How is the funeral prayer (janazah) performed?

The funeral prayer is a prayer without bowing (ruku) and prostration (sujud); its pillars are standing (qiyam) and the takbirs. There are four takbirs in the funeral prayer, including the opening (iftitah) takbir. Saying the salam at the end is obligatory. Its recommended acts (sunnahs) are to praise and glorify Allah, to send blessings and peace upon the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), and to pray for both the deceased and the Muslims.

To perform the funeral prayer, the congregation lines up facing the deceased and the qiblah, and makes the intention. The imam and congregation say the takbir and fold their hands, then recite the “Subhanaka” supplication along with the phrase “wa jalla thanā’uk.” After this, another takbir is said without raising the hands, and the “Salli-Barik” supplications are recited. Another takbir is said again without raising the hands. Those who know it recite the funeral supplication (Tirmidhi, Jana'iz, 38 [1024-1025]); those who do not may recite Surah al-Fatiha (Tirmidhi, Jana'iz, 39 [1026]) or another supplication with the intention of making du'a. After the fourth takbir, salam is given to the right and left. This completes the prayer.

The conditions of ritual purity, facing the qiblah, covering the awrah (parts of the body that must be covered), and making the intention must be observed in the funeral prayer. The deceased for whom the prayer is performed must be Muslim, washed and shrouded, and placed in front of the congregation. According to the Hanafi and Maliki schools, the whole body or more than half of it, or at least half with the head, must be present. According to the Shafi'i school, even if only a single limb is found after death, the funeral prayer is performed. Indeed, the Companions performed the prayer for a Companion who had died and only his hand was found (Shirbini, Mughni’l-muhtaj, 2/32). A child who is born alive and then dies is washed and the funeral prayer is performed for him (al-Fatawa’l-Hindiyya, 1/159).

Source: T.C. Diyanet İşleri Başkanlığı, Din İşleri Yüksek Kurulu