and the majority of scholars hold that it is recommended to recite Sabbih (Surah al-Ala) and al-Ghashiyah, basing themselves on the hadith of al-Numan and others. Ibn Rushd states in al-Bidayah (1/170): “This practice is mass-transmitted from the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him.” Al-Nawawi likewise says in al-Majmuʿ (4/17–18), after quoting the two reports, “Both are sunnah.” This, God willing, is the correct view: at times one recites this surah, and at other times the other. (1) Al-Shawkani (4/53) writes: “This text establishes the legitimacy of reciting a surah in addition to al-Fatihah during the Funeral Prayer, and there is no escaping that conclusion; the addition comes through a sound chain. Earlier hadiths cited in the section ‘The obligation of reciting al-Fatihah’ in the Book of Prayer likewise indicate that a surah is to be read in every prayer.” Among the Shafiʿis, the preferred opinion—cited in al-Majmuʿ and supported by this hadith, which he declares authentic—is that it is recommended to read a short surah. (2) The report is from Abdullah ibn Abbas. Talhah ibn Abdullah ibn Awf narrates: “I performed the Funeral Prayer behind Ibn Abbas, and he recited the Opening of the Book (al-Fatihah).” He then said, “I have done this so that you may know it is a sunnah.”