Fatwa ID: 01241

Answered by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Question:

How do other people move whilst carrying coffin

Answer:

In the name of Allah, the most Beneficent, the most Merciful.

It is Mustuhub to walk for at least forty steps carrying the janazah. 

First carry the left front of the janazah (this will be the deceased’s right shoulder) and walk ten steps.  Then carry the left rear for ten steps (this will be deceased’s right foot).  Then carry the right front on the left shoulder for ten steps (this will be deceased’s left shoulder) and finally the left right rear on your left shoulder for ten steps (this will be the deceased’s left foot).   (Kitabul Janaiz p.13)

With regards to your question, when a person is carrying the janazah on the right side of the deceased, then he will carry the coffin from the lower portion of the body (leg).  The other three will move accordingly to the other positions of carrying the coffin. The person who is carrying the left rear of the deceased will then depart from carrying the coffin.

Only Allah Knows Best

Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham