Malik said: He should stand at the middle of the man, because it is narrated (3) that this was the position of Ibn Mas'ud. He should stand at the shoulders of the woman (4), because standing at her upper part is more appropriate and safer. Our evidence is what Samurah narrated, saying: I prayed behind the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) over a woman who died in childbirth, and he stood at her middle. It is agreed upon (5). This is in addition to the hadith of Anas that we mentioned (6). Since the woman differs from the man in the standing position, it is permissible that she differs from him here as well. Furthermore, his standing at the middle of the woman provides more concealment (7) for her from the people, so it is more appropriate. As for the statement of one who said he stands at the head of the man, it does not contradict the statement of one who said to stand at the chest, because the two are close, so one standing at either of them is considered standing at the other. And Allah knows best.
Section: If funeral prayers for men and women are combined, there are two narrations from Ahmad regarding it (8): The first is that he levels them between their heads. This is the choice of the Qadi, the opinion of Ibrahim and the people of Mecca, and the madhhab of Abu Hanifah, because it is narrated from Ibn 'Umar that he used to level them between their heads (9). And Sa'id narrated...
(3) Omitted from: (A), (M). (4) In (A) and (M): "her shoulders". (5) Narrated by al-Bukhari, in: The Chapter on Praying over the Woman in Childbirth if she dies in her childbirth, and The Chapter on Where to Stand for the Woman and the Man, from the Book of Funerals. Sahih al-Bukhari 2/111, 112. And Muslim, in: The Chapter on Where the Imam Stands for the Deceased to Pray over Him, from the Book of Funerals. Sahih Muslim 2/664. It was also narrated by Abu Dawud, in: The Chapter on Where the Imam Stands for the Deceased When Praying over Him, from the Book of Funerals. Sunan Abi Dawud 2/187; and by al-Tirmidhi, in: The Chapter on What Has Been Reported Regarding Where the Imam Stands for the Man and the Woman, from the Chapters on Funerals. 'Aridat al-Ahwadhi 4/252; and by al-Nasa'i, in: The Chapter on Praying over the Woman in Childbirth, from the Book of Menstruation, and in: The Chapter on Praying over the Funeral while Standing, and The Chapter on the Combination of Funerals for Men and Women, from the Book of Funerals. al-Mujtaba 1/160, 4/57, 58; and by Ibn Majah, in: The Chapter on What Has Been Reported Regarding Where the Imam Stands When Praying over a Funeral, from the Book of Funerals. Sunan Ibn Majah 1/479; and by Imam Ahmad, in: al-Musnad 5/14, 19. (6) A short while ago. (7) In (M): "concealment". (8) Omitted from: (M). (9) Narrated by 'Abd al-Razzaq, in: The Chapter on Where the Woman is Placed Relative to the Man, from the Book of Funerals. al-Musannaf 3/467.
