How to Perform Ghaib Prayer, with Intentions, Recitations, and Evidence

Shalat ghaib is the funeral prayer performed for a deceased person who is far away, or whose body is not physically present at the place where the funeral prayer is being held.

The way to perform shalat ghaib is not much different from the usual funeral prayer; the only difference lies in the intention recited.

Understanding the Meaning of Ghaib Prayer

Shalat ghaib is a way for family members, relatives, or certain individuals who cannot attend the funeral prayer in person, because the deceased is in a distant place, to still perform the funeral prayer.

The ruling on performing shalat ghaib is also the same as the funeral prayer: fardu kifayah. This means that once it is known that at least one Muslim has performed the ghaib prayer, the obligation is lifted from the other Muslims.

The Evidence for Performing Ghaib Prayer

The origin of the ghaib prayer is the death of Najashi, the king named Ashamah bin Abjar, ruler of the land of Habasyah. Najashi passed away in Rajab of the 9th year after the Hijrah.

When Najashi died, the Prophet ﷺ invited his companions to perform the funeral prayer, even though the body of Najashi was not in front of them. This event is recorded in the hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah r.a. as follows:

أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم نَعَى النَّجَاشِيَّ فِي الْيَوْمِ الَّذِي مَاتَ فِيهِ، وَخَرَجَ بِهِمْ إِلَى الْمُصَلَّى، فَصَفَّ بِهِمْ وَكَبَّرَ عَلَيْهِ أَرْبَعًا (مُتَّفَقٌ عَلَيْهِ)

Meaning: “The Prophet ﷺ announced the death of Najashi on the very day he died, then went out with his companions to the place of prayer, arranged them in rows, and said the takbir four times over him (the ghaib prayer).” (Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim)

The Intention for Ghaib Prayer

The intention, as one of the steps of the ghaib prayer, depends on the gender or number of the deceased, and on one’s position in the prayer, whether praying alone, as the imam, or as a follower (makmum).

The details of the intentions are as follows:

A. Intention for a Deceased Man

أُصَلِّي عَلَى مَيِّتِ (فُلاَنٍ) اَلْغَائِبِ أَرْبَعَ تَكْبِيْرَاتٍ فَرْضَ اْلكِفَايَتِ إِمَامًا/مَأْمُوْماً لله تَعَالَى

Usholli ‘ala mayyiti (fulanin) al-ghaaibi arba’a takbiiraatin fardhal kifaayati imaaman/ma’muuman lillahi ta’ala

Meaning: “I intend to perform the prayer for the deceased man (state his name), who is absent (not present in this place), with four takbirs, as a communal obligation (fardu kifayah), as imam/follower, for the sake of Allah Ta’ala.”

B. Intention for a Deceased Woman

صَلِّي عَلَى مَيِّتَةِ (فُلاَنَةٍ) الْغَائِبَةٍ أَرْبَعَ تَكْبِيْرَاتٍ فَرْضَ الكِفَايَة إِمَامًا/مَأْمُوْمًا لله تَعَالَى

Usholli ‘ala mayyitati (fulanah) al-ghaaibati arba’a takbiiraatin fardhal kifaayati imaaman/ma’muuman lillahi ta’ala

Meaning: “I intend to perform the prayer for the deceased woman (state her name), who is absent (not present in this place), with four takbirs, as a communal obligation (fardu kifayah), as imam/follower, for the sake of Allah Ta’ala.”

C. Intention for a Deceased Person Whose Identity Is Unknown

أُصَلِّي عَلىٰ مَنْ صَلَّى عَلَيْهِ الْإِمَامُ أَرْبَعَ تَكْبِيْرَاتٍ فَرْضَ كِفَايَةٍ إِمَامًا/مَأْمُوْمًا للهِ تَعَالىٰ

Usholli ‘ala man sholla ‘alaihil imaamu arba’a takbiiraatin fardha kifaayatin imaaman/ma’muuman lillahi ta’ala

Meaning: “I intend to perform the ghaib prayer as imam/follower over the deceased on whom the imam has prayed, with four takbirs, as a communal obligation, for the sake of Allah Ta’ala.”

D. Intention for Multiple Deceased Persons

أُصَلِّي عَلَى جَمِيعِ مَوْتَى قَرْيَةِ كَذَا الْغَائِبِينَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ أَرْبَعَ تَكْبِيرَاتٍ فَرْضَ الْكِفَايَةِ إِمَامَا/مَأْمُومًا لِلّٰهِ تَعَالَى

Usholli ‘ala jamii’i mautaa qaryatin kadzal ghaaibiinal muslimiina arba’a takbiiraatin fardhal kifaayati imaaman/ma’muuman lillahi ta’ala

Meaning: “I intend to perform the prayer for all the absent Muslim dead of the village of (state the village name), with four takbirs, as a communal obligation, as imam/follower, for the sake of Allah Ta’ala.”

The Steps of Ghaib Prayer and Its Recitations

The way of performing the ghaib prayer is almost the same as the usual funeral prayer, but there is a small difference in the intention because of the difference in location between the body of the deceased and the person performing the prayer.

The steps of the ghaib prayer are:

1. Stand and Recite the Intention

The first step is to stand, if able, and then recite the intention to perform the prayer.

