Sayyiduna Yazid bin Thabit (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: We set out with the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). When we reached the place of Baqi’, there was a grave present there. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) inquired about this grave. The people informed him: It belongs to such-and-such woman. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) recognized this woman. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Why did you not inform me about her (death)? The people replied: At that time, you (peace and blessings be upon him) were resting in a state of fasting. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Do not do this. As long as I am among you, whenever any one of you passes away, inform me about it, for my offering the funeral prayer for him will be a mercy for him. The narrator states: Then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) came to the grave, formed rows behind him, and (while offering the funeral prayer) said takbeer four times.

(Imam Ibn Hibban, may Allah have mercy on him, says:): The person who does not have expertise in the knowledge of hadith falls into the misunderstanding that offering the funeral prayer at the grave is not permissible, due to the words in the narration transmitted from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him):“Indeed, Allah Almighty illuminates their graves for them because of my offering the funeral prayer for them.”And due to the words in the narration transmitted from Sayyiduna Yazid bin Thabit (may Allah be pleased with him):“My offering the funeral prayer for them is a mercy.”Whereas the reason is not what those who are mistaken have misunderstood—that this Sunnah being permissible for the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is his exclusive characteristic and not for his Ummah. Because if that were the case, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would have prohibited the people from forming rows behind him and offering the funeral prayer at the grave under his leadership. So, the fact that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not object to those offering the funeral prayer at the grave behind him is a clear statement on this matter. However, this is a statement for the one whom Allah Almighty has granted guidance and the ability to follow the straight path, that this is a permissible act, which is permissible for the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) as well as for his Ummah. It is not the case that it is permissible for the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and not for his Ummah.