The Absentee Funeral Salah: Or Funeral Salah? Here Is the Difference.
The meaning of the absentee funeral salah is an optional salah as a substitute for the funeral salah, where this salah is performed for a deceased Muslim, but the deceased is far away, so we substitute it with this absentee funeral salah. It is different if the deceased is close by, then we perform it not with the absentee funeral salah but with the funeral salah.
Originally, this salah is an act of worship that was legislated because it was once performed by the Prophet Muhammad in Medina for An-Najashi, a king of the land of Habasha (Ethiopia) who was Muslim, who died in that land. At that time, the land of Habasha was a Christian land. From Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), he said:
The Prophet Muhammad announced the death of An-Najashi on the day of his death. The Prophet went out with his Companions to the field, then arranged the rows, then (performed the salah with) four takbirs. (Reported by al-Bukhari (1333) and Muslim (951))
It is optional (sunnah), so if someone performs it, he will receive a reward, but if he does not perform it, he does not incur any sin or reward. As for the time of performing the absentee funeral salah, it can be done at any time; there is no specific time for performing it like Tahajjud prayer which is performed in the middle of the night.
However, to perform this salahit can be doneduring the day or at night according to each person's intention. However, it is strongly recommended that if performing the absentee funeral salah, it should be done in congregation or together. Because the more people who perform this salah, the more people who will make supplication for the deceased.
The method of performing this salah is exactly the same as performing the funeral salah. Whether it is from the way of performing it, the recitation of the supplications performed with four takbirs and concluded with the salutation (in a standing position). The only difference between the funeral salah and the absentee funeral salah is in the wording of the niyyah.
The niyyah for the absentee funeral salah, like all salah, is stated in the heart. In Arabic it is as follows:
"Ushalli 'alaa mayyiti (Fulanin) al ghaaibi arba'a takbiraatin fardlal kifaayati lillahi ta'alaa" "I intend to pray the absentee funeral prayer for the deceased (so-and-so) four takbirs as an obligatory duty by necessity for Allah, the Most High." the word fulanin is replaced with the name of the deceased being prayed for.
Read related articles:
Loading the full version…