Funeral Prayer
The Quran establishes that Salāt (prayer) is exclusively for the remembrance and worship of God. It does not prescribe the practice of offering a specific prayer for the deceased, nor does it permit acts of intercession for the dead.
Salāt is Solely for the Worship of God
The Quran explicitly defines the purpose of Salāt:
إِنَّنِي أَنَا ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنَا۠ فَٱعۡبُدۡنِي وَأَقِمِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ لِذِكۡرِيٓ
Inna-nī anā Allāhu lā ilāha illā anā fa-ʿbudnī wa-aqimī as-salāta li-dhikrī.
I am God. There is no god except Me. So worship Me, and observe the Salat to commemorate Me.
(20:14)
قُلۡ إِنَّ صَلَاتِي وَنُسُكِي وَمَحۡيَايَ وَمَمَاتِي لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلۡعَٰلَمِينَ
Qul inna Salātī wa-nusukī wa-maḥyāya wa-mamātī li-llāhi rabbi al-ʿālamīn.
Say, 'My Salat, my worship rituals, my life and my death, are all devoted to God, the Lord of the Worlds.'
(6:162)
These verses affirm that Salāt is strictly an act of devotion to God. It cannot be used as a means of interceding for or addressing the dead.
Prayers for the Dead
وَلَا تُصَلِّ عَلَىٰٓ أَحَدٍۢ مِّنۡهُم مَّاتَ أَبَدٗا وَلَا تَقُمۡ عَلَىٰ قَبۡرِهِۦٓ إِنَّهُمۡ كَفَرُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ وَمَاتُوا۟ وَهُمۡ فَٰسِقُونَ
Wa-lā tusalli ʿalā aḥadin minhum māta abadan wa-lā taqum ʿalā qabrihi; innahum kafarū bi-Allāhi wa-rasūlihi wa-mātū wa-hum fāsiqūn.
And do not tusalli ʿalā (support) any of them who died, ever. Nor shall you stand at his grave. They have disbelieved in God and His messenger and died in a state of wickedness.
(9:84)
Understanding "Tusalli ʿalā"
The phrase "tusalli ʿalā" has been misunderstood as referring to prayers for the dead. However, in this context, it means offering support or acknowledgment, such as attending funerals or standing at graves.
Quranic Context of "Sallā ʿAlā"
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ وَمَلَـٰٓئِكَتَهُۥ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى ٱلنَّبِيِّ ۚ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ صَلُّوا۟ عَلَيۡهِ وَسَلِّمُوا۟ تَسۡلِيمًا
Inna Allāha wa-malāʾikatahu yusallūna ʿalā an-nabiyy. Yā-ayyuhā alladhīna āmanū sallū ʿalayhi wa-sallimū taslīman.
God and His angels support the prophet. O you who believe, support him and accept him wholeheartedly.
(33:56)
هُوَ ٱلَّذِي يُصَلِّي عَلَيۡكُمۡ وَمَلَـٰٓئِكَتُهُۥ لِيُخۡرِجَكُم مِّنَ ٱلظُّلُمَـٰتِ إِلَى ٱلنُّورِ
Huwa alladhī yusallī ʿalaykum wa-malāʾikatuhu li-yukhrijakum mina aẓ-ẓulumāti ilā an-nūr.
He is the One who supports you, as well as His angels, to bring you out of the darkness and into the light.
(33:43)
In both verses, "sallā ʿalā" refers to divine or communal support, not prayers or intercession for individuals.
Intercession is Exclusive to God
قُل لِّلَّهِ ٱلشَّفَـٰعَةُ جَمِيعًا
Qul li-Allāhi ash-shafāʿatu jamīʿan.
Say, 'All intercession belongs to God.'
(39:44)
مَا لِلظَّـٰلِمِينَ مِنۡ حَمِيمٖ وَلَا شَفِيعٖ يُطَاعُ
Mā li-ẓ-ẓālimīna min ḥamīmin wa-lā shafīʿin yuṭāʿ.
The transgressors will have no friend nor intercessor to be obeyed.
(40:18)
These verses confirm that intercession, including for the dead, is the exclusive domain of God.
Implications for Funeral Practices
-
Observing Salāt for the Deceased: The Quran does not prescribe any special Salāt or ritual for the deceased. Performing Salāt for the dead as a form of intercession is not Quranic.
-
Remembering the Deceased: Believers can remember the deceased by commemorating their good deeds, but this should not involve acts of worship or intercession.
Conclusion
Salāt is Exclusively for God: The Quran commands that Salāt be devoted solely to the remembrance and worship of God (6:162, 20:14).
No Ritual Funeral Prayer: The Quran does not prescribe a specific Salāt for the deceased, and "tusalli ʿalā" in 9:84 refers to support, not a prayer.
Intercession Belongs to God Alone:** Praying for the deceased as a form of intercession is prohibited in the Quran (39:44, 40:18).
Believers are encouraged to adhere strictly to Quranic teachings, dedicating their Salāt and worship solely to God and avoiding un-Quranic practices in funeral rites.