Ruling on placing biers in front of the worshippers during an obligatory prayer

There is nothing wrong with placing the bier in front of the
worshippers so that they can offer the obligatory prayer then offer the
funeral prayer. 

Shaykh Ibn Baaz (may Allah have mercy on him) was asked: If
there is a funeral on Friday, during the prayer should we place the bier in
front of us or behind us? Thank you. 

He replied (may Allah have mercy on him): This matter is
broad in scope. There is nothing wrong with placing it in front of the
worshippers or behind, or on their right or their left. The deceased may be
placed inside the mosque or near the mosque until the people have prayed,
then the bier may be brought forward so that the people may offer the
funeral prayer over it. It does not matter if it is placed in front of the
worshippers or to their right or left, or behind them. I do not think there
is anything wrong with that. 

End quote from Fataawa Noor ‘ala ad-Darb, 2/1120 

Shaykh ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him) was
asked: What is the ruling on the bier if it is placed in front of the
worshippers so that they can offer the obligatory prayer and then offer the
funeral prayer? 

He replied: There is nothing wrong with that if we know that
it will not distract them. But if we know that it will distract them then it
is makrooh for one who is praying to face that which will distract him. It
will not distract the worshippers if, for example, it is placed in a corner
of the mosque and not in the middle of the row.

End quote from Fataawa Noor ‘ala ad-Darb

Shaykh Sulaymaan ibn ‘Abdullah al-Maajid (may Allah have
mercy on him) said: There is nothing wrong with the people offering the
obligatory prayer with the biers placed in front of them, because there is
no evidence to suggest that this is not allowed. With regard to the words of
the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), “Do not pray towards
graves,” [narrated by Muslim from the hadeeth of Abu Marthad al-Ghanawi],
this does not indicate that, because the bier is not called a grave in
either linguistic, customary or shar‘i terms. And Allah knows best.

End quote from the Shaykh’s website:

http://www.salmajed.com/fatwa/findum.php?arno=7468

Some scholars are of the view that this is not allowed
because the Prophet (sa) said: “Do not sit on graves and do not pray towards
them.” Narrated by Muslim, 972 

Shaykh al-Mubaarakfoori (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
“Do not pray towards them” means facing towards them. Al-Qaari said: By the
same token, this is more applicable to the bier i.e., the bier that is
placed (in front of the worshippers). This is a mistake that the people of
Makkah have been doing, when they place the bier beside the Ka‘bah then pray
facing towards it.

End quote from Tuhfat al-Ahwadhi
Sharh Sunan at-Tirmidhi

Shaykh al-Albaani (may Allah have mercy on him) said,
commenting on the words quoted above: I say: i.e., with regard to the
obligatory prayer, this is a problem that is widespread and has spread to
Syria, Anatolia and elsewhere. A month ago we saw an extremely unpleasant
photograph that showed a row of worshippers prostrating towards a number of
biers that were placed in front of them, that contained the remains of a
group of Turks who had drowned in a shipwreck. End quote from Tahdheer
as-Saajid min Ittikhaadh al-Quboor Masaajid. 

And Allah knows best.