Rule 129

It is obligatory to bury a dead body in the ground so deep, that its smell does not come out and causing the beasts of prey to dig it out. If there is a danger of such beasts digging it out, then the grave should be made solid with bricks, etc.

Rule 130

If it is not possible to bury a dead body in the ground, then it may be kept in a vault or a coffin instead.

Rule 131

The dead body must be laid in the grave on its right side such that the face remains facing the Qiblah.

Rule 132

If a person dies on a ship and there is no fear of decay of the dead body, and if there is no problem in retaining it for some time on the ship, then it should be kept on it and buried in the ground after reaching the land. Otherwise, after giving Ghusl, Hunut, Kafan, and performing Salat al-Mayyit, it should be lowered into the sea in a vessel of clay or with a weight tied to its feet. In addition, as far as possible it should not be lowered to a point where it will be eaten up immediately by the sea predators.

Rule 133

If it is feared that an enemy may dig up the grave and exhume the dead body and amputate its ears, nose or other limbs, then it should be lowered into sea, if possible, as stated in the foregoing rule.

Rule 134

The expenses of lowering the dead body into the sea, or making the grave solid on the ground, can be deducted from the estate of the deceased if necessary.

Rule 135

If a non-Muslim woman dies with a dead child or a soulless foetus in her womb, and if the father is a Muslim, then the woman must be laid in the grave on her left side with her back towards Qiblah, so that the face of the child will be towards the Qiblah.

Rule 136

It is not permitted to bury a Muslim in the graveyard of the non-Muslims, nor is it permissible to bury a non-Muslim in the graveyard of the Muslims.

Rule 137

It is also not permissible to bury the dead body of a Muslim at a place which is disrespectful, such as places where garbage is thrown.

Rule 138

It is not permissible to bury a dead body in a usurped place, or in a place that is dedicated for purposes other than burial (e.g. in a Masjid).

Rule 139

It is not permissible to dig up a grave for burying another dead body in it, unless one is sure that the grave is very old and the previous body has been completely disintegrated.

Rule 140

Anything which is separated from the dead body (whether it be its hair, nails or teeth) must be buried along with the body. If any part of the body, including hair, nails or teeth are found after the body has been buried, then they must be buried in a separate place, according to Ihtiyat Wajib. It is even Mustahab that nails and teeth cut off or extracted during one’s lifetime are buried as well.

Rule 141

If a person dies in a well and it is not possible to take him out, then the well must be covered, and it will be treated as his grave.

Rule 142

If a child dies in the mother’s womb and remaining in the womb is dangerous for the mother, then it must be brought out in the easiest possible way. If it becomes inevitable but to cut the child into pieces, then there is no objection in doing so.

It is however, better that if the husband of the woman is skilled in surgery, then the dead body of the child be taken out by him, and if it is not possible, then the job must be performed by a skilled woman. If one is not available, then a skilled surgeon who is the mahram (one with whom marriage cannot be contracted) of the woman must do it. If that too is not available, then a skilled man who is not mahram (one with whom marriage can be contracted) must remove the dead child. If such a person is not available even, then any unskilled person can remove the dead body.

Rule 143

If a woman dies and there is a living child in her womb, then it must be brought out in the safest possible way; even if there is no hope for the child’s survival. The body of the mother must then be sewn up.

Mustahab Acts Of The Burial

Rule 144

It is Mustahab that the depth of the grave should be approximately equal to the size of an average person. Also, his or her dead body should be buried in the nearest graveyard, except when the graveyard which is situated farther is better due to some reason, such as if pious people are buried there or people go there in large number for Fatiha (to pay respects to the dead).

It is also recommended that the coffin is placed on the ground a few yards away from the grave and then it is taken to the grave by halting three times briefly. It should be placed on the ground every time and then lifted before it is lowered into the grave which would be the fourth halt.

If the dead body is that of a male, then it should be placed on the ground on the third halt, in such a manner that its head should be towards the lower side of the grave and at the fourth halt, it should be lowered into the grave from the side of its head.

If the dead body is that of a female, then it should be placed on the ground such that on the third halt, it is towards the Qiblah and should be lowered into the grave sideways and a cloth should be spread over the grave while lowering it.

It is also Mustahab that the dead body should be taken out of the coffin and lowered into the grave very gently, