Salah (Prayer) for Persons Crucified, Stoned or Dead for Capital Punishment

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Ghusl (bath), hunut, and shroud are done for people stoned to death, male or female, prior to executing stoning, then Salah (prayer) is performed. Ghusl (bath), hunut, shrouding and Salah (prayer) for one executed because of retaliation are also done before the execution.”’

“I once asked abu al-Hassan al-Rida (a.s.), about one who is crucified. He (the Imam) said, ‘Do you not know that my grandfather performed Salah (prayer) for his uncle?’ I said, ‘I know it but I do not understand it clearly.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘I explain it for you. If the face of the person crucified is toward al-Qiblah (al-Ka‘bah), stand near his right shoulder. If his back is toward al-Qiblah (al-Ka‘bah), then stand near his left shoulder but if it is between the east and west and his left shoulder toward al-Qiblah (al-Ka‘bah), then stand near his right shoulder. If his right shoulder is toward al- Qiblah (al-Ka‘bah), then stand near his left shoulder. To whichever direction he is, do not keep away from his shoulders and keep your face toward east or west, and do not stand face to face with him. You must not turn your back to him.’ Abu Hashim has said that I then said, ‘I certainly understood, by the will of Allah, I understood it by Allah.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah has said, ‘You must not keep a crucified person on (the woods) for more than three days, after which the deceased must be brought down and buried.’”