Al-Tirmidhī—may Allah have mercy on him—said in the chapter “What Has Been Reported Concerning Raising the Hands in the Funeral Prayer”:

“The scholars differed concerning this. Most scholars among the Companions of the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—and others held that a person should raise his hands with every takbīr of the funeral prayer. This was the view of Ibn al-Mubārak, al-Shāfiī, Ahmad, and Ishāq. Some scholars held that he should raise his hands only the first time. This was the view of al-Thawrī and the scholars of Kūfa. It is related that Ibn al-Mubārak said concerning the funeral prayer that one should not place his right hand over his left. Other scholars held that he should place his right hand over his left, just as he does in prayer.”

Abū Īsā said: “Placing one hand over the other is preferable to me.” (1) End quote.

The Fourth Issue: Recitation in the Funeral Prayer

The Sunnah is for a Muslim to recite al-Fātiha and a surah after the first takbīr.

The recitation should be silent.

There is no opening supplication in the funeral prayer.

The evidence for this is the report from Talha ibn Abd Allāh ibn Awf, who said:

“I performed a funeral prayer behind Ibn Abbās—may Allah be pleased with them both—and he recited the Opening of the Book. He then said, ‘This was so that you would know that it is Sunnah.’” Reported by al-Bukhārī.

Another version of the hadith reported by al-Nasāī states:

“I performed a funeral prayer behind Ibn Abbās. He recited the Opening of the Book and a surah, aloud so that we could hear him. When he had finished, I took him by the hand and asked him about it. He replied, ‘It is Sunnah and it is right.’” (2)