Short answer
In the Hanafi school, if you arrive after the imam has said some takbirs, wait for his next takbir and say it with him. After he gives salam, say the takbirs you missed one after another before the body is lifted, then give salam. If the body is lifted first, the prayer is still counted.
A latecomer (masbuq) does not start with a takbir of his own; he waits for the imam's next takbir and joins with it, according to Abu Hanifa and Muhammad. After the imam's salam he makes up the missed takbirs in a row, adding the dua only if there is time, and stops if the bier is lifted from the ground onto shoulders.
Other madhhabs
- Shafi'i
- The latecomer says his opening takbir at once, follows his own order (al-Fatiha first), and completes the missed takbirs with their recitations after the imam's salam.
- Hanbali
- The latecomer joins at once and makes up the missed takbirs after the salam; if the body is about to be carried, he may say them in a row.
Explanation
Janazah prayers are often short and people arrive while it is already under way. Do not run or push. Join calmly and you will still have prayed.
Step by step, Hanafi:
- Stand in the row and make the intention to pray the janazah behind the imam.
- Wait. When the imam says his next takbir, say it with him. This is your first takbir. Read the thana if you have time, or follow the imam into whatever comes next.
- Carry on with the imam until he gives salam.
- Do not give salam with him. Say the takbirs you missed, one after another. If the body is still on the ground and you have time, add the salawat and a short dua; if not, say the takbirs only.
- Give salam to the right and the left.
Arriving at the very end. If you arrive after the imam's fourth takbir but before his salam, Abu Yusuf held that you join and say your takbirs after the salam; Abu Hanifa and Muhammad held that you have missed it. Many Hanafi muftis today allow the first view, so join if you can. If the salam is already done, you have missed the prayer: make dua for the person and follow the funeral to the grave.
This mirrors the general rule for joining any prayer late: pray what you catch with the imam and complete what you missed. For the daily prayers, see joining the prayer late.
The evidence
Sahih al-Bukhari 636
Sahih... فما أدركتم فصلوا وما فاتكم فأتموا ...
"Whatever you catch, pray it, and whatever you missed, complete it."
The general rule for a latecomer, which the janazah follows.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Hidaya, Kitab al-Salah, Bab al-Jana'iz, section on the funeral prayer. The latecomer waits for the imam's next takbir and makes up the rest after the salam.
- al-Durr al-Mukhtar, Kitab al-Salah, Bab Salat al-Janazah. Making up the takbirs in a row before the bier is lifted, and the case of arriving after the fourth takbir.
Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.