Short answer
Walk with the body to the grave, preferably behind it in the Hanafi school, help carry the bier by its four sides, move at a brisk pace, and stay quiet with remembrance in the heart. Do not sit until the body is put down. In the Hanafi school, women do not follow the procession.
Following the funeral is sunnah. Walking behind the bier is better than in front; carrying it from all four sides is sunnah; raising the voice with dhikr or Quran in the procession is makruh; and sitting before the bier is put down is makruh. Standing for a passing funeral was abrogated, so one who will not follow it stays seated.
Other madhhabs
- Shafi'i
- Walking in front of the body is better.
- Maliki
- Walking in front is better for those on foot.
- Hanbali
- Walking in front is better for those on foot, and behind for those riding.
Explanation
Following a funeral is a right of the dead Muslim and brings great reward; see the reward of a janazah. The sunnah also teaches how to walk with it.
- Carrying. In the Hanafi school it is sunnah for men to carry the bier by its four handles in turn, starting at the front right of the dead person. Where the body goes by car, walk with it at the cemetery for the last stretch.
- Pace. Move briskly but calmly, without running or shaking the body. The Prophet ﷺ told us to hurry with the funeral.
- Where to walk. Behind the bier is better in the Hanafi school; in front or beside it is allowed.
- Silence. Reflect on death and make dhikr quietly. Hanafi scholars dislike raised voices, even with dhikr or Quran, in the procession.
- Do not sit until the body is put down from people's shoulders. The Prophet ﷺ said whoever follows it should not sit until it is put down.
- Stay for the burial if you can, help fill the grave, and stand to make dua.
Standing for a passing funeral. The Prophet ﷺ once stood when a funeral passed, and later he sat. Ali reported that he stood and then sat, so the Hanafi school holds that the command to stand was abrogated, and a person who is not going to follow the funeral stays seated.
Women. In the Hanafi school women pray the janazah but do not follow the procession; see women at the janazah. For the burial itself, see how Muslims are buried.
The evidence
Sahih al-Bukhari 1310
Sahih... إذا رأيتم الجنازة فقوموا فمن تبعها فلا يقعد حتى توضع ...
"When you see a funeral, stand; and whoever follows it should not sit until it is put down."
Those following the funeral do not sit before the bier is set down.
Sahih al-Bukhari 1315
Sahih... أسرعوا بالجنازة فإن تك صالحة فخير تقدمونها إليه ...
"Hurry with the funeral: if the person was righteous, you are bringing them to something good."
The procession moves at a brisk pace.
Sahih Muslim 962
Sahih... رأينا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قام فقمنا وقعد فقعدنا ...
"We saw the Messenger of Allah stand, so we stood, and he sat, so we sat."
Standing for a passing funeral was later left.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Hidaya, Kitab al-Salah, Bab al-Jana'iz, section on carrying the bier. Carrying from four sides and walking behind it.
- Radd al-Muhtar (Ibn Abidin), Kitab al-Salah, Bab Salat al-Janazah. Dislike of raised voices in the procession and of sitting before the bier is put down.
- al-Mughni (Ibn Qudama), Kitab al-Jana'iz. The Hanbali preference for walking in front.
Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.