Burial

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

"Reciting Salawath on our Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is an activity that will be accepted by Allah, even if we don't have Ikhlas (piety)".

Burial is a natural and reasonable system. A decent burial and not burning of the dead-body has been recommended by almost all the religions of the world. As dead-bodies must be respected, the system of burial was introduced as far back as the time of Adam. It is for the earth either to consume the dead-body or not to consume. The earth has, however no power to consume the dead bodies of Prophets. Body is made of earth, and it is nourished by fruits and crops grown from the earth. Then it will again return to earth. This is the natural state of things, because “everything returns to its origin”. Soul is not from earth but from God’s essence, and hence it will return to its origin. Therefore reason dictates that the best method of displaying of the dead body is burial.

Procedure of Burial. The grave must be excavated deep in order to keep the dead body at a safe depth from sanitary point of view. The dead body shall then be placed upon the ground of the grave with its face turned towards the direction of Holy Kaba. An invocation as recorded in tradition 30:92 shall then be read. Near the head, three stones or pieces of earth shall be placed either with the recitation of the first and last portion of the chapter Cow of the Holy Quran or with the following “From it we have created thee, and unto it we shall send three back, and from it we shall raise thee a second time – 20:55 Q. Then Bamboos or woods be placed in a horizontal or oblong manner at a little distance above the dead body to prevent earth from falling down, and spreading of earth will begin from the side of the head – 30:43 Q. When everything is complete, the earth shall be made high in the center like the back of a Camel and water shall be spread over it. Then after invocations for the good of the deceased and forgiveness for his sins, all will depart from the place.

Abominable things. The Holy Prophet greatly disliked high constructions over the graves and condemned even plastering of grave. Inscriptions of any kind over the grave in commemoration of the deuced have been banned. Some times he ordered to demolish high domes over the graves. He discouraged even prayer over the graves.