Funerals - Lesson 4
The Funeral Prayer

1. Preparing the funeral prayer over the deceased is fardh kifaya.
   
   
    
2. The obligation is fulfilled with a single mukallaf (responsible individual), male or female.
   
   
    
3. It has eight conditions (shuroot):
    
   1. An-Niya (intention)
       
   2. At-Takleef (responsibility)
       
   3. Facing the Qibla
       
   4. Covering of nakedness
       
   5. Freedom from najasa (ritual impurities)
       
   6. Presence of the deceased - if he/she is in the locality.
       
   7. Islam (of both the one making the prayer and the one being prayed for)
       
   8. Tahara of both of them, even if with dirt (i.e., tayammum) for a valid reason.
      
       
4. It has seven pillars (arkaan)
    
   1. Standing
       
   2. Four takbeeraat
       
   3. Recitation of Al-Fatiha
       
   4. Sending salat and salaam upon Muhammad (sas).
       
   5. Making du'a for the deceased.
       
   6. Giving salaam at its conclusion
       
   7. Order
      
       
5. Du'a for the deceased is not limited to the third takbeera.  It is also allowed after the fourth.
   
   
    
6. It's full description is as follows (all while standing):
    
   1. Make intention
       
   2. Takbeer
       
   3. Recite Al-Fatiha
       
   4. Takbeer
       
   5. Invoke salat upon the Prophet (sas) as in tashahhud of regular salat.
       
   6. Takbeer
       
   7. Make du'a for the deceased for Allah's mercy, etc.
       
   8. Takbeer
       
   9. Pause for a little while
       
   10. Give salaam to the right.
       
        
7. A single salaam (to the right) is sufficient, with or without "wa rahmatullah"
   
   
    
8. It is lawful to make a delayed funeral prayer up to a month and a little more after burial.
   
   
    
9. It is not lawful later than that.