Mustadrak al-Hakim — Hadith 1365

Sayyiduna Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) came (to Madinah), our practice was that when death approached one of us, we would inform the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). He would come and seek forgiveness for him, until, when his soul had been taken, he (peace and blessings be upon him) and his companions would remain there until the burial; and at times the Prophet of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) had to stay there for a very long time. When we feared that this caused hardship for him, some people said to others: "If we do not inform the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) until the soul has been taken, and inform him after it has been taken, there will be no burden of hardship or long waiting upon him (peace and blessings be upon him)." So we began to do that, informing him after the deceased had died, and he (peace and blessings be upon him) would come and lead the funeral prayer over him. Then sometimes he (peace and blessings be upon him) would go back and sometimes he would stay there until the burial. We remained on this practice for some time. Then we said among ourselves: "If we do not trouble the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and instead carry our funerals to him ourselves so that he (peace and blessings be upon him) may pray over them near his house, that would be easier for him (peace and blessings be upon him)." So we adopted this practice, and the matter has continued that way to this day.
This hadith is sahih (authentic) on the condition of the two Shaykhs (Bukhari and Muslim), but they did not record it, and I dictated it earlier in abridged form.