To: The Respected Chief Mufti (May Allah preserve him)
Subject: Regarding the Funeral Prayer (Salat al-Janazah).
Issue: During the funeral prayer (Janazah), it is frequently observed that some people keep their hands folded even after the fourth Takbir and only release them after concluding the prayer with the Salam. Conversely, others release their hands immediately after the fourth Takbir before the Salam.
Query: What I wish to know from the respected Chief Mufti is: What is the correct and authentic method regarding when to release the hands during the funeral prayer (Salat al-Janazah)? Kindly provide the ruling with Islamic legal evidence (Dalil).
Ruling: Although there are several juristic opinions among the classical Islamic jurists (Fuqaha) regarding this matter, the most reliable and preferred ruling (Al-Qawl al-Mu'tamad) is that one should release (unbind) the hands immediately after the fourth Takbir before performing the Salam. This is because no prescribed remembrance (Dhikr), supplication (Du'a), or recitation (Qira'ah) remains to be performed after the fourth Takbir in the funeral prayer.
