Personal Views Aligned with Divine Revelations: Not to lead Funeral Prayers of the Hypocrites

There is mention in Sahih Muslim with regard to Hazrat Umar’s (ra) view to not lead the funeral prayers of the hypocrites being in accordance with Quranic revelation. Hazrat Ibn Umar (ra) narrates:

“When Abdullah bin Ubayy bin Sulool died, his son Abdullah (ra) bin Abdillah went to the Holy Prophet (sa) and requested the Holy Prophet (sa) to grant him his upper garment as a burial cloth for his father. The Holy Prophet (sa) granted him the cloth. He then requested the Holy Prophet (sa) to lead his funeral prayer. The Holy Prophet (sa) went to lead the funeral prayer, upon which Hazrat Umar (ra) stood up and held the cloth of the Holy Prophet (sa), saying, ‘O Messenger (sa) of Allah, you are about to lead his funeral prayer even though Allah the Almighty has forbidden you from doing so.’

“In response, the Holy Prophet (sa) said, ‘Allah the Almighty has given me the choice by saying:

ٱسۡتَغۡفِرۡ‭ ‬لَهُمۡ‭ ‬أَوۡ‭ ‬لَا‭ ‬تَسۡتَغۡفِرۡ‭ ‬لَهُمۡ

“‘“Ask thou forgiveness for them, or ask thou not forgiveness for them, even if thou ask forgiveness for them seventy times …” therefore, I will seek forgiveness more than seventy times.’ Hazrat Umar (ra) said that he [Ubayy bin Sulool] was a hypocrite; however, the Holy Prophet (sa) still led the funeral prayer. Thereafter, Allah the Almighty revealed the verse:

وَلَا‭ ‬تُصَلِّ‭ ‬عَلَىٰٓ‭ ‬أَحَدٖ‭ ‬مِّنۡهُم‭ ‬مَّاتَ‭ ‬أَبَدٗا‮ ‬

“‘And never pray thou for any of them that dies,’” i.e. the hypocrites, and never pray at their graves.

(Sahih Muslim, Kitab Fada‘il Ashab al-Nabi (sa), Bab min Fada‘il Umar (ra), Hadith 6207)