How is the funeral prayer performed according to the four schools of thought, especially for the Malikis, and is it valid by reciting Al-Fatiha in the first takbir or by supplication only?

According to the Maliki school, the funeral prayer is valid with five elements: intention, standing unless there is an excuse, four takbīrāt, supplication after each takbīrah (up to the fourth according to al-Lakhmi), and one salutation.

According to the Hanbali school, its pillars are six: intention, the four takbīrāt, recitation of Al-Fatiha after the first, salutation upon the Prophet after the second, supplication for the deceased after the third, and one salutation. The Shafi'is agreed with them and added the pillar of standing.

According to the Hanafi school, its pillars are four: four takbīrāt with praise after the first, salutation upon the Prophet after the second, a supplication after the third, and two salutations after the fourth.

Reciting Al-Fatiha after the first takbīrah is a pillar according to the Hanbalis and Shafi'is, who cite the hadith "There is no prayer for one who does not recite the Opening of the Book" and the action of Ibn Abbas. Shaykh al-Islam considers it to be desirable. Supplication is an essential pillar according to all four schools of thought.