RECOMMENDED ACTS REGARDING THE PRAYERS
OFFERED FOR A DEAD BODY
618. The following acts are recommended in connection with the prayers for the dead body: (i) A person who offers prayers for the dead body should have bathed or performed
ablutions or tayammum. And the precaution is that he should perform tayammum
only when it is not possible to take bath, or to perform ablutions, or if he
fears that if he takes bath or performs ablutions it will not be possible for
him to participate in the prayers.(ii) If the dead body is that of a male the Imam or the person who is offering
the prayers alone should stand behind the middle part of the dead body and if
the dead body is that of a female he should stand behind the chest of the dead
body.(iii) The prayers should be offered barefooted.(iv) One should raise one's hands (up to the ears) while pronouncing every takbir.
(v) The distance between the person offering prayers and the dead body should
be so short that, if the wind blows the dress of the person offering the prayers,
should touch the coffin.(vi) The prayers should be offered in congregation.(vii) The Imam should recite the takbirs and supplications loudly and those
offering the prayers with him should recite them in a low voice.(viii) In the congregational prayers offered for the dead body the followers,
whether only one person or more, should stand behind the Imam. (ix) One who offers the prayers should supplicate Allah much for the dead body
as well as for other believers.(x) Before the commencement of the congregational prayers for the dead body
one should say asSalat thrice. (xi) The prayers should be offered at a place where people usually go for prayers
for the dead. (xii) If a ha'iz (woman in her menses) participates in the congregational prayers
for a dead person she should stand alone and should not join with others. 619.
It is abominable to perform prayers for dead bodies in masjids, except in Masjidul
Haram.