Which is better for the funeral procession, to follow it or to be followed by it, and what is the ruling on supplicating for the deceased at the grave and saying "Ameen" behind him?
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The Shaykh : Yes
The questioner : Your Eminence, regarding the funeral procession, which is better, to follow it or to be followed by it? And what is the ruling on supplicating for the deceased with a loud voice while the people say "Ameen" behind him during the burial?
The Shaykh : Yes, the scholars have mentioned that those following the funeral procession, if they are riding, it is better for them to be behind the procession. If they are walking, the Sunnah is to be behind it, to its right, or to its left, and the matter is broad in this regard. They said that the riders would be behind the procession in their time because people would travel on camels, donkeys, or the like. But now, if it is said that it is preferable for riders in cars to be in front of it, that is because their presence behind the mourners disturbs the mourners and may urge the mourners to speed excessively, which is feared to cause something to come out of the deceased due to the force of the jolting.
Therefore, I see that riders in cars in the present time should be in front of the funeral procession. If that is not feasible for them, let them be behind it, far from the pedestrians, so as not to disturb the pedestrians. As for the pedestrians, the matter is broad; whether they are in front of it, behind it, to its right, or to its left.
As for supplicating for the deceased with a raised voice during the burial, it is a religious innovation (bid'ah), because the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), when he finished burying the deceased, would stand over him and saySunan Abi Dawud 3221Sahih (Al-Albani). If supplicating with a collective voice had been a Sunnah, the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) would have supplicated in that manner for his Companions, because his supplication for them is more blessed and closer to being answered.
But it is said to the people that each one should supplicate for this deceased himself when he is buried. They should seek forgiveness for him and ask Allah for steadfastness for him. Once is sufficient, but if he repeats it three times, that is better, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) used to supplicate three times when he supplicated.
The questioner : Your Eminence, regarding the funeral procession, which is better, to follow it or to be followed by it? And what is the ruling on supplicating for the deceased with a loud voice while the people say "Ameen" behind him during the burial?
The Shaykh : Yes, the scholars have mentioned that those following the funeral procession, if they are riding, it is better for them to be behind the procession. If they are walking, the Sunnah is to be behind it, to its right, or to its left, and the matter is broad in this regard. They said that the riders would be behind the procession in their time because people would travel on camels, donkeys, or the like. But now, if it is said that it is preferable for riders in cars to be in front of it, that is because their presence behind the mourners disturbs the mourners and may urge the mourners to speed excessively, which is feared to cause something to come out of the deceased due to the force of the jolting.
Therefore, I see that riders in cars in the present time should be in front of the funeral procession. If that is not feasible for them, let them be behind it, far from the pedestrians, so as not to disturb the pedestrians. As for the pedestrians, the matter is broad; whether they are in front of it, behind it, to its right, or to its left.
As for supplicating for the deceased with a raised voice during the burial, it is a religious innovation (bid'ah), because the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), when he finished burying the deceased, would stand over him and say
Seek forgiveness for your brother, and beg steadfastness for him, for he will be questioned now.
استغفروا لأخيكم واسألوا له التثبيت فإنه الآن يُسألBut it is said to the people that each one should supplicate for this deceased himself when he is buried. They should seek forgiveness for him and ask Allah for steadfastness for him. Once is sufficient, but if he repeats it three times, that is better, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) used to supplicate three times when he supplicated.