However, Ibrāhīm ibn Muslim al-Hajarī was judged a weak narrator by Ibn Ma‘īn, al-Nasā’ī, and Abū Hātim. Al-Shāfi‘ī narrated this hadith in the Book of Harmala (1), through Sufyān from him, with the wording: “He said ‘Allah is the Greatest’ four times in the funeral prayer for her, then remained standing for a while. The congregation called out to him, ‘Glory be to Allah,’ and he gave the salutation of peace. He then said, ‘You thought I would say it more than four times, but I saw the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, say it four times.’” He did not mention “to his right and to his left” (2). Ibn Mājah (3) likewise narrated it through al-Muhāribī from him, without mentioning “to his right and to his left.” The mention of giving the salutation of peace to his right and to his left was reported exclusively (4) by Sharīk from him (5). Al-Bayhaqī said (6): “He then attributed this to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, either with regard to saying ‘Allah is the Greatest’ alone, or with regard to that and the other acts.”
I say: What is known from Ibn Abī Awfā is the contrary: he used to give a single salutation of peace. Imam Ahmad reported this from him. Ahmad ibn al-Qāsim said (7): “Abū ‘Abd Allāh was asked, ‘Do you know of any Companion who used to give two salutations of peace in the funeral prayer (8)?’ He replied, ‘No,