Reason for Five Takbir in Salah (Prayer) for a Dead Person

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from in a mafu’ manner the following: “I asked abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), ’Why are there five Takbir in Salah (prayer) for a dead person?’ He (the Imam) replied, ’From every Salah (prayer) of a day’s Salah (prayer), one Takbir has come.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

1. Abu Ali al-Ash’ariy has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from Safwan and Muhammad ibn ‘Isma’il has narrated from al-Fadl ibn Shadhan from Safwan Ahmad ibn Muhammad and Muhammad ibn Sinan all from ibn Muskan from al-Halabiy who has said the following: “This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a woman who gives herself as a gift to a man for marriage. He (the Imam) said, ‘This was only for the Holy Prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, but for others it is not proper without something in exchange before going to bed with her; a small or large amount even a cloth or dirham.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Dirham is enough.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Hammad ibn ‘Uthman and Hisham ibn Salim who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah would say five Takbir for certain people, and four Takbir for other groups of people. When he (the Messenger of Allah) would say four Takbir in the Salah (prayer) for a dead man, he (the deceased) was suspected of hypocrisy.”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

2. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn abu Nasr from Dawud ibn Sarhan from Zurarah who has said the following: “I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, ‘A believing woman who gifts herself to the Holy Prophet. . . .’ (33:50) He (the Imam) said that such gift is not lawful except for the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, In the case of other people marriage without mahr (dower) is not proper.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Muhammad ibn Muhajir from his mother “Umm Salamah who has said the following: “I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), say, ‘When performing Salah (prayer) for a deceased, the Messenger of Allah would say Takbir (Allah is great beyond description), then say the two testimonies (I testify that only Allah deserves worship, He is one and has no partners and I testify that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger). He would then say Takbir then say, “ O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause” and pray for the prophets. Then say Takbir (Allah is great beyond description) and pray for the believing people, then say the fourth Takbir and pray for the deceased, then say Takbir and end the Salah (prayer). When Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, prohibited praying for the hypocrites, he (the Messenger of Allah) would say Takbir, say the two testimonies, pray for the prophets, then say Takbir and pray for the believing people then say the fourth Takbir, end the Salah (prayer) and would not pray for the deceased.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father and Muhammad ibn ‘Isma’il has narrated from al-Fadl ibn Shadhan from all from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Flafs ibn al-Bakhtariy from Mansur ibn Hazim who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘One who performs al-Hajj al-Tamattu‘ (advantageous) is required to perform three Tawaf around the House, perform after every Tawaf two Rak‘at Salat (prayer) and two Sa‘y between al-Safa’ and al-Marwah.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

3. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn ‘Isma’il has narrated from al-Fadl ibn Shadhan from abu al-Sabbah al-Kinaniy who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘(A woman’s) gifting herself is not lawful except to the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, and in other people’s case, marriage is not proper without mahr (dower).”’

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

4. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from certain persons of his people from Sulayman ibn Ja‘far al- Ja‘fariy from his father who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Allah, most Blessed, most High, made five Salah (prayer) obligatory, and from every Salah (prayer) there is one Takbir (Allah is great beyond description) in Salah (prayer) for a deceased.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

4. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from certain persons of his people from ‘Abd Allah ibn Sinan who has said the following: “About the case of a woman who gifts herself or her guardian gifts her to a man, abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘No, it was only for the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, and not for others unless it is in exchange for something, little or more.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

5. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from ‘Uthman ibn ‘Abd al-Malik al- Hadramiy from abu Bakr al-Hadramiy who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far (a.s.), once asked, ‘O abu Bakr, do you know how much is Salah (prayer) for a deceased?’ I replied, ‘No, I do not know.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is five Takbir (Allah is great beyond description). Do you know from where are they taken?’ I replied, ‘No, I do not know.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Five Takbir (Allah is great beyond description) are taken from five Salah (prayer), one Takbir from every Salah (prayer).”’

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

5. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from abu al-Qasim al-Kufiy from ‘Abd Allah ibn al-Mughirah from a man who has said the following: “About the case of a woman who gifts herself to a Muslim man, abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If it is in exchange for something it then is correct.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.