Bulugh al-Maram

Benefit:
In the case of accompanying a funeral procession to the graveyard, should one walk in front or behind? From various narrations, it is established that the practice of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam was to walk on the right, left, in front, and behind—all manners are proven.

Narrator of the Hadith:
[ سالم رحمہ اللہ ] His kunyah was Abu Abdullah or Abu Umar. His lineage is as follows: Salim bin Abdullah bin Umar bin Khattab. He was among the leaders of the Tabi‘in and was a respected scholar of his era. He was counted among the seven jurists (fuqaha) of Madinah Tayyibah. He was extremely steadfast, knowledgeable, and virtuous. In morals, character, and habits, he greatly resembled his father. He passed away in the months of Dhu al-Qa‘dah or Dhu al-Hijjah in the year 106 Hijri.

1947. Commentary: The Hanafis do not consider it correct to walk in front of the funeral procession. Their evidence is this hadith: «الجنازۃ متبوعۃ ولا تتبع لیس معھا من تقدمھا». Firstly, this narration itself is weak because in its chain of transmission is Abu Majdah. Imam Abu Dawud rahimahullah has called him unknown (ghayr ma‘ruf). (Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith: 3184) And Imam Daraqutni rahimahullah has called him majhul (unknown). (Hidayat al-Ruwat by al-Albani, Hadith: 1612) Even if, for the sake of argument, this narration were authentic, its meaning is that one should go along with the funeral so that if there is a need to help in carrying the bier, one can assist. One should not go separately to the graveyard before the funeral, otherwise the reward of accompanying the funeral will not be attained.

Explanation:

1:
See the next hadith (1010). As for the narration of Ibn Mas'ud which is coming up «الجنازة متبوعة ولا تتبع وليس منها من تقدمها», this narration is not authentic, as its details will be mentioned ahead.
(See: 1011)

Benefits and Issues:
According to the circumstances, it is permissible to walk in front of the deceased.
There is no disrespect to the deceased in this.

Benefit:
(It-tibā‘ al-janā’iz)

To follow the funeral processions — from this wording, it apparently seems that all those accompanying the funeral should walk behind it.
However, from this hadith it is understood that by the phrase “walking behind” the funeral, what is meant is accompanying it.
Therefore, just as those accompanying the funeral may walk behind the bier of the deceased,
likewise, they may also walk in front of it. Thus, walking to the right or left is, all the more so, permissible.

Benefit:
This hadith establishes that it is permissible to walk on any side of the funeral procession—whether in front, behind, to the right, or to the left—because there are usually many people present at a funeral. Therefore, the Shari‘ah has provided ease in this matter, allowing people to walk in whatever manner is possible for them.