Reports on giving precedence to the imam at a funeral

Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "The imam is the most entitled to lead the prayer over any funeral."

Mansur said: I went with Ibrahim to a funeral of which Ibrahim (himself) was the guardian. He sent for the imam of the neighbourhood, and he led its funeral prayer.

Ghannam bin Talq said: Abu Burdah attended the funeral of a freedwoman of his, and he ordered the imam of the neighbourhood to go forward and lead the funeral prayer.

Muhammad bin al-Sa'ib said: The daughter of Ibrahim al-Taymi passed away, and Ibrahim al-Nakha'i attended her funeral. Ibrahim al-Nakha'i ordered the imam of Banu Taym to lead her funeral prayer, and then said: "This is the Sunnah way."

Muslim said: I saw Abd al-Rahman bin Abi Layla put forward Abdullah bin Hakim to lead the funeral prayer of his mother; he was the imam of their neighbourhood.

Suwayd bin Ghafalah said: "The imam (of the neighbourhood) is more entitled to lead the funeral prayer."

Sayyiduna Jarir (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "The imam (of the neighbourhood) will be put forward for the funeral."

It is reported about al-Aswad that he used to be put forward (to lead the prayer) over funerals because of his age.

Ibrahim said: I put al-Aswad forward for the funeral prayer, (because) he was their imam (of the neighbourhood).

It is narrated from al-Hasan bin Amr that a son of Abu Ma'shar died, and the imam was not present at that time. He said: "Whoever leads the prayer in the absence of the imam should step forward and lead the funeral prayer."

Salim, al-Qasim, Tawus, Mujahid and Ata used to put the imam forward for the funeral prayer.

Hafs bin Ghiyath narrates from his uncle that Talhah and Zubayd attended the funeral of a woman who was a close relative of theirs, and both of them put forward the imam of the neighbourhood to lead the funeral prayer.

Ibrahim said: They used to put forward the imams for the prayer over their dead.

Hammad said: The guardian (wali) may put forward whomever he wishes for the funeral prayer.

Abd al-Rahman bin al-Aswad and Alqamah said: The imam is to be put forward for the funeral prayer.

Al-Hasan bin Ubaydullah said: Alqamah used to lead the prayer over the funerals of his neighbourhood, although he was not the imam.