used to stand when the bier passed by, but later he abolished the practice.
Salaatu Janaazah (The Funeral Prayer) Rules Concerning the Prayer:
The performance of Salaatu janaazah (the funeral prayer) is considered fard (obligatory) kifaayah. If someone is buried without it being performed. The whole community is held, responsible. However, but as long as some gather and perform it. The obligation is removed from the community as a whole.
Exceptions Children Below the Age of Puberty: A child born dead or aborted after the fourth month, Or one that dies before reaching puberty, does not have to have a funeral prayer because the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) did not do so for hisown son,Ibrahim.
A child aborted before the fourth month: If the child was Still born before the fourth month, there is no funeral prayer for it, since it was not considered living in the human sense that it has a soul which may be prayed for.
Burial without Salaah: It is allowable to perform the funeral prayer by the grave of someone who was buried without having salaatu janaazah performed for him. (Bukhaari)
Salaatul-Ghaaib: If someone dies in a country or situation where there is no one to perform the salaatal janaazah for him, it is permitted for a group of Muslims to make a funeral prayer for him in his absence. This prayer is known as salaatul-ghaaib. (Bukhaari)
The Jamaaah (Congregation) In Congregation: Salaatul-Janaazah, like the five daily compulsory prayers, must be performed in congregation. This was the only way that the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) and his companions did it. The Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) was also reported to have said:
"Pray as you see me pray. (Bukhaari).
The only exception to this rule was in the case of the funeral prayer for the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) in which the Prophets (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) companions seem to have prayed separately due to the uniqueness of the situation and their state of confusion at the time; (Al bidaayah wa an-Nihaayah, vol.5, pp.304-5)
Three Rows: It is preferable that those behind the imaarn form at least three rows, as this was the Sunnah when the number of worshippers is small, The Rasul (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said:"Any Muslim who dies and three rows of Muslims make salaah for him, will be forgiven. (Ahkaamul-Janaaiz)
Two Men: If there is only one man besides the imaam, he should pray behind the imaam and not besidehim as he would in the case of all other salaahs. (Bayhaqi, Haakirn and Tabaraani and authenticated in Ahkaamul-Janaaiz)
The Imaam: The Ameer or his assistant has more right to lead the funeral prayer than the deceaseds wali. If neither the Ameer nor his representative is present, the one who has the most knowledge of Al-Quraan should lead the funeral prayer,even if he is a child. Knowledge is not just memorization. but that which benefits. (Bayhaqi and authenticated in Ahkaamul-Janaaiz)
A Number of Dead: If there are a number of dead people, a single Salaatul-Janaazah can be made for all of them. However if there are males and females the female bodies are placed in front of the imam and the males behind the imaam even if they are young children. (An-Nasaai)
Location of Prayer Inside the Masjid: It is permissible to hold the funeral prayer inside the masjid. This is based on the occasional practice of the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam). (Muslim) Outside the Masjid: It is preferable to have a place (musalla) set aside for the funeral- prayer outside the masjid, as this was the usual practice of the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam).(Bukhari)
Between the Graves: It is forbidden for Salaatul-Janaazah to be said for the dead between the graves, according to the following hadeeth narrated by Anas ibn Maalik (RA), in which he said:
"The Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) forbade the performance of the salaah for the dead in between the graves," (Tabaraani)
The Method of Prayer Position of The Imaam: The imaam should stand, facing the qiblah. behind the head of the dead man and behind the middle if the dead is a woman. (Abu Dawud)
Number of Takbeers: It is possible to do either four,five,six seven or nine takbeers, as all of them are recorded in authentic hadeeths and acts of the Prophets companions. Raising the Hands: It is permissible to either raise ones hands with each takbeer, or to do so only for the first takbeer. (Bukhaari)
Placing the Hands: The right hand should be placed on the left on the chest, as in regular prayer, Since there are no authentic hadiths to indicate otherwise. (Bukhaari)
Recitation: Immediately after the first takbeer, the chapter al-faatihah should be read. as recorded in authentic, hadiths. The only thing which should be read prior to the Faatihah is the istiaadhah (i.e. saying audhubillah mina-sh-Shaytaan-ir-Rajeem" and the"basmalah." (Bukhaari, Muslim)
Salam ala-n-Nabiyy (Prayer for the Prophet): Immediately after the second takbeer, the prayer for the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) should be made according to one of the various patterns used in regular salaah. (Nasaai, Bukhaari)
Duaa for the Dead: After each of the remaining two or more takbeers, sincere prayers should be made for the dead, their relatives and the living. Nothing from the Quran should be recited following these remaining takbeers. (Abu Dawud)
Tasleem: There are two ways by which the tasleem of the funeral prayer may be given: Taslim to the right side only, as in Abu Hurayrah's hadeeth; or by saying; tasleem to both sides, as in Ibn Masuds hadeeth; (al-Bayhaqi and at-tabaraani authenticated in Ahkaamul-Janaaiz) Forbidden Times There are three times in the day when Salaatul-Janaazah or any other salaah is strictly forbidden except in the case of an emergency. These are the times during which the sun worshippers used to perform their rites of worship.
