Q: We were 25 botherhers for janazah salah. I told the brothers to make 3 lines. One brother shouted where in the quran does it say 3 lines. Then he made everyone stand in one line. So I asked the shiek  ya shiek, is this ok all in one line? He said in Urdu ‘No need to argue with such people.’ And stared the Janazah salah And let this person get just away. So now I want to know what is correct?
A: I appreciate what this religious leader had done. He avoided an unwanted argument. As Allah states: When dealing with Jahils (ignorant people) respond to them with a polite salam! In another place, if you feel/know that such people cannot be communicated with based on the way in which they seem to present themselves, then ‘turn away’ from them.  To argue, especially at a cemetery takes away the significance of death.

Malik Bin Hubairah (RA) states that Rasool (SAW) said, ‘A person upon whom three lines perform Janazah Salah; it will be incumbent (waajib) for this person to get the blessings of Allah.’

Imam Tirmidhi makes mention: The above hadith has also been narrated with similar wordings from Aiysha (RA), Umm Habeeba (RA), Abu Hurayrah (RA) and Maimuna (RA)

Therefore, 3 lines would be best based on the above Hadith. However, if there are many people, or due to spacing issues, weather conditions, the lines could also be 5, 7, 9 etc. We do agree, three lines would be best. It is more of breach of sunnah to argue about this sunnah in a manner that divides people.

Allah Certainly Knows Best.