THE SPECTACLES OF DEATH SERIES -No: 31 - In the Description of the Grave and the Burial

 In the Description of the Grave and the Burial 

{ Illustration Only]

The burial of the dead is Fard-i-Kafaya. The grave is of two kinds: One is called ‘Lahad’ which is a niched grave, and the other one is called ‘Sanduqchi’ a small box. Lahad is made like this: After preparing the grave, a pit is dug lengthwise on the side of the West just like a canal into which the corpse is placed. This type of grave is in conformity with the tradition of the Messenger of Allah (mercy and blessing be upon him), To dig out a grave in the shape of a small box at a place where the earth is soft is also lawful. And the Sanduqchi’s grave is prepared in this manner. 

After preparing the grave, a pit is dug lengthwise in the centre of the grave in the form of a canal, and then the corpse is placed into it. After this, it should have to be closed by putting on it a board upon which clay should be poured. The depth of the grave should be up to the level of a man’s chest. If it is as deep as the height of man it is more desirable. And the width of it should be half of a man’s length. The men lowering down the corpse into the grave should be strong, pious and God-fearing. At the outset, the corpse should be placed in the grave by putting it at the western edge of the grave and then at the time of lowering the corpse into the grave, we should recite:— In the name of Allah and for (One) following the religion of Allah’s Messenger.

If the dead body is that of the woman, and the men, lowering her body in the grave, are the mahrams of the dead, it is desirable. The grave should be covered with a curtain as the corpse of a woman is lowered and then the corpse of a woman should be lowered. The corpse be placed into the grave on the right side in such a manner that the face of the dead should be towards af ‘Qibla’ and the knots of the shroud should then be loosened and the ‘Lahad’ (armpit) closed with <kachi’ bricks or with bamboo and the clay should be poured over it and the other clay should not be mixed with it.

And it is better if the clay is poured into the grave from the upper side. And every person should put clay over it three times. For the first time of throwing clay into the grave, he should say: 

"It is with this that We created you."

For the second time he should say:

"It is to this that We would cause you to return" 

For the third time, he should recite:

"And it is out of this that we would bring you forth for the second time"

Then the grave should be raised customarily and water sprinkled over it. It is prohibited to make the grave in the form of a terrace (a platform) or to do mortar work on it. And it is also prohibited to construct a mosque or house over the grave, and to sit or to sleep on it, or to walk over it or to relieve one’s self on it or to set up the stone over it and inscribe anything on that. 

It is preferable to sit near the grave after the burial and recite the Holy Qur’an and beseech for the forgiveness of the dead as well as the grant of reward in his favour so that his suffering may be alleviated. We should continue to visit the graves and pray for reward in favour of the souls of the dead after reciting what we can. If a person dies during a journey, it is desirable to bury him in a graveyard situated nearby. And it is plausible to bury the dead in a graveyard only. To cut the grass of the graveyard and also to cut down fresh branches of its trees are not desirable acts.

  Allah/ Prophet /Rasulullah/ علیہ السلام    /رضي الله عنه /رَحِمَهَا ٱللَّٰهُ