Question:
Assalamualaikum SS Mufti. How should the saf for the janazah prayer be arranged if there are just a few people in the congregation?
Answer:
Waalaikumussalam. Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
In a hadith narrated by Abu Umamah RA, he said:
صلَّى رسولُ اللهِ صلَّى اللهُ عليه وسلَّمَ علَى جنازَةٍ ومعَهُ سبعَةُ نَفَرٍ فجَعَلَ ثَلَاثَةً صفًّا واثنينِ صفًّا واثنينِ صَفًّا
“The Messenger PBUH prayed for a deceased with seven people. Then, he arranged three in a saf (the first saf), two in a saf (the second saf) and two in a saf (the third saf).”
Narrated by al-Tabarani in al-Mu’jam al-Kabir (7785)
While in a hadith narrated by Mailk bin Hubairah RA, the Prophet PBUH said:
ما مِن مسلمٍ يموتُ فَيُصَلِّي عليه ثلاثةُ صفوفٍ من المسلمينَ إلا أَوْجَبَ
“If any Muslim dies and three rows of Muslims pray over him, it will assure him (of Paradise).”
Sunan Abu Daud (3166), Sunan al-Tirmizi (1028), Sunan Ibn Majah (1490) and Musnad Ahmad (166724)
Imam al-Nawawi said: And it is sunnah to arrange the saf to be at least three saf or more according to the hadith of Malik bin Hubairah. And more than three saf is more afdhal (prioritized). (See al-Majmu' Syarh al-Muhazzab, 5/215)
Ibn Qudamah said: It is encouraged to straightened the saf when performing the janazah prayer. This is stated by Imam Ahmad where he said: Straightened your saf, indeed, it is a part of prayer. And when the Prophet PBUH was informed on the death of Najasyi, he went out to the praying area. He arranged the saf and recite takbir four times. (See al-Mughni, 2/185)
Conclusion
Saf should be straightened and for janazah prayer, three or more saf should be arranged according to the prophetic evidences as well as from the istinbat of the scholars. As for the position of the first and second saf, it can be close together for there is no need for distancing for the rukuk (bowing) or sujud (prostration) because there is no rukuk and sujud in janazah prayer.
Hopefully, this explanation will give us understanding in this matter. Let us pray for those who have passed away before us.
رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لَنَا وَلِإِخْوَانِنَا الَّذِينَ سَبَقُونَا بِالْإِيمَانِ وَلَا تَجْعَلْ فِي قُلُوبِنَا غِلًّا لِّلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا رَبَّنَا إِنَّكَ رَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ
"Our Lord, forgive us and our brothers who preceded us in faith and put not in our hearts [any] resentment toward those who have believed. Our Lord, indeed You are Kind and Merciful."
Surah al-Hasyr (10)