Nasai

1921. Commentary: From the aforementioned verbal and practical, marfu‘ and mawquf narrations, it is explicitly established that upon seeing a funeral procession, one should stand up. Nature and reason also demand the same, and this is what is correct. However, Ali and Ibn Abbas (radi Allahu anhum) are not proponents of standing, or it may be said that, according to them, it is not necessary, as will be seen in a forthcoming chapter where related ahadith are mentioned. However, that appears to be their own inference, and thus it cannot stand in opposition to the narrations regarding standing. At most, those narrations establish that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) sat down, and reconciliation is also possible: that the command to stand indicates recommendation (istihbab), but sitting is also permissible, and this is a good reconciliation. (For further discussion, see Hadith: 1915)