How many times should the Taslim (salutation) be performed at the end of the funeral prayer?
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Book of Funerals
Primary text
The Taslim for the funeral prayer is a single Taslim. This is narrated from six Companions of the Prophet (peace be upon him), including Ali, Ibn Umar, Ibn Abbas, Jabir, Abu Hurayrah, Anas bin Malik, Ibn Abi Awfa, and Wathila bin Al-Asqa. This view is held by Sa'id bin Al-Musayyib, Al-Hasan, Ibn Sirin, Abu Umamah bin Sahl, Al-Qasim bin Muhammad, Al-Harith, Ibrahim Al-Nakha'i, Al-Thawri, Ibn Uyaynah, Ibn Al-Mubarak, Abd Al-Rahman bin Mahdi, and Ishaq. Ibn Al-Mubarak strongly condemned making two Taslims as the act of an ignorant person. The preferred method is a single Taslim to the right side, although saluting straight ahead is permissible. Ahmad stated that a single Taslim suffices and that saluting quietly is intended for all forms, with saluting to the right being superior as it is most frequently narrated and similar to other prayers.
Supporting text
Al-Qadi preferred two Taslims, and this is the view of Al-Shafi'i and the Ashab Al-Ra'y, by analogy with other prayers. However, the strong evidence, including the narration from 'Ata bin Al-Sa'ib that the Prophet made a single Taslim, and the consensus among the Companions and Tabi'in without known opposition in their era, suggests this is the correct position. Ahmad stated that the only disagreement is with Ibrahim, but this is dismissed as not constituting true disagreement when there is consensus among the pious predecessors and established narrations support one view.