Question:
In the book “Laws of Janazah” (Funeral Prayer), it is mentioned that after reciting Al-Fatihah in Janazah prayer, one should also recite another Surah (a short one).
Some critics say this hadith is Shaadhdh (irregular) and weak. Please clarify.
Answer:
The book “Laws of Janazah” was written about 20 years ago. The ruling regarding reciting another Surah after Fatihah in Janazah prayer is based on a hadith.
The critics say that many narrations state the Prophet ﷺonly recited Al-Fatihah in Janazah prayer, and only one narration mentions an additional Surah.
Therefore, they claim it is Shaadhdh (odd and weak). However, the principle of Shaadhdh is when a narration contradicts a stronger narration.
In this case, the narrations that mention only Al-Fatihah do not contradict the one that mentions an additional Surah. The ones who mentioned only Al-Fatihah might have just omitted mentioning the additional Surah (they reported what they saw, which was the minimum).
The one who mentioned the additional Surah reported extra detail. In hadith sciences, adding extra detail (Ziyadah) from a trustworthy narrator is acceptable and does not make it Shaadhdh.
For example, if ten people say someone ate Idli, and one trustworthy person says they ate Idli and Vadai, the addition is accepted because it does not contradict the core fact (eating Idli). The one who mentioned the Vadai added more information. So, the hadith about reciting an additional Surah is not weak or Shaadhdh; it is acceptable.
The book explains this in detail.
