Reason for Five Takbir in Salah (Prayer) for a Dead Person

“I asked abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), ’Why are there five Takbir in Salah (prayer) for a dead person?’ He (the Imam) replied, ’From every Salah (prayer) of a day’s Salah (prayer), one Takbir has come.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah would say five Takbir for certain people, and four Takbir for other groups of people. When he (the Messenger of Allah) would say four Takbir in the Salah (prayer) for a dead man, he (the deceased) was suspected of hypocrisy.”

“I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), say, ‘When performing Salah (prayer) for a deceased, the Messenger of Allah would say Takbir (Allah is great beyond description), then say the two testimonies (I testify that only Allah deserves worship, He is one and has no partners and I testify that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger). He would then say Takbir then say, “ O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause” and pray for the prophets. Then say Takbir (Allah is great beyond description) and pray for the believing people, then say the fourth Takbir and pray for the deceased, then say Takbir and end the Salah (prayer). When Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, prohibited praying for the hypocrites, he (the Messenger of Allah) would say Takbir, say the two testimonies, pray for the prophets, then say Takbir and pray for the believing people then say the fourth Takbir, end the Salah (prayer) and would not pray for the deceased.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Allah, most Blessed, most High, made five Salah (prayer) obligatory, and from every Salah (prayer) there is one Takbir (Allah is great beyond description) in Salah (prayer) for a deceased.’”

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), once asked, ‘O abu Bakr, do you know how much is Salah (prayer) for a deceased?’ I replied, ‘No, I do not know.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is five Takbir (Allah is great beyond description). Do you know from where are they taken?’ I replied, ‘No, I do not know.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Five Takbir (Allah is great beyond description) are taken from five Salah (prayer), one Takbir from every Salah (prayer).”’