Must one who follows a funeral procession remain standing until the bier is set down?
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Book of Funerals
Primary text
It is recommended that one following a funeral procession should not sit until the bier is placed down from the shoulders of the men carrying it. This view is held by Al-Hasan ibn Ali, Ibn Umar, Abu Hurairah, Ibn Al-Zubayr, Al-Nakha'i, Al-Sha'bi, Al-Awza'i, and Ishaq. The evidence for this is the statement of the Prophet, peace be upon him, related by Muslim: "When you follow a funeral procession, do not sit until it is placed down." The apparent meaning of this directive is that placement refers to setting it down from the shoulders of the men. The text confirms that the soundest narration of this hadith specifies placement on the ground or placement in the grave, with the narration transmitted by Sufyan being the soundest.
Supporting text
Al-Shafi'i was of the opinion that this hadith is abrogated by the narration concerning Ali's action, but this is invalid because Ali's statement is susceptible to an interpretation aligning with the opinion that requires sitting only after placement on the ground, and thus cancellation by an ambiguous statement is impermissible. Furthermore, Ali's statement suggests the beginning of the act of standing, whereas the evidence here pertains to continuous performance.