It is narrated from Sayyiduna Malik bin Hubayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: If a believer passes away and a group of Muslims comprising three rows offers his funeral prayer, he will be forgiven. This is why, when Sayyiduna Malik bin Hubayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) saw that the number of people at a funeral was small, he would arrange them into three rows.
Hadith Referenceالفتح الربانی / أبواب صلاة الجنازة / 3143
Hadith Gradingمحدثین:ضعیف
Hadith Takhrij«اس كي سند ميں محمد بن اسحاق راوي مدلس هے، ليكن شيخ الباني نے فوائد ميں مذكور حديث كي بنا پر اس كو قابل حجت قرار ديا هے۔ أخرجه ابن ماجه: 1490 ، (انظر مسند أحمد ترقيم الرسالة: 16724 ترقیم بيت الأفكار الدولية: 16844»
Brief Explanation
Benefits: … Sayyiduna Abu Umamah radi Allahu anhu says: “The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam offered the funeral prayer, and with him were seven people. So he sallallahu alayhi wa sallam made three of them in one row, two in another row, and the remaining two in another row.” (Al-Mu’jam al-Kabir by al-Tabarani, and in it is Ibn Luhay’ah, but it is cited in support of the hadith of Malik ibn Hubayrah radi Allahu anhu.)