Who has the primary right to lead the funeral prayer over the deceased?
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Book of Funerals
Primary text
The consensus among the Companions is that the person designated by the deceased in their will (the executor/wasi) has the right to lead the prayer over them. Numerous instances where Companions, including Abu Bakr, Umar, Umm Salamah, Abu Bakrah, Aisha, Ibn Mas'ud, Yunus ibn Jubayr, and Abu Sarihah, designated specific individuals to lead their funeral prayers, and these designations were implemented without objection, indicating an Ijma (consensus). This right is established because it constitutes an intercession (shafa'ah) for the deceased, meaning the deceased's directive regarding this specific right is given precedence, similar to the validity of their will concerning the distribution of a third of their wealth or in matters of marriage guardianship.
Supporting text
Al-Thawri, Abu Hanifah, Malik, and Al-Shafi'i argue that the heir (*wali*) has precedence, viewing the right as a form of guardianship that follows the order of paternal relatives, analogous to marriage guardianship. However, the counter-argument is that the prayer's purpose is supplication, and the deceased has the right to choose one perceived to be more righteous or likely to have prayers answered, distinguishing it from marriage guardianship where the ruling authority (like a governor) takes precedence over the heir.