Is it better for the head of the deceased to be on the imam's right or on his left?

Question:
May Allah reward you. This questioner is Syrian and resides in al-Qassim. He says: Regarding how to pray over the deceased, some of our shaykhs say that in the prayer over the deceased, the head of the deceased should be to the left of the imam, while others say the head should be to the right of the imam. I read in the book *Learning the Prayer* by Imam al-Shafi'i (may Allah have mercy on him) that the head of a woman should be to the left of the imam, and the woman [should be] to the right of the imam. What is your honorable opinion on this?

Answer:
The matter is broad in this regard, but if the head of the deceased, whether male or female, is on the right of the imam, that is better, and the matter is broad, praise be to Allah. The scholars have mentioned that the imam stands opposite the head of a man, and opposite the middle of a woman. If he prays over a woman, he stands opposite her middle, and if he prays over a man, he stands opposite his head. This is recommended. Yes.