Intention (niyyah) for the funeral prayer

Question

If the imam leads the funeral prayer (Salat al-Janazah), must he make intention for the followers (ma’mum) as well? Is it necessary to pronounce the intention verbally, or is internal intention sufficient? How should the intention be made if, due to crowding, it is not known whether the deceased is a man or a woman, and people cannot ask?

Answer

The imam is not required to make intention on behalf of the followers. It is also not necessary to pronounce the intention verbally. What matters in intention is the firm resolve of the heart, while pronouncing it verbally is recommended (mustahabb).

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