Someone from Pakistan wrote to Hazrat Amirul Momineen, Khalifatul-Masih V^(aba) and asked whether the funeral prayer [salat al-janazah] was indeed a type of prayer [salat], or whether it was simply given that name. He said the question arose since the funeral prayer can be performed at any time without having to take the times into consideration during which offering salat would usually be forbidden.

Huzoor-e-Anwar^(aba), in his letter dated 7 January 2022, provided the following guidance in this regard:

“The funeral prayer is indeed a type of salat, but it does not include bowing [ruku‘] or prostrating [sajdah] because the deceased’s body is present in front of those offering the prayer. This is to avoid any chance of shirk [associating partners with God]. In Tafsir-e-Kabir, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^(ra) explained various types of prayers, including the funeral prayer and stated:

“‘In addition to all the other prayers, Salat al-Janazah is another necessary prayer that is considered a collective obligation [fard al-kifayah] in Islam. […] It differs from other obligatory prayers in that it is performed standing up without any ruku‘ or sajdah. All of its parts are performed while standing up. […] The prayer has four parts and is initiated by the imam, who stands facing the qiblah, placing his right hand over his left hand on his chest after loudly reciting the takbir. There is no iqamah pronounced before this prayer.’ (Tafsir-e-Kabir, Vol. 1, p. 115)

“There are no prohibited times for offering funeral prayers. However, there is a difference of opinion among Islamic jurists [fuqaha] regarding this matter. There is no prohibition for offering funeral prayers, as there is for offering voluntary prayers [nawafil] after Fajr and Asr prayers, which is prohibited. However, during the three times, i.e., when the sun is rising, at its zenith, or setting, according to the Hanafi, Maliki, and Hanbali jurists, it is preferable not to offer funeral prayers without a valid excuse or necessity. On the other hand, according to the Shafi‘i jurists, funeral prayers can be offered at any time.”