the fourth, it is not permissible to perform the fifth takbir over it, for the reasons we have explained. If the family of the first funeral wishes to lift it before the Imam's taslim, it is not permissible, because the taslim is a pillar (rukn) without which the prayer is not complete. Once this is established, he recites the Fatihah during the fifth takbir, performs the prayer upon the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) during the sixth, and supplicates during the seventh, in order to complete the recitation and invocations for all the funerals just as he completed the takbirs for them. Ibn 'Aqil mentioned a second view, stating: It is possible that he performs the takbirs beyond the fourth consecutively, as we said regarding making up for what the masbuq (latecomer) missed, and because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) performed seven takbirs, and it is known that it was not narrated that he performed two recitations. The first (view) is more correct, because the second and those that follow are funerals, so the conditions and obligatory acts of prayer are considered for them, just as they are for the first.

372 - Issue: He said: (And the Imam stands at the chest of the man and the middle of the woman).

There is no disagreement in the madhhab that the Sunnah is for the Imam in the funeral prayer to stand parallel to the middle of the woman, and at the chest of the man, or at his shoulders. If he stands in a position other than this (1), he has violated the Sunnah of the standing position, but it is valid for him. This is the opinion of Ishaq, and the opinion of al-Shafi'i is similar to it, except that some of his companions said: He stands at the head of the man. This is the madhhab of Abu Yusuf and Muhammad, based on what was narrated from Anas that he prayed over a man and stood at his head, then he prayed over a woman and stood parallel to the middle of the bier (sarir). Al-'Ala' ibn Ziyad said to him: Is this how you saw the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) stand over the funeral, in the same position you took from it, and from the man as you took from him? He replied: Yes. When he finished, he said: Preserve this. Al-Tirmidhi said (2): This is a hasan (good) hadith. Abu Hanifah said: He stands at the chest of both the man and the woman, because they are the same; so if he stands at the chest of the man, he does the same for the woman.