SALATUL JANAZAH (FUNERAL PRAYER)
A Muslim's Right.

A Collective Duty:  

Similar to washing, shrouding and burying the deceased Muslim, offering his funeral prayer is a Fard Kifaayah ( a collective obligation which, if some people attend to it, it is considered as done on behalf of all; but if no one performs it, all will be considered as having sinned.)

Du'a Maghfirat (Supplication for forgiveness):

The Salatui Janazah is actually a supplication for forgiveness for the deceased, in addition to being a recommendation and testimony. It is the last and important obligation of a Muslim which must be fulfilled towards a fellow Muslim, bearing in mind that while the deceased needs our supplications today, we may be lying in his place tomorrow, helpless and dependant on other people's supplications for us. The Prophet (SAW) said:

{{" Offer the funeral prayer; perhaps by this prayer, you will be overcome by sorrow and a sorrowing man lives under the protection of Allah and is receptive to opportunities for doing good."(Hakim)}}

Where should it be offered?

The funeral prayer is performed in the courtyard or Eid Musalla (prayer ground) normally attached to a mosque. In case, the mosque does not have these, or it is raining , it can be offered in the mosque. The mosque where the prayer is held, could be the in the neighbourhood; but nowadays, cemeteries also have their own adjoining mosques.

The Prophet (SAW) offered a funeral prayer for Suhail Ibn Baida'(RAA) and his brother in the mosque.(Muslim)

Funeral Prayer in the Cemetery:

No kind or prayer can be offered in the cemetery; the exception is the funeral prayer of someone who has been buried without its performance, or it was not attended by the dear ones of the deceased, or in cases where there is a doubt if the funeral prayer was performed or not, and the grave is identified later. In normal circumstances, however, it is forbidden to offer the funeral prayer in the cemetery.

Hazrat Abu Hurarirah(RAA) reported that a dark-skinned woman used to clean the Mosque and then died. The Prophet (SAW) did not know about it. One day the Prophet (SAW) remembered her and said: "What happened to that person?" The people replied: "Oh Allah's Apostle! She died." He said: "Why did you not inform me?" They said: The story was so and so." He said: ^"Show me her grave" and he offered the funeral prayer. (Sahih Bukhari)

In this connection there is another haclith narrated by Hazrat Abdullah Ibn Abbas: "Allah's Apostle passed by a grave of deceased who had been buried at night. He said: 'When was this (deceased) buried ?' The people said: 'Yesterday.' He said: 'Why did you not inform me?'

They said: 'We buried him when it was dark and so we disliked to wake you up.' He (SAW) stood up and we lined up behind him.( Ibn Abbas said): 'I was one of them, and the Prophet (SAW) offered the funeral prayer.'" (Sahih Bukhari)

Funeral Prayer in Absentia(Gfiaibana):                               

If a Muslim dies in a non-Muslim area where there is no one to perform his funeral prayer, then some Muslims in the Islamic state can pray his funeral prayer in his absence. This is the way that the Prophet (SAW) performed the funeral prayer of the Negus/Evidence of ghaibana funeral prayer is also found in the practices of the Companions (RAA) and the notable tabi'een. (those who met or accompanied any of the Companions of the Prophet )

INBOX:

{{ Hazrat Abdullah Bin Masood (RAA) relates that the Prophet (SAW) said:

"On the day of Resurrection, Allah will raise two types of his servants on whom He had endowed abundant wealth and children. To one of these, he will say:

'Had I not blessed you with abundant wealth and children?' He will answer: 'Yes, my Lord, you had blessed me with abundant wealth and children.' Allah will then ask: 'After receiving these favours, what did you do?' He will say: 'I left all my wealth for my children so that they will not live in poverty and straitened circumstances.' Allah will say:

'If you had known the reality, you would have laughed less and cried more. Listen, the thing you were most afraid of for your children has been imposed on them. (i.e poverty and need)

Then Allah SWT will ask the second kind of person the same question and in answer he will say: '0 my Lord, I used the wealth You blessed me with in obeying You and as for my children, I relied on You and Your mercy and grace.' Allah will say:

'If you knew the reality, you would have laughed a lot in the world and cried less. Listen, as regards your children, the thing you relied on the most, I have given them the same (i.e prosperity and wealth).(Tabarani)}}