Mishkat al-Masabih #1602

Malik b. Hubaira said he heard God’s messenger say, “If any Muslim dies and three rows of Muslims pray over him it will assure him .” When Malik considered those who accompanied a bier to be few, he divided them into three rows in accordance with this tradition. Abu Dawud transmitted it. In Tirmidhi’s version he said that when Malik b. Hubaira prayed over a bier and found few people present, he divided them into three sections, then said that God’s messenger had stated, “If three rows pray over anyone it will assure him .” Ibn Majah transmitted something similar.