Thus, these became forbidden times in order to avoid any resemblance to them and to prevent non-Muslims from thinking that Muslims might also be worshipping the sun. Uqbah ibn Amir said,
"There are three times in which the Messenger of Allaah used to forbid us from making salaah or burying our dead: When the sun is rising until [the disc of the sun] is clearly above the horizon. When the sun reaches the middle of the sky until it declines. When the sun is setting until it[completely] disappears." (Muslim)
The Burial Injunctions Regarding Burial: Burying Everyone: Muslims are obliged to bury everyone who dies in areas under their jurisdiction.
Muslims Buried Separately: Muslims should not be buried beside non-Muslims, nor non-Muslims beside Muslims; each should have their own separate graveyard.
Burial in the Graveyard: It was the Prophets (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) Sunnah to bury the dead in the graveyard of Madeenah, known as al-Baqi. (Bukhaari)
Depth of the Grave: The grave should be dug deep and wide, and be well-prepared. (Ibn Majah)
Shape of the Grave: The grave may be dug straight down (shaqq) with a burial chamber in the middle or with a niche (Iahd) to create the burial chamber on the side. However, in both cases, a burial chamber is created from the earth,and sealed with bricks of unbaked clay or any other materials (planks,block etc.). Both methods were practiced in the time of the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam). However, the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa salam) favoured the lahd style. (Ibn Majah)
Number of Bodies in a grave: Two or more bodies may be buried in the same grave. This may be due to the large number of dead resulting from a natural calamity or plague, or dead may be from the same family.(Bukhari)
Injunctions Concerning Placing The Body In The Grave Men and Not Women: It is preferable that only men should be responsible for placing the dead body inside the grave, even if the dead person isa woman. This is due to the fact that it has been the custom among Muslims from the time of the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) until today. The process requires a certain amount of strength, and men are generally stronger than women.
Near Relatives: The blood relatives of the dead have more right to place the body in the grave, based on the general meaning of the following Quraanic verse:
"kidred by blood are nearer to one another ... " (Q8[Anfaal]:75)
The husband is permitted to place his wife in the grave on condition that he did not have sexual relations with his wife the previous night. (Bukhaari)
Feet First: It is preferable that the body be placed in the niche feet first. This was the recorded way of the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam).
On the Right Side: Place the dead body in the grave on its right side with the face of the dead person towards the qiblah (Makkah). Duaa: At the time of inserting the body in the grave, those handling the procedure are recommended to make the following short prayer:Ibn Umar said:
Whenever the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam)placed a dead person in his grave, he would say, "Bismillaah wa alaa millati Rasulillaah" (In the name of Allaah, and according to the way(Sunnah) of the Messenger of Allaah." (Ibn Majah)
Throwing Dirt on the Grave: It is recommended for those near the grave to throw three double-handfuls of dirt into the grave after the burial chamber has been sealed.