✿ Written by: Imran Ayub Lahori ✿
It is not necessary for the rows in the Janazah prayer to be in odd numbers, because there is no authentic evidence that mandates the requirement of having odd-numbered rows.
Those who consider it recommended to form odd-numbered rows base their opinion on the following Hadith:
It is narrated from Hazrat Malik bin Hubayrah (رضي الله عنه) that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
مامن مسلم يموت فيصلى عليه ثلاثة صفوف من المسلمين إلا أو جب
“No Muslim dies and has three rows of Muslims praying over him except that Paradise is made obligatory for him.”
[Weak: Da‘if Abu Dawud: 695, Kitab al-Jana’iz: Chapter on rows in Janazah; Da‘if al-Jami‘: 5220; Abu Dawud: 3166; Tirmidhi: 1028; Ibn Majah: 1490]
Shaykh Al-Albani (رحمه الله) graded this narration as Hasan when Mawquf, and Shaykh Shu‘ayb Al-Arna’ut graded it as weak.
[Commentary in Al-Sayl al-Jarrar: 1/711]
❶ There is no requirement in Shari‘ah that the rows in Janazah prayer must be odd in number.
❷ The Hadith mentioning three rows is weak and thus not suitable as a basis for establishing a ruling.
❸ Some scholars have regarded it as Hasan when Mawquf, but the ruling remains non-binding.
❹ Therefore, forming odd-numbered rows is not a condition for the validity or reward of the Janazah prayer.
❀ Odd Number of Rows in Janazah Prayer Is Not a Requirement
It is not necessary for the rows in the Janazah prayer to be in odd numbers, because there is no authentic evidence that mandates the requirement of having odd-numbered rows.
Those who consider it recommended to form odd-numbered rows base their opinion on the following Hadith:
It is narrated from Hazrat Malik bin Hubayrah (رضي الله عنه) that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
مامن مسلم يموت فيصلى عليه ثلاثة صفوف من المسلمين إلا أو جب
“No Muslim dies and has three rows of Muslims praying over him except that Paradise is made obligatory for him.”
[Weak: Da‘if Abu Dawud: 695, Kitab al-Jana’iz: Chapter on rows in Janazah; Da‘if al-Jami‘: 5220; Abu Dawud: 3166; Tirmidhi: 1028; Ibn Majah: 1490]Shaykh Al-Albani (رحمه الله) graded this narration as Hasan when Mawquf, and Shaykh Shu‘ayb Al-Arna’ut graded it as weak.
[Commentary in Al-Sayl al-Jarrar: 1/711]✔ Summary of the Issue:
❶ There is no requirement in Shari‘ah that the rows in Janazah prayer must be odd in number.
❷ The Hadith mentioning three rows is weak and thus not suitable as a basis for establishing a ruling.
❸ Some scholars have regarded it as Hasan when Mawquf, but the ruling remains non-binding.
❹ Therefore, forming odd-numbered rows is not a condition for the validity or reward of the Janazah prayer.
