THE DEAD CHAPTER · 47 – RISING FOR THE FUNERAL
On the authority of Amir bin Rabia’, a narration has reached me, that the Prophet ﷺ said: "When you see a bier, stand up until it passes you or is laid down."
It is narrated on the authority of Abu Sa'id al-Hudri:
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “When you follow a bier, do not sit down until it is laid in the earth.”
Abu Dawud said: Swa’ri narrated to me from Suhayl, from Abu Huraira. He said, "until it is laid in the earth." Abu Muawiya narrated to me from Suhayl, and he said, “until it is placed in the grave.”
Abu Dawud said: Sufyan has a more reliable memory than Abu Muawiya.
Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: We were in the company of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ when a funeral procession passed by. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ rose to his feet. When we went to carry the bier, we saw that it was the funeral of a Jew. We said, “O Messenger of Allah! Is this not the funeral of a Jew?”
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Indeed, death is a terrible event. So when you see a funeral procession, rise up (stand)." [89]
NOTE: Refer to hadith number 3176 for an explanation regarding this hadith.
Ali ibn Abi Talib, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated:
The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings upon him, stood up for the funeral procession, then sat down.
Ubad ibn Samit, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated:
The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, would stand up for funerals until they were placed in the bier. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, encountered a Jewish Rabbi who said, "We too do this." Thereupon the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, sat down and commanded, “Sit; oppose them (the Jews).” [91]
**Explanation:**
The hadiths numbered 3172-73-74 mention that one should stand up for funerals. This was practiced in the early days of Hijrah in Medina. When it became known that the Jews also did this, as mentioned in hadiths 3175 and this one (3176), standing up was prohibited so as not to resemble them. The earlier hadiths have been abrogated by these later ones. In terms of jurisprudence, standing up for a funeral is disliked.