funerals (10). This involves three categories: The first is that one prays over it, then leaves. Zayd ibn Thabit said: "If you have prayed, you have fulfilled what is incumbent upon you." Abu Dawud said: "I saw Ahmad, more times than I can count, pray over funeral processions without following them to the grave, and without seeking permission [to leave]." The second is that one follows it to the grave and then stands until it is buried, due to the statement of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace): "Whoever attends a funeral procession until he prays [the prayer] has a qirat, and whoever attends it until it is buried has two qirats." It was said: "And what are the two qirats?" He replied: "Like two great mountains." Agreed upon (11). The third is to remain after the burial to seek forgiveness for the deceased, ask Allah to grant him steadfastness, and invoke mercy for him, for it was narrated from the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) that when he buried a deceased person, he would stand and say: "Seek forgiveness for him, and ask Allah to grant him steadfastness, for he is now being questioned." Narrated by Abu Dawud (12). It was narrated from Ibn 'Umar that he used to recite the beginning and the end of Surah al-Baqarah at the grave after the burial.

Section: It is recommended for one who follows a funeral procession to be submissive, reflecting upon his own end, taking heed from death and what the deceased has come to, and not to speak of worldly affairs or laugh. Sa'd ibn Mu'adh said: "I never followed a funeral procession and occupied my mind with anything other than what is being done to it." Some of the Salaf saw a man laughing at a funeral and said: "Do you laugh while you are following a funeral procession? I will never speak to you again."

353 - Issue; He said: (And walking in front of it is better)

Most scholars hold the view that the merit for the one walking is to be in front of the funeral procession. This was narrated from Abu Bakr, 'Umar, 'Uthman, Ibn 'Umar, Abu Hurayra, al-Hasan ibn 'Ali, Ibn al-Zubayr, Abu Qatada, Abu Usayd, 'Ubayd ibn 'Umayr, Shurayh, al-Qasim ibn Muhammad, Salim, al-Zuhri, Malik, and al-Shafi'i. Al-Awza'i and the Ahl al-Ra'y (jurists of opinion) said: Walking behind it is better, based on what Ibn Mas'ud narrated from the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) that he said: "The funeral procession is followed, and it does not follow [you]; he is not of it (1) who precedes it (2)." 'Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "The merit of the one walking behind the funeral procession over the one walking in front of it is like the merit of the obligatory prayer over the voluntary prayer; I heard this from the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) (3)." And because it is followed, it must be put in front, like the Imam in prayer. For this reason, it is said in the authentic hadith: "Whoever follows a funeral procession" (4). Our evidence is what Ibn 'Umar narrated, saying: "I saw the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), Abu Bakr, and 'Umar walking in front of the funeral procession." Narrated by