Which is better: the virtue of prayer over the deceased or the virtue of the first row?

Many texts have been narrated regarding the virtue of the first row, among them the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "If people knew what is in the call to prayer and the first row, and they found no other way than to draw lots for it, they would do so," and his saying: "Indeed, Allah and His angels send blessings upon the advanced rows."

As for the virtue of the funeral prayer: whoever attends it until the prayer is performed for the deceased will have one qirat of reward, and whoever follows it until the burial will have two qirats, and a qirat is like Mount Uhud.

Comparing the two, it seems that the funeral prayer itself is better and more rewarding than merely the virtue of praying in the first row, because the funeral prayer is a communal obligation (fard kifayah), whereas praying in the first row is a commendable sunnah. And the obligatory is more beloved to Allah than the supererogatory. Furthermore, the funeral prayer is an independent act of worship, while standing in the first row is a posture of worship.