When words feel hard to find at a memorial, a traditional prayer or passage can help us express grief and find hope. Below are ten prayers and readings drawn from five world religions—offered here to bring a moment of solace, reflection, and unity.
Popular Prayers For Funeral Services
Across cultures, we reach for ancient words that remind us we’re not alone in sorrow—and that there can be peace beyond grief. Here are ten powerful prayers and passages you might hear at a funeral, grouped by faith.
Jewish Funeral Prayers
1. The Mourner’s Kaddish
Often recited in Aramaic during the funeral and the week of shiva, the Kaddish isn’t about death—it’s a hymn of praise to God that asks for peace across the world.
“May His great Name be exalted and sanctified… May there be abundant peace from Heaven, and life, for us and all Israel; and let us say, Amen.”
2. Kel Maleh Rachamim (“Prayer of Mercy”)
A tender plea for the departed to rest in the company of angels, this prayer asks God to shelter the soul among the holy.
“O God, full of compassion, grant perfect rest beneath the wings of Your Presence… Let us say, Amen.”
Christian Funeral Prayers
3. Eternal Rest (Catholic tradition)
A short, solemn prayer asking God to bring the deceased into light and everlasting peace.
“Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.”
4. Ecclesiastes 3:1–4
More a reflection than a prayer, these verses remind us that life’s a series of seasons—birth and death, weeping and laughter.
“There is a time for everything, a season for every activity under the heavens… a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance.”
Muslim Funeral Prayers
5. Salat al-Janazah (Funeral Prayer)
Offered in congregation, this prayer asks Allah to forgive the living and the dead, and to grant faith and mercy to the one who has passed.
“O Allah, forgive our living and our dead, those present and those absent… Do not let us go astray after him.”
6. Funeral Du‘ā’
A personal supplication for pardon and entry into Paradise, often said after the Janazah prayer.
“O Allah, forgive him, have mercy on him, grant him strength, and admit him into Paradise… Protect him from the torment of the grave.”
Hindu Prayers
7. Om Namo Narayanaya
A simple but powerful mantra meaning “I bow to the Divine,” often chanted to bring peace to the soul and comfort to mourners.
“Let us bow to the highest truth.”
8. Antyesti Mantra (Vedic Last Rites)
Part of the final fire ritual, this passage asks Agni, the sacred fire, to guide the departed back to the cosmic elements.
“O Agni, consume him not utterly but send him forth to his ancestors… Burn away his sins, then release his soul to the Fathers.”
Buddhist Funeral Prayers
9. The Heart Sutra
Central in Mahayana Buddhism, this short sutra teaches us about emptiness and interconnectedness—an aid in releasing attachment and easing suffering.
“Form is emptiness, emptiness is form… Gone, gone, gone beyond, gone utterly beyond, awakening, so be it.”
10. Tibetan Phowa Practice (from the Bardo Thodol)
A prayer for a peaceful transition at death, aiming to purify karma and guide the consciousness toward liberation.
“May all my obscurations and negative deeds be purified… May I succeed in this practice and die without fear, for the benefit of all beings.”
Each of these prayers carries centuries of comfort and meaning. Whether you recite one yourself, invite a clergy member to lead it, or simply listen, these words can help bridge the gap between grief and grace—reminding us that, in sorrow, we’re held by faith and community.
Consider using one of these funeral prayers at a memorial service with Everis or create an obituary for a loved one.
