[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "There is no Muslim who is prayed upon by three rows except that it is obligatory." He said, "And Malik used to divide them into three rows when he received the funeral procession."
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ «مَا مِنْ مُسْلِمٍ يُصَلِّي عَلَيْهِ ثَلَاثُ صُفُوفٍ إِلَّا أَوْجَبَ» قَالَ وَكَانَ مَالِكٌ إِذَا اسْتَقْبَلَ أَهْلَ الْجَنَازَةِ جَزَّأَهُمْ ثَلَاثَةَ صُفُوفٍ
The Prophet ﷺ said: If any Muslim dies and three rows of Muslims pray over him, it will assure him (of Paradise). When Malik considered those who accompanied a bier to be a few, he divided them into three rows in accordance with this tradition.
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مَا مِنْ مُسْلِمٍ يَمُوتُ فَيُصَلِّي عَلَيْهِ ثَلاَثَةُ صُفُوفٍ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ إِلاَّ أَوْجَبَ قَالَ فَكَانَ مَالِكٌ إِذَا اسْتَقَلَّ أَهْلَ الْجَنَازَةِ جَزَّأَهُمْ ثَلاَثَةَ صُفُوفٍ لِلْحَدِيثِ