Opening du’aa’ in the funeral prayer

Question

Praise be to Allah.

Firstly:

The funeral prayer (salaat al-janaazah) is a communal
obligation. It has been described in the answer to question no.
12363.

Secondly:

The opening du’aa’ is a confirmed Sunnah in every prayer in
which there is bowing and prostration, such as the obligatory and naafil
prayers, Eid prayer, eclipse prayer, and so on.

With regard to a prayer in which there is no bowing or
prostration, such as the prayer offered for the deceased, the scholars
differed as to whether it is prescribed to recite the opening du’aa’ in this
prayer. There are two views:

1 – That the opening du’aa’ is not prescribed in the funeral
prayer. This is the view of the majority, the Maalikis, Shaafa’is and
Hanbalis.

They quoted as evidence:

(i)The fact that there is no
report that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
recited the opening du’aa’ in the funeral prayer.

(ii)They said that it is prescribed
to make the funeral prayer brief, so it is appropriate to omit the opening
du’aa’.

Al-Nawawi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said (5/194): As for
the opening du’aa’, there are two points of view. Our companions are agreed
that it is mustahabb to omit it. End quote.

Al-Shaykh Ibn Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: As
for the opening du’aa’, there is nothing wrong with reciting it and there is
nothing wrong with omitting it, but omitting it is preferable, following the
words of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him):
“Hasten with the funeral.” End quote.

Majmoo’ Fataawa Ibn Baaz
(13/141).

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) was
asked: Is it prescribed to say the opening du’aa’ when offering the funeral
prayer?

He replied: The scholars stated that it is not recommended,
and they gave the reason for that as being that the funeral prayer is
supposed to be kept short, so the opening du’aa’ should not be recited. End
quote.

Majmoo’ Fataawa Ibn ‘Uthaymeen
(17/119).

2 – That the opening du’aa’ is Sunnah in the funeral prayer.
This is the view of the Hanafis.

They gave the reason as being that it is a prayer, so the
opening du’aa’ should be recited in it as in all other prayers.

Some of the Hanafis – such as al-Tahhaawi (may Allaah have
mercy on him) favoured the view that the opening du’aa’ should not be
recited in it.

See: Badaa’i’ al-Sanaa’i’ (1/314).

The view that is more likely to be correct is the view that
it is not prescribed to recite the opening du’aa’ in the funeral prayer,
because there is no report that the Prophet (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) did that, and because it is supposed to be kept short,
hence there is no bowing or prostrating in it and no Qur’aan is recited
apart from al-Faatihah.

And Allaah knows best.