Section: Raising the voice during a funeral procession is disliked, due to the prohibition of the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) that a funeral procession be followed with a voice (15). Ibn al-Mundhir said: We have narrated from Qays ibn 'Ubad that he said: The companions of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) used to dislike raising the voice on three occasions: at funerals, during dhikr (remembrance of Allah), and during combat (16). Al-Hasan mentioned from the companions of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) that they used to consider it recommended to lower the voice on three occasions, and he mentioned the same (16). Sa'id ibn al-Musayyab, Sa'id ibn Jubayr, al-Hasan, al-Nakha'i, our Imam, and Ishaq all disliked (17) the statement of someone saying behind the funeral procession: "Seek forgiveness for him." Al-Awza'i said: It is an innovation (bid'ah). 'Ata' said: It is a recent invention. Sa'id ibn al-Musayyab said during his illness: "Beware of their chanter; this one who chants for them, saying: 'Seek forgiveness for him, may Allah forgive you.'" Fudayl ibn 'Amr said: While Ibn 'Umar was at a funeral, he heard a caller saying: "Seek forgiveness for him, may Allah forgive you." Ibn 'Umar said: "May Allah not forgive you." Both were recorded by Sa'id. Ahmad said: One should not say behind the funeral procession: "Submit, may Allah have mercy on you," for that (18) is an innovation. Rather, he should say: "In the name of Allah, and upon the creed of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace)." And he should remember Allah when he takes hold of the bier.
Section: Touching the funeral procession with hands, sleeves, or handkerchiefs is a recently introduced practice that is disliked, and one is not secure from the corruption of the deceased occurring as a result. Scholars have prohibited touching the grave; therefore, touching the corpse, with the fear of harm, is more deserving of prohibition.
Section: Following the deceased with fire is disliked. Ibn al-Mundhir said: Everyone whose opinion is preserved dislikes that.
(15) Extracted by Abu Dawud, in: Chapter on fire with which the deceased is followed, from the Book of Funerals. Sunan Abi Dawud 2/181. And Imam Ahmad, in: al-Musnad 2/427, 528, 532. (16) Extracted by Ibn Abi Shaybah, in: Chapter on raising the voice in the funeral procession, from the Book of Funerals. Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah 3/274. (17) In M: "And he mentioned". (18) In A and M: "for it".
