Is it necessary to stand in three rows during the funeral prayer?

 Question: Is it necessary to perform three rows in the funeral prayer? In many places, it is seen that it is given great importance. So it would be better to provide references.

Answer: Not necessary; but it is recommended. Because it is mentioned in the Hadith Shareef, narrated by Malik ibn Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him). He said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “If the living Muslims pray for a Muslim in three rows, Allah will make Paradise obligatory for him.” (Sunan Abu Dawud, Hadith 3158)

The narrator said, “That is why Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) used to divide the people into three rows whenever he saw a small number of people at a funeral.”

In the light of this Hadith, the jurists have said that it is recommended to divide the people into three rows as much as possible in the funeral prayer, even if the number of people is small. However, if the number of people is large, more than three rows can be formed. And that virtue will also be found in it. (Sharhul Muslim Nabawi 7/17; Sharhul Munyyah 588)

Rules for funeral prayers

The funeral prayer must be performed with four takbirs. In Eid prayers, one must raise one's hands while giving the takbir, but in funeral prayers, one does not need to raise one's hands while giving the takbir.

Intention for funeral prayers:

نَوَيْتُ اَنْ اُؤَدِّىَ لِلَّهِ تَعَا لَى اَرْبَعَ تَكْبِيْرَاتِ صَلَوةِ الْجَنَا زَةِ فَرْضَ الْكِفَايَةِ وَالثَّنَا ءُ لِلَّهِ تَعَا لَى وَالصَّلَوةُ عَلَى النَّبِىِّ وَالدُّعَا ءُلِهَذَا الْمَيِّتِ اِقْتِدَتُ بِهَذَا الاِْمَامِ مُتَوَجِّهًا اِلَى جِهَةِ الْكَعْبَةِ الشَّرِ يْفَةِ اَللَّهُ اَكْبَرُ 

The Bengali pronunciation of the intention: Nawaa'tu an wa'addiyya lillahi ta'ala arba a takbirati salatil janazaji farzul kifayati achnaw lillahi ta'ala wachchalatu 'al-nabibiyy waddoaw lihazal ma'yyeti ekktada'itu bihazal imam mutawazzihan ila jihatil kabatish sharifati Allahu Akbar.

Here, the intention should be 'lihazal ma'yyeti' if the body is a male/boy, and 'lihazihil ma'yyeti' if the body is a female/girl.

If you cannot make the intention in Arabic, it is also possible to make it in Bengali, 'I am offering the farz kifayati janaza prayer with four takbirs, facing the Qibla, standing behind the imam, with the intention of making dua for the deceased person (male/female). Allahu Akbar.'

In the funeral prayer, praise of Allah and blessings upon the Prophet are recited. If you make the intention in Bengali, you can say it in Bengali or even make the intention in your mind. It is not necessary to pronounce it in its entirety.

Niyyah Takbir Tahrimah means, after saying Allahu Akbar, you should raise your hands and then fold them like in other prayers. You should recite Sana' with folded hands.

Sana' in Arabic:

سُبْحَا نَكَ اَللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ وَتَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ وَتَعَا لَى جَدُّكَ وَجَلَّ ثَنَاءُكَ وَلاَ اِلَهَ غَيْرُكَ

Bengali pronunciation: Subhanaka Allahumma wa bihamdika, wa tabara kasmuka wa ta'ala jadduka, wa jalla chanauka wa la ilaha ghairuka.

After reciting Sana', one should recite Darood Sharif with Takbir, which is recited after Tashahhud in ordinary prayers.

Darood Sharif:

للَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى اَلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى اِبْرَا هِيْمَ وَعَلَى اَلِ اِبْرَ اهِيْمَ اِنَّكَ حَمِيْدٌ مَّجِيْدٌ- اَللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى اَلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى اِبْرَا هِيْمَ وَعَلَى اَلِ اِبْرَا هِيْمَ اِنَّكَ حَمِيْدٌمَّجِيْدٌ

Bengali pronunciation: Allahumma salliala Muhammadi wa ala ali mummadin kama sallaita ala Ibrahima wa ala ali Ibrahima innaka hamidumajid. Allahumma barik ala Muhammadin wa ala ali muhammadin kama baraqta ala Ibrahima wa ala ali Ibrahima innaka hamidumajid.

After reciting Darood Sharif, the third Takbir should be recited and the funeral prayer should be recited.

Funeral prayer:

اَللّٰهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِحَيِّنَا وَمَيِّتِنَا وَشَاهِدِ نَا وَغَائِبِنَا وَصَغِيْرِنَا وَكَبِيْرِنَا وَذَكَرِنَا وَاُنْثَنَا اَللّٰهُمَّ مَنْ اَحْيَيْتَهُ مِنَّا فَاَحْيِهِ عَلٰى الْاِسْلاَمِ وَمَنْ تَوَفَّيْتَهُ مِنَّا فَتَوَفَّهُ عَلٰى الْاِيْمَانِ

Bengali pronunciation: Allahummag firli hayyina wa mayyyina wa shahidina wa ghaybina wa sagirina wa kabirina wa zakarina wa unsana. Allahumma man ahyahtahu minna, faahyih alal islami wa man tawaf faytahu minna fatawaffah alal iman.

However, in the case of a minor boy, the funeral prayer should be recited-

اَللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْهُ لَنَا فَرْطًا وْاَجْعَلْهُ لَنَا اَجْرًا وَذُخْرًا وَاجْعَلْهُ لَنَا شَافِعًا وَمُشَفَّعًا

Bengali pronunciation: Allahummaaj al-hulanah fartaaw waz al-hulanah ajrao wa zukhraaaw waz al-hulanah shafiaaw wa mushaffaan.

In the case of a minor girl, the funeral prayer should be recited, 

اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْهَا لَنَا فَرْطًا وَاجْعَلْهَا لَنَا اَجْرًا وَذُخْرًاوَاجْعَلْهَا لَنَا شَافِعَةً وَمُشَفَّعَة

Bengali pronunciation: Allahummaaj alha lana fartaaw waz alha lana ajrao wa zukhrao waz alha lana shafiaaw wa mushaf fayan.

Then, after saying the fourth takbir, one should remain silent for a while and then end the prayer by saying salam to the right and left.