Where does the Imam stand in relation to the deceased during the funeral prayer, if the deceased is a man or a woman?

The Sunnah is for the Imam to stand at the head of a man and at the middle of a woman during the funeral prayer (Salat al-Janazah). This is established by authentic narrations from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, in the hadiths of Samurah ibn Jundub and Anas ibn Malik, may Allah be pleased with both of them. This is the view held by the majority of jurists, such as Imam al-Shafi'i. As for the opinion of standing at the chest of a man, it is weak and has no evidence to support it.