2. The First Takbir

After reciting the intention, proceed with the takbir, then recite Surah al-Fatihah.

3. The Second Takbir and Reciting Salawat on the Prophet

The salawat recited on the Prophet during the second takbir is:

اللّـٰهُمَّ صَلَّ عَلٰى سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلٰى آلِ سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ، كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلٰى سَيِّدِنَا إِبْرَاهِيْمَ وَعَلٰى آلِ سَيِّدِنَا إِبْرَاهِيْمَ، وَبَارِكْ عَلٰى سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلٰى آلِ سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ.

كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلٰى سَيِّدِنَا إِبْرَاهِيْمَ وَعَلٰى آلِ سَيِّدِنَا إِبْرَاهِيْمَ، فِي الْعَالَمِيْنَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيْدٌ مَجِيْدٌ

Allahumma shalli ‘alaa sayyidinaa Muhammadin wa ‘ala Aali sayyidinaa Muhammad, kamaa shallaita ‘alaa sayyidinaa Ibraahiima wa ‘alaa Aali sayyidinaa Ibraahiim.

Wabaarik ‘alaa sayyidina Muhammadin wa ‘alaa Aali sayyidinaa Muhammad, kama baarakta ‘alaa sayyidinaa Ibraahiima wa ‘alaa Aali Ibraahiim, fil ‘aalamiina innaka hamiidun majiid.

Meaning:

“O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You sent blessings upon Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. Indeed, You are Most Praiseworthy and Most Glorious.”

“And grant blessings upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You granted blessings upon Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. Indeed, You are Most Praiseworthy and Most Glorious.”

4. The Third Takbir and Prayer for the Deceased

The prayer for the deceased during the third takbir is:

اَللهُمَّ اغْفِرْلَهُ وَارْحَمْهُ وَعَافِهِ وَاعْفُ عَنْهُ وَاَكْرِمْ نُزُلَهُ وَوَسِّعْ مَدْخَلَهُ وَاغْسِلْهُ بِالْمَاءِ وَالثَّلْجِ وَالْبَرْدِ

وَنَقِّهِ مِنَ الْخَطَايَا كَمَا يُنَقَّى الثَّوْبُ اْلاَبْيَضُ مِنَ الدَّنَسِ وَاَبْدِلْهُ دَارًاخَيْرًا مِنْ دَارِهِ وَاَهْلاً خَيْرًا مِنْ اَهْلِهِ وَزَوْجًا خَيْرًا مِنْ زَوْجِهِ وَاَدْخِلْهُ الْجَنَّةَ وَاَعِذْهُ مِنْ عَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ وَفِتْنَتِهِ وَمِنْ عَذَابِ النَّارِ

Allahummaghfirlahuu warhamhu wa’aafihii wa’fu anhu wa akrim nuzulahuu wawassi’ madkholahuu wa aghsilhu bil maa i watsalji wal baradi

Wa naqqihii minal khotooyaa kamaa yunaqqits tsaubal abyadhu minad danasi wa abdilhu daaran khoiron min daarihi wa ahlan khoiron min ahlihi wa zaujan khoiron min zaujihi wa adkhilhul jannata wa a’idzhu min ‘adzaabil qabri wa fitnatihi wa min ‘adzaabin naar

Meaning: “O Allah, forgive him and have mercy on him, grant him well-being and pardon him, honor his arrival and widen his place of rest, wash him with water, snow, and hail.”

“Cleanse him of his sins as a white garment is cleansed of stains, give him a home better than his former home, a family better than his former family, and a spouse better than his former spouse, admit him to Paradise, and protect him from the punishment of the grave, its trial, and the punishment of the Fire.”

5. The Fourth Takbir and Prayer for the Deceased’s Family

Prayer for a deceased man:

اللهُمَّ لَا تَحْرِمْنَا اَجْرَهُ وَلاَ تَفْتِنَّا بَعْدَهُ وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا وَلَهُ

Allahumma laa tahrimnaa ajrahuu wa laa taftinnaa ba’dahuu waghfir lanaa wa lahuu

Meaning: “O Allah, do not deprive us of his reward, do not put us to trial after him, and forgive us and him.”

Prayer for a deceased woman:

اَللّٰهُمَّ لاَ تَحْرِمْنَا أَجْرَهَا وَلاَ تَفْتِنَّا بَعْدَهَا وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا وَلَهَا

Allahumma laa tahrimnaa ajrahaa wa laa taftinnaa ba’dahaa waghfir lanaa wa lahaa

Meaning: “O Allah, do not deprive us of her reward, do not put us to trial after her departure, and forgive our sins and hers.”

6. Salam

The prayer is then concluded with salam, just as in the usual prayer.

Ready to Perform the Ghaib Prayer?

After you have carried out the steps of the ghaib prayer, you may continue with supplication by reciting Surah al-Fatihah for the deceased. Indirectly, taking part in the prayer for the departed also reminds us of grief and loss.

Prepare yourself by always doing good, since we never know when our time will come. You should also prepare by choosing the best funeral services that provide Islamic funeral preparation of the body and the Islamic method of burial, as a way of preparing for times of grief.