afterwards or leave it, for it is of the Sunnah. It was narrated by Sa'id in his "Sunan" (1). This implies the Sunnah of the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace). The description of the prescribed tarbi' (carrying in a square formation) is that one begins by placing the left leg of the bier on one's right shoulder (2), from the side of the deceased's head, then places the left leg from the side of the feet on the right shoulder as well (3), then returns to the right leg from the side of the deceased's head and places it on one's left shoulder, then moves to the right [leg] from the side of his feet. This is the opinion of Abu Hanifah and al-Shafi'i. It is narrated from Ahmad, may Allah have mercy on him, that one rotates around it, taking the left side of the rear, then the right side of the rear, then the front. This is the school of Ishaq, and it is narrated from Ibn Mas'ud, Ibn 'Umar, Sa'id ibn Jubayr, and Ayyub. [This is] because it is lighter. The reasoning for the first [method] is that it is one of the two sides, so it is appropriate to begin with its front, just as in the first instance. As for carrying [the bier] between the two poles, Ibn al-Mundhir said: We have narrated from 'Uthman, Sa'id ibn Malik, Ibn 'Umar, Abu Hurayrah, and Ibn al-Zubayr that they carried [it] between the two poles of the bier. Al-Shafi'i, Ahmad, Abu Thawr, and Ibn al-Mundhir held this view. Al-Nakha'i, al-Hasan, Abu Hanifah, and Ishaq considered it disliked. The correct view is the first, because the Companions, may Allah have mercy on them, practiced it, and there is a good example in them. Malik said: There is no set time/method for carrying the deceased; one carries it from wherever one wishes. Al-Awza'i said the same. Following the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, in what they did and said (5), is better and more appropriate.
Section: If a funeral passes by one, it is not recommended for one to stand for it, due to the statement of 'Ali, may Allah be pleased with him: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) stood, then sat down. Narrated by Muslim (6). Ishaq said: The meaning of 'Ali's statement is that the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) would stand when he saw a funeral, then he abandoned that afterwards.
(1) Extracted by Ibn Majah, in: Chapter on what has been said regarding witnessing funerals, from the Book of Funerals. Sunan Ibn Majah 10/474. (2) In the original: "the right". (3) It appeared in [manuscript] M after his words: "then returns" which follows. (4) It appears thus in the copies, and we have not found among the Companions and the Successors anyone named "Sa'id ibn Malik." The name of Abu Sa'id al-Khudri is Sa'd ibn Malik. (5) Omitted from: the original. (6) In: Chapter on the abrogation of standing for the funeral, from the Book of Funerals. Sahih Muslim 2/662. It was also extracted by Abu Dawud, in:
