Praying over the funeral before the imam

Question:
Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success. He says: What is the ruling on praying over a funeral before the imam? For example, someone who prays over funerals that will be prayed over after the 'Asr prayer, so he prays over them before that due to his travel?

Answer:
The Permanent Committee has issued a fatwa on this matter stating that it is not permissible, because this is usurping the imam's role. You go to the mosque and pray over the funeral before the imam; this is usurping the role of the mosque's imam. Some people say, "I did not catch the second funeral, and I did not want to miss this one." This is not based on any evidence. It is not reported that the Companions would run between mosques. If a funeral has been prayed over once, that is sufficient. Yes. If you want to increase your reward, follow the procession to the cemetery and attend the burial. This is better than you going around to different mosques to compete in the prayer. Yes.