Chapter: Who Has Priority in Leading the Funeral Prayer

The one most entitled to lead the funeral prayer over the deceased is the governor, provided he is just; after him comes the qadi, then the rest of the local commanders if they are just, and then the regular imams of the congregational prayers. If the caliph himself is present, no one is permitted to precede him. In fact, when al-Hasan passed away, his brother al-Husayn allowed Saʿīd ibn al-ʿĀṣ to lead the funeral prayer over him.