Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah

Hazrat Sha'bi says that with the first takbeer, he will begin with praise and glorification; with the second takbeer, he will recite durood; with the third takbeer, he will supplicate for the deceased; and after the fourth, he will say salam.

Hazrat Alaa bin Al-Musayyib narrates from his father that when Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) performed the funeral prayer, he would begin with the praise of Allah, then recite blessings (salat) upon the Prophet, and then recite this supplication: O Allah, forgive our living and our dead, unite our hearts, reconcile our mutual affairs, and make our hearts like the hearts of our best ones.

Hazrat Saeed bin Abi Maqbaree narrates that a person asked Hazrat Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him), "How do you perform the funeral prayer?" He replied, "By Allah, I will tell you. I say the takbeer, then I recite blessings upon the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), then I recite this supplication: O Allah, Your servant, or Your maidservant, used to worship You and did not associate anything with You, and You know best about him. If he was a doer of good, then increase his goodness, and if he was a wrongdoer, then pardon him. O Allah, do not put us to trial after him, and do not deprive us of his reward."

Hazrat Abu Hashim narrates that I heard from Hazrat Imam Shabi, he says: In the first takbeer, recite the praise and glorification of Allah Almighty; in the second, send blessings upon the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him); in the third, pray for the deceased; and after the fourth, there is salam.

Imam Zuhri says that I heard from Abu Umamah, who narrates from Saeed bin Al-Musayyib, that the Sunnah method of the funeral prayer is that you first recite Surah Al-Fatihah, then send blessings upon the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), then pray for the deceased until you finish, and this is to be done only once, and then you say the salam in your heart.