The Departures Section · 48 – Boarding a Vehicle While Saying Farewell to the Deceased
It is narrated from Sa’ban (may Allah be pleased with him) that:
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) was accompanying a funeral procession when an animal was brought to him, and he hesitated to mount it. When he returned from the burial, a conveyance was brought to him, and he mounted it. It was said to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him), “Why did you do this?” He replied, "When I was going, the angels were walking, and I could not ride while they were walking. They left, so I rode.”
EXPLANATION:
Following a funeral procession on foot is preferable to following it by riding. If one follows by conveyance, he should do so from behind at a distance that does not disturb the congregation. It is permissible for him to be quite far ahead.
Jabir ibn Samura, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated:
The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, had performed the funeral prayer for Ibn Dahdah. We were present there. Then an animal was brought, and it remained waiting until the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, mounted it. Eventually, on the return journey, he mounted it and began to make the animal rear up. And we ran around him.