Introduction
The Janazah prayer is mainly a special supplication made by the living for the benefit of the deceased in the Hereafter. It is an important ruling in Islam. Although the Janazah prayer is different from other obligatory or voluntary prayers in method, because it has no adhan, no iqamah, no ruku, no sujud, and no tashahhud, still in Islamic law it is called a prayer.
Just as Surah Al Fatiha is necessary and a pillar for any prayer to be valid, in the same way reciting Surah Al Fatiha in the Janazah prayer is also a pillar. From the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and the practice of the Companions it is clearly proven that just as a regular prayer is not valid without Surah Al Fatiha, the Janazah prayer is also not valid without it. In this article the ruling of reciting Surah Al Fatiha in Janazah prayer is discussed in detail based on the Quran and authentic Sunnah.
Evidence from the Quran
Janazah is not only a supplication, rather it is a prayer like other prayers. Allah (ﷻ) says:
"And never pray over any of them who dies, nor stand at his grave. Indeed they disbelieved in Allah and His Messenger and died while they were defiantly disobedient."(Quran 9:84)
This verse proves that Janazah is included under the term prayer.
Imam Bukhari (رَحِمَهُ ٱللَّٰهُ) mentioned in Sahih Bukhari in the chapter about the Sunnah of the Janazah prayer that the Prophet ﷺ said:
"Whoever prays over the deceased."
(Sahih Muslim 945)
"Pray over your companion."
(Sahih Bukhari 2289)
"Pray over Najashi."
(Sahih Bukhari 3878)
(Ibn Majah 1537)
Imam Bukhari (رَحِمَهُ ٱللَّٰهُ) said that the Prophetﷺ called it prayer even though there is no ruku or sujud in it and no speech is allowed in it. It consists only of takbir and taslim.
Ibn Umar (رضي الله عنه) did not pray Janazah without wudu. Hasan Basri (رَحِمَهُ ٱللَّٰهُ) said that he saw the Companions and the Followers, and they believed that the person most deserving to lead the Janazah prayer is the one whom people prefer to lead their obligatory prayers.(Sahih Bukhari volume 5 page 217)
From this it is clear that the Companions and the Followers considered Janazah to be a prayer.
Evidence from authentic Hadith
Talha ibn Abdullah ibn Awf (رضي الله عنه) said:
"I prayed behind Ibn Abbas (رضي الله عنه) in a Janazah prayer. He recited Surah Al Fatiha and said so that they may know that it is Sunnah."
(Sahih Bukhari 1335)
In another narration he said it is part of the Sunnah or the completion of the Sunnah.
(Tirmidhi 1027)
In Sunan Nasai it is mentioned that he recited Surah Al Fatiha and another Surah aloud so that people could hear, and after finishing he said it is Sunnah and truth.
(Nasai 1987)
Imam Qastalani explained that calling it Sunnah does not mean it is not obligatory.
Imam Shawkani said that this Hadith and other narrations clearly prove the legality of reciting Surah Al Fatiha in Janazah prayer.
(Nayl al Awtar volume 4 page 75)
Abu Umamah (رضي الله عنه) said:
"The Sunnah in Janazah prayer is to recite Umm Al Quran silently after the first takbir, then give three more takbirs, and give salam at the end."
(Nasai 1985)
A Companion informed Abu Umamah (رضي الله عنه) that the Sunnah of Janazah prayer is that the Imam says the opening takbir, then recites Surah Al Fatiha silently, then sends blessings upon the Prophet, then makes sincere supplication for the deceased in the remaining takbirs, and then gives salam silently.
(Bayhaqi Sunan al Kubra 1080)
(Irwa al Ghalil 734)
(Fath al Bari volume 9 page 306)
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"There is no prayer for the one who does not recite Surah Al Fatiha."
(Sahih Bukhari 756)
(Sahih Muslim 394)
Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen (رَحِمَهُ ٱللَّٰهُ) explained that Janazah prayer is a prayer that begins with takbir and ends with salam, so it comes under this general statement. Therefore if someone does not recite Surah Al Fatiha in Janazah prayer, it is not valid.
(Majmu Fatawa volume 13 page 133)
Shaykh Ibn Baz said that reciting Surah Al Fatiha in Janazah prayer is obligatory based on this Hadith and the statement of the Prophet "Pray as you have seen me praying."
(Sahih Bukhari 631)
Jabir (رضي الله عنه) said that the Prophet gave four takbirs in Janazah prayer and recited Surah Al Fatiha after the first takbir.
(Bayhaqi Sunan al Kubra 6958)
Umm Sharik (رضي الله عنها) said that the Messenger of Allah commanded them to recite Surah Al Fatiha in Janazah prayer.
(Ibn Majah 1496)
It is narrated that Hasan ibn Ali (رضي الله عنه) recited Surah Al Fatiha in Janazah prayer.
(Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah 11393)
Many Companions including Ibn Masud (رضي الله عنه) and Sahl ibn Hunayf (رضي الله عنه) recited Surah Al Fatiha in Janazah prayer.
(Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah 11394 and others)
Practice of the Followers
Saeed ibn al Musayyib (رضي الله عنه) said that reciting Surah Al Fatiha in Janazah prayer is from the Sunnah.
(Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah 11403)
Mujahid (رحمه الله) used to recite Surah Al Fatiha after the first takbir, then send blessings on the Prophet, then make supplication.
(Al Muhalla volume 3 page 352)
Ibn Abd al Barr (رحمه الله) said that many Companions and scholars of Makkah, Madinah, and Basrah held the view that Surah Al Fatiha is to be recited after the first takbir in Janazah prayer.
(Al Istidhkar volume 3 page 40)
Views of the Four Imams
Hanafi school says reciting Surah Al Fatiha in Janazah prayer is disliked, but if recited as supplication it is allowed.
(Umdat al Qari volume 8 page 141)
Maliki school says reciting Surah Al Fatiha in Janazah prayer is disliked but not forbidden.
Shafii school says reciting Surah Al Fatiha in Janazah prayer is a pillar and it is best to recite it after the first takbir.
(Al Majmu volume 5 page 233)
Hanbali school says reciting Surah Al Fatiha is a pillar and must be after the first takbir.
(Mirat al Mafatih volume 5 page 382)
Scholarly Opinions
Imam Nawawi (رحمه الله) said that according to them reciting Surah Al Fatiha in Janazah prayer is obligatory.
(Al Majmu volume 5 page 233)
Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen (رحمه الله) said that Janazah prayer is called prayer by Allah and His Messenger, and there is no prayer without Surah Al Fatiha.
(Sharh al Mumti volume 5 page 318)
Shaykh Ibn Baz (رحمه الله) said the same based on authentic Hadith.
Shaykh Albani (رحمه الله) said it is surprising that some scholars rejected this Hadith even though it is authentic.
(Ahkam al Janaiz volume 1 page 120)
Conclusion
Reciting Surah Al Fatiha in Janazah prayer is proven by authentic Hadith and the practice of the Companions. According to strong evidence it is obligatory and the Janazah prayer is not valid without it. There is no authentic proof for reciting the opening supplication in Janazah prayer. Therefore it is necessary to follow the Hadith in order for the Janazah prayer to be valid.
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