The report of Abū Umāma ibn Sahl, who said that a man from among the Companions of the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—informed him:
“The Sunnah in the funeral prayer is for the imam to pronounce the takbīr, then quietly recite al-Fātiha to himself after the first takbīr, invoke blessings upon the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—and sincerely supplicate for the deceased during the takbīrs, without any further recitation during them. He should then quietly offer the salām to himself.”
It was narrated by al-Shāfiī in al-Umm.
A version narrated by al-Hākim reports that Abū Umāma ibn Sahl ibn Hunayf was informed by several Companions of the Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—concerning the funeral prayer:
“The imam should pronounce the takbīr, invoke blessings upon the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—and devote the prayer exclusively to supplication throughout the three takbīrs. He should then quietly offer the salām as he concludes the prayer. The Sunnah is for those praying behind him to do as their imam does.” (1)
Among the supplications authentically reported from him—peace and blessings be upon him—in the funeral prayer is the report of Awf ibn Mālik, who said:
“The Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—performed the funeral prayer over a deceased person, and I memorized these words from his supplication:
‘O Allah, forgive him and have mercy upon him; grant him well-being and pardon him. Honor his reception and make his entrance spacious. Wash him with water, snow, and hail, and cleanse him of sins just as You cleanse a white garment of stains. Give him an abode better than his abode, a family better than his family, and a spouse better than his spouse. Admit him into Paradise and protect him from the torment of the grave (or: from the torment of