The Sunnah regarding carrying the bier (funeral cot)

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Carrying the bier by its four corners (*at-Tarbī'*) is an established Sunnah, based on the statement of Ibn Mas'ud: 'If one of you follows a funeral procession, let him take hold of the four corners of the bier, and then he may volunteer or leave it, for this is from the Sunnah.' This indicates the practice of the Prophet, peace be upon him. The prescribed manner of *Tarbī'* is to begin by placing the left corner from the head of the deceased onto the right shoulder. Then, the left corner from the feet is placed on the right shoulder. Afterward, one returns to place the right corner from the head onto the left shoulder, and finally, the right corner from the feet is moved.