The first view is that of Mālik and his disciples. According to Mālik, the son has a stronger claim to lead the funeral prayer for the deceased than the deceased’s own father, and a brother or nephew has priority over the grandfather. After that, the line of authority follows the same sequence as the rules of inheritance. Scholars other than Mālik consider the father and the grandfather to be the most entitled. With regard to a woman, her own guardians are more entitled to pray over her than her husband, while her husband takes precedence in washing her and lowering her into the grave. If the deceased expressly appointed someone to lead the prayer over him, that appointee has the strongest claim—provided he is recognized for righteousness and knowledge.