Special Prayers

In addition to the stated daily prayers and the Friday prayer, there are special prayers for special occasions as given below: -

1) Salâtul-Musâfir [Prayers of the Traveller]. Two rak’âts instead of the usual number of the meridian, afternoon, and night prayers; maghrib [evening prayer] always remaining the same, i.e. three rak’âts.

2) Salâtul-khauf [Prayers of Fear]. – This is said in war-time. They are two rak’âts recited first by one regiment or company and then by the other.

3) Salâtul-Tarawîh. – Eight rakâts are performed every evening during Ramadan, the fasting month, immediately after the fifth daily prayer, the ‘isha, or before the dawn.

4) Salâtul-Istikhâra [Prayers for Guidance]. The person who is about to undertake any special affair or business performs two rak’âts for which he seeks guidance.

5) Salâtul-Janâzah [Prayers at a funeral for the dead]. – This special prayer is founded upon very minute instructions given by the Prophet, which are recorded in the hadîth [traditions]. The Muslim funeral prayer is not recited in the graveyard, but either in a mosque or in some open space near the dwelling of the deceased person or the graveyard. The nearest relative is the proper person to lead the prayer, but it is usually conducted by the family imâm, or by a learned man.

6) The following is the order of the prayer: Someone present calls out: Here begin the prayers for the dead.”

Then those present arrange themselves in one, two or three rows or more, as the case permits, opposite the corpse, with their faces Qibla-wards [i.e. towards Makkah]. The imâm or leader stands in front of the ranks opposite the head of the corpse if the deceased is a man, and in middle of the corpse if the deceased is a woman.

The whole attendants having taken the standing position, the imâm open the prayer by saying:- “I purpose to perform for this dead person prayers to God consisting of four takbîrs.”  

Then, placing his hands to the lobes of his ears, he recites the first takber: God is Greater. Afterwards, he folds his hands below his breast, and recites the tasbih or glorification to God, thus:

Next, he recites the fâtiha, [the Opening Chapter of the Qu’ran]. Here ends the first takbir. Then follows the second takbîr: God is Greater. The imâm recites, thereafter, the salatu-‘ala-Nabi [prayer for the Prophet], thus: “O God, we invoke your increasing blessings and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon his family, as You did bestow your blessings and peace upon the Prophet Ibrahim [Abraham] and his family; O God, You are praised and You are great.”

Here ends the second takbîr: then follows the third takbîr: God is Greater, after which the following prayer is recited: -

“O God, we beseech you to forgive the sins of this dead person and have mercy upon him/her. He/she was faithful to Islam, he/she believed in Your Oneness and in the Message of Your Prophet.”

Here ends the third takbîr. Then follows the fourth takbîr: God is Greater, after which the following prayer is recited: “O God, forgive our living and our dead and those of us who are present and those who are absent. O God, those whom You do keep alive amongst us, keep alive in Islam, and those whom You cause to die, let them die in the Faith of Islam.

Turning the head round to the right, the imâm says the salâm: Peace and mercy be to You. Turning the head round to the left, he repeats the salâm: Peace and mercy be to You.

The takbîrs are recited by him aloud, but the tasbîh, the salâm, and the prayers are recited by him and by the people attending the funeral in a low voice.

The attendants then raise their hands in silent supplication [Dua'a] on behalf of the deceased person, and afterwards, addressing the relatives, they say: “Verily, to God belongs what He has taken, and to Him belongs what He has given. For everything He has set a term. So be patient and be content’, may God increase your reward, give you the best consolation, and forgive your deceased beloved”, to which the chief mourner replies: “I am pleased with the will of God.”

Those who wish to return to their own business may do this at that time, and the rest proceed to the grave, lastly the corpse is placed on its back in the grave, with the head to the north and feet to the south, the face being turned towards the Qibla [Makkah]. The persons who place the corps in grave repeat the following sentence: “We commit you in the name of God and on the religion of the Messenger of God.”

The bands of the shroud having been loosened, the recess, which is called lahd, is closed in with unburnt bricks and the grave filled in with earth, then throwing three handfuls of earth into the grave.”