Hadith 5.3
Funerals
Malik b. Hubaira said he heard God’s messenger say, “If any Muslim dies and three rows of Muslims pray over him it will assure him [of paradise].” When Malik considered those who accompanied a bier to be few, he divided them into three rows in accordance with this tradition. Abu Dawud transmitted it. In Tirmidhi’s version he said that when Malik b. Hubaira prayed over a bier and found few people present, he divided them into three sections, then said that God’s messenger had stated, “If three rows pray over anyone it will assure him [of paradise].” Ibn Majah transmitted something similar.
وَعَنْ مَالِكِ بْنِ هُبَيْرَةَ قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ: «مَا مِنْ مُسْلِمٍ يَمُوتُ فَيُصَلِّي عَلَيْهِ ثَلَاثَةُ صُفُوفٍ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ إِلَّا أَوْجَبَ» . فَكَانَ مَالِكٌ إِذَا اسْتَقَلَّ أَهْلَ الْجَنَازَةِ جَزَّأَهُمْ ثَلَاثَةَ صُفُوفٍ لِهَذَا الْحَدِيثِ. رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُدَ وَفِي رِوَايَةِ التِّرْمِذِيِّ: قَالَ كَانَ مَالِكُ بْنُ هُبَيْرَةَ إِذَا صَلَّى الْجِنَازَة فَتَقَالَّ النَّاسَ عَلَيْهَا جَزَّأَهُمْ ثَلَاثَةَ أَجْزَاءٍ ثُمَّ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَنْ صَلَّى عَلَيْهِ ثَلَاثَةُ صُفُوفٍ أَوْجَبَ» . وروى ابْن مَاجَه نَحوه
Hadith gradings, numbering and translations can differ between editions. For legal rulings or detailed interpretation, consult qualified scholarship and the referenced edition.