The Ruling on the Opening Supplication in the Funeral Prayer
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Question:
Is the opening supplication obligatory when praying over a deceased person?
Answer:
As for the prayer over a deceased person, it is a simplified prayer. The scholars stated that one does not begin it with an opening supplication; rather, one starts with seeking refuge in Allah, the basmalah, and reciting Surat al-Fatihah. There is no need for an opening supplication because it is a simplified prayer in which the expediting of the deceased and hastening with him is sought. Therefore, it is better that there be no opening supplication. This is the stated position among the people of knowledge.
Some of the people of knowledge hold that there is an opening supplication in it, but the closer view—may Allah know best—is that there is not; because it is a simplified prayer, not one containing bowing or prostration.
Is the opening supplication obligatory when praying over a deceased person?
Answer:
As for the prayer over a deceased person, it is a simplified prayer. The scholars stated that one does not begin it with an opening supplication; rather, one starts with seeking refuge in Allah, the basmalah, and reciting Surat al-Fatihah. There is no need for an opening supplication because it is a simplified prayer in which the expediting of the deceased and hastening with him is sought. Therefore, it is better that there be no opening supplication. This is the stated position among the people of knowledge.
Some of the people of knowledge hold that there is an opening supplication in it, but the closer view—may Allah know best—is that there is not; because it is a simplified prayer, not one containing bowing or prostration.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.