Majma al-Zawaid — Hadith 4241

Sayyiduna Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I asked Sayyiduna Ali bin Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him). I said: "O Abu al-Hasan, which of the two is more virtuous: walking behind the funeral or in front of it?" Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "O Abu Sa'id, does someone like you ask about this?" I said: "Who would ask about this except someone like me? For I have seen Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) and Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) walking in front of it." Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "May Allah Almighty have mercy on them both and forgive them both. They heard just as we heard, but they were easygoing men who liked ease. O Abu Sa'id, when you walk behind (the funeral of) your Muslim brother, remain silent and reflect that in the end you too will become like him. Your brother was so eager for the world; he has left it grieving and stripped of everything, and he has nothing with him as provision except righteous deeds. Then, when you reach the grave and the people sit down, do not sit, but stand at the edge of the grave. When he is lowered into the grave, say: 'In the name of Allah, in the path of Allah and upon the religion of the Messenger of Allah (I commit him to the earth). O Allah, this is Your servant who has become Your guest, and You are the best of hosts. He has put the world behind his back, so make what he has come to better than what he has left behind, for You Yourself have said: "And what is with Allah Almighty is better for the righteous."' (Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said:) Then throw three handfuls of earth on him."
Al-Bazzar recorded it. Its chain contains Abdullah bin Ayyub, who is da'if (weak).