THREE CONGREGATIONAL ROWS DURING A FUNERAL H 947 "When Malik son of Hubairah conducted a funeral service and there were only a few participants he would divide them into three rows, explaining that the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, had said, 'If three rows of suppliants pray for the deliverance of a deceased person he would be admitted to Paradise.'" R 947 Abu Daud and Tirmidhi with a chain up to Marthad son of Abdullah Yazni who related that the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, said this.
934- وعن مرثدِ بن عبدِ الله اليَزَنِيِّ ، قَالَ : كَانَ مَالِكُ بن هُبَيْرَة رضي الله عنه إِذَا صَلَّى عَلَى الجَنَازَةِ ، فَتَقَالَّ النَّاس عَلَيْهَا ، جَزَّأَهُمْ عَلَيْهَا ثَلاَثَةَ أجْزَاءٍ ، ثُمَّ قَالَ : قَالَ رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم : "مَنْ صَلَّى عَلَيْهِ ثَلاَثَةُ صُفُوفٍ فَقَدْ أوْجَبَ" رواه أَبُو داود والترمذي ، وقال : "حديث حسن" .