Reports on how many enter the grave

Imam al-Sha'bi said: Sayyiduna Ali, Sayyiduna al-Fadl and Sayyiduna Usamah (may Allah be pleased with them) washed the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and placed him in the grave. Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) was saying: "O Messenger of Allah, may my father and mother be ransomed for you! Your life was pure, and your death is pure too."

Ibn Abi Marhab said that Sayyiduna Abd al-Rahman bin Awf (may Allah be pleased with him) also entered the grave with them.

He said: Al-Sha'bi said: And who should take charge of the deceased except his family?

Sa'id said: Only four men from among the people buried the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): Sayyiduna Ali, Sayyiduna al-Abbas, Sayyiduna al-Fadl and Sayyiduna Salih, the freed slave of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) (may Allah be pleased with them).

Ibrahim said: As many people as one wishes may lower (the deceased) into the grave.

Al-Hasan said: There is no harm whether those lowering (the deceased) into the grave are an odd or an even number.

Something similar is reported from Amir.

Qatadah said: Something similar is reported from al-Hasan.