pardon him and make honorable his reception. Cause his entrance to be wide and cleanse him with water, snow and ice. Cleanse him of sins as a white cloth is cleansed of stains. Exchange his home for a better home, his family for a better family, and his spouse for a better spouse. Admit him into Paradise, protect him from the punishment of the grave and the torment of the Fire. Enlarge for him his tomb and shed light upon him in it. O Allah, do not deprive us of his reward and do not let us go astray after him." d) To say Allahu Akbar for the fourth time and then to make Taslim on the right side only.

It is desirable to raise one's hands with each Takbir. If the deceased is a woman, then one should change the ending of certain words, such as, "O Allah, forgive her, have mercy on her, keep her safe, pardon her ..."

Also, if the deceased are two or more persons, a few changes to some of the words have to be made, "O Allah, forgive them both, have mercy on them both, keep them both safe, pardon them both ..."

If the deceased is a baby or a child, we should pray for him thus, "O Allah, make him/her a preceding reward and a stored treasure for his/her parents and an answered intercessor. O Allah, through him/her, make heavy their Scales and magnify their reward. Gather him/her with the righteous believers, place him/her under the care of (Prophet) Ibrahim, and save him/her by Your Mercy from the torment of Hell."

The Sunnah, when performing the funeral prayer, is that the Imam should stand by the head of the deceased if he is a man, or by the middle of the deceased if she is a woman. If there are children amongst the dead, the boy is to be placed before the woman and the girl after her. The boy's head should be placed next to the head of the man, and the middle of the woman should be placed next to the head of the man. If there is a girl amongst them, her head should be placed next to the head of the woman. Those offering the funeral prayer should stand behind the Imam. If there is one person with the Imam, then the former should stand on the right of the latter.