In “awlā al-nāsi biṣ-ṣalāti ʿalayhi as-sulṭānu,” awlā is an elative, al-nās is its genitive complement, and biṣ-ṣalāh specifies the respect in which precedence applies.
The clause identifies the ruler as the person entitled to lead in that context; it is not about the number of takbirs.
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Funeral Prayer: Leadership, Four Takbirs, Supplications and Salam
In “awlā al-nāsi biṣ-ṣalāti ʿalayhi as-sulṭānu,” awlā is an elative, al-nās is its genitive complement, and biṣ-ṣalāh specifies the respect in which precedence applies.
The clause identifies the ruler as the person entitled to lead in that context; it is not about the number of takbirs.