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Fatwa CenterConfused About the Funeral Prayer for His Grandfather
Question
I hope, you will answer this question as soon as possible, because the matter is very serious and it is tormenting me very much. This morning we buried my grandfather. When praying Janaza prayer I realized that the Imam did not recite Surah al-Fatiha (he couldn't have read it so quickly!). Besides, there was almost no time left for me to say prayers for the dead and the living (after the third and forth Takbir) as it is Sunnah of our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Do you think I must repeat the Janaza prayer on my own (bearing in mind that nobody will pray with me because they can't pray) or I should leave the matter as it is. Please, give me Islamicly proven reply as this matter is causing me very much trouble.
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
According to the Sunnah, the procedure of funeral Prayer is as follows: Soorah al-Faatihah should be recited after the first Takbeer, after the second Takbeer, the blessings on the Prophet should be invoked, and then supplicating for the forgiveness of the deceased after the third Takbeer; after the fourth Takbeer, one may supplicate for all Muslims or may not. Finally, he should end his Prayer with Tasleem (i.e. saying Assalaamu Alaykum). Some scholars are of the opinion that reciting Soorah al-Faatihah is an obligation and the prayer without it is considered null. While some others are of the opinion that the funeral Prayer should consist of Praising Allah, invoking blessing upon the Prophet, and supplicating for forgiveness of the deceased.
The correct opinion is that Soorah al-Faatihah should be recited since it is the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad . Moreover, the funeral Prayer is also a Prayer, so Soorah al-Faatihah in funeral prayer should be recited as recited in other Prayers. Therefore, your Imam might have recited the Soorah al-Faatihah rapidly, or he might hold the opinion of those who are of the view that reciting Soorah al-Faatihah is not obligatory. Know that making Du’aa' for the deceased is Sunnah and it is not an integral part of the Prayer. Anyway, repeating the funeral Prayer on the dead person is not necessary. May Allah comfort you and bless the dead person.
For more benefit on the funeral prayer, please refer to Fataawa 335380, 339799 and 348124.
Allah knows best.
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