Al-Shafi‘i held, in one of his two opinions, that the wali (guardian) is given priority, by analogy to his priority in marriage, based on the shared consideration of the order of the agnatic heirs (asabat). This contradicts the statement of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him): "A man shall not lead another man in prayer in his domain of authority." Abu Hazim narrated, saying: "I witnessed al-Husayn when al-Hasan died; he was pushing Sa‘id ibn al-‘As from behind, saying: 'Step forward; were it not for the Sunnah, I would not have brought you forward,' and Sa‘id was the governor of Madinah." This implies the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). Imam Ahmad narrated, with his chain of transmission from ‘Ammar, the freed slave of the Banu Hashim, who said: "I witnessed the funeral of Umm Kulthum bint ‘Ali and Zayd ibn ‘Umar. Sa‘id ibn al-‘As, who was the governor of Madinah, prayed over her, and behind him that day were eighty of the companions of Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), among them Ibn ‘Umar, al-Hasan, and al-Husayn." In another place, he named Zayd ibn Thabit and Abu Hurayrah. ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "The Imam has more right to pray over the funeral." Ibn Mas‘ud reported something similar. This became widely known and was not denied, thus it constitutes a consensus. Furthermore, it is a prayer for which congregation has been legislated, so the Imam has more right to lead it, just as with other prayers. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to lead funeral prayers while the relatives of the deceased were present, as did the caliphs after him, and it has not been reported to us that they sought permission from the guardians of the deceased to lead them.

Section: The "governor" here refers to the Imam; if he is not present, then the governor appointed by him; if he is not present, then the deputy appointed by him for leading the prayer, for al-Husayn brought Sa‘id ibn al-‘As forward, even though he was a governor appointed by Mu‘awiyah; if he is not present, then the judge (hakim).

357 - Issue; He said: (Then the father, even if he ascends, then the son, even if he descends, then the closest agnatic heir (asabah)).

The correct view in the school is what al-Khiraqi mentioned, that the person with the most right after the governor is the father, then