Marthad bin `Abdullah Al-Yazni reported: When Malik bin Hubairah (May Allah be pleased with him) offered a funeral prayer and found a small number of participants, he would divide them into three rows and would say that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "If three rows of men offer funeral prayer over anyone, his entry into Jannah will become certain."[Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi].
Commentary:
These Ahadith reveal to us that the maximum participation of people in a funeral prayer is a welcome sign. But the condition is that they should be righteous people, well-rooted in Faith and monotheistic belief. But heretics and those who associate partners with Allah in worship have no value to Allah. If the participants are small in number, they should be divided in three rows. Different Ahadith speak of different numbers, all of which convey the sense of abundance. And this abundance is not to be taken in the unqualified sense, rather it means the abundance of sincere and pious believers and monotheists. May Allah multiply their number!
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