is more appropriate than what they have mentioned. As for if the Imam exceeds five, then from Ahmad there is a report that he should perform takbir with the Imam up to seven. Al-Khallal said: The statement from Abu 'Abd Allah is established that he should perform takbir with the Imam up to seven, then it should not be increased beyond seven, and he should not perform the taslim except with the Imam. This is the opinion of Bakr ibn 'Abd Allah al-Muzani. 'Abd Allah ibn Mas'ud said: 'Perform takbir as your Imam performs takbir, for there is no fixed time nor number (5).' The basis for this is what was narrated, that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) performed seven takbirs over Hamzah. This was narrated by Ibn Shahin (6). 'Ali performed seven takbirs over the funeral of Abu Qatadah (7), and six over Sahl ibn Hunayf, and he said: 'He was a veteran of Badr (8).' It was narrated that 'Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, gathered the people and consulted them. Some of them said: 'The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) performed seven takbirs.' Others said: 'Five.' And others said: 'Four.' So 'Umar gathered the people upon four takbirs and said: 'It is the longest of the prayers (9).' Al-Hakam ibn 'Utaybah (10) said: 'Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, prayed over Sahl ibn (11) Hunayf and performed six takbirs over him.'
(5) Narrated by 'Abd al-Razzaq, in: The Chapter on Takbir over the Funeral, from the Book of Funerals. Al-Musannaf 3/481, 482. And Ibn Abi Shaybah, in: The Chapter on Those Who Used to Perform Five Takbirs over the Funeral, from the Book of Funerals. Al-Musannaf 3/303.
(6) Narrated by al-Bayhaqi, in: The Chapter on Those Who Claimed the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) prayed over the martyrs of Uhud, from the Book of Funerals. Al-Sunan al-Kubra 4/13.
(7) Narrated by al-Bayhaqi, in: The Chapter on Those Who Went Toward Specializing the Virtuous with the Increase of Takbirs Beyond Four, from the Book of Funerals. Al-Sunan al-Kubra 4/36. And Ibn Abi Shaybah, in: The Chapter on Those Who Used to Perform Seven and Five Takbirs over the Funeral, from the Book of Funerals. Al-Musannaf 3/304. The author of Al-Sunan said: 'It is narrated thus, but it is an error, because Abu Qatadah, may Allah be pleased with him, remained for a long time after 'Ali, may Allah be pleased with him.' End quote. Ibn Kathir mentioned it in his account of those who died in the year fifty-four. Al-Bidayah wa al-Nihayah 8/68. As for Ibn Hajar, he favored the view that his death was later. Tahdhib al-Tahdhib 12/204, Al-Isabah 7/337.
(8) Narrated by al-Bayhaqi, in: The Chapter on Those Who Went Toward Specializing the Virtuous with the Increase of Takbirs Beyond Four, from the Book of Funerals. Al-Sunan al-Kubra 4/36. 'Abd al-Razzaq, in: The Chapter on Takbir over the Funeral, from the Book of Funerals. Al-Musannaf 3/481. And Ibn Abi Shaybah, in: The Chapter on What Was Said Regarding the Funeral Prayer for One Who Performs Four Takbirs, from the Book of Funerals. Al-Musannaf 3/301.
(9) Narrated by Ibn Abi Shaybah, in: The Chapter on What Was Said Regarding the Funeral Prayer for One Who Performs Four Takbirs, from the Book of Funerals. Al-Musannaf 3/302.
(10) Al-Hakam ibn 'Utaybah al-Kindi, their mawla, a trustworthy, reliable, and jurist scholar. He was born in the year fifty and died in the year one hundred and thirteen. Tahdhib al-Tahdhib 2/432-434.
(11) Omitted from A, M.
