‘Abdullāh ibn Abi Awfa, while offering the funeral prayer for one of his daughters, recited four Takbīrs, and after the fourth Takbīr, he continued standing for a time equal to an interval between two Takbīrs, praying for her and seeking Allah's forgiveness for her." Then, he said: "The Messenger of Allah used to do so

Explanation

‘Abdullāh ibn Abi Awfa (may Allah be pleased with him) relates that he offered the funeral prayer for his daughter, during which he made four Takbīrs, and after the fourth one he remained for a while, supplicating and seeking Allah's forgiveness for her. To clarify this in detail, he makes one Takbīr to enter the prayer, recites Sūrat al-Fātihah, makes a second Takbīr, invokes Allah's peace and blessings upon the Prophet, makes a third Takbīr, supplicates for the dead person, and then makes a fourth Takbīr. After making Taslīm, ‘Abdullāh ibn Abi Awfa said to those praying with him: "The Messenger of Allah used to do so." That is he would make four Takbīrs and supplicate for the deceased after the fourth one. In another narration: He made four Takbīrs, after which he supplicated for her for so long that those praying behind him thought he would make the fifth Takbīr. Then, he made Taslīm to the right and to the left, like in ordinary prayers. After finishing the prayer, the people asked him about why he stayed for a while after the fourth Takbīr, before making Taslīm, and he replied that he adhered to what the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) had done, not adding anything. As for the manner of Taslīm, it is subject to scholarly difference, but the more correct practice, which was more commonly done by the Companions, is to make Taslīm to the right only.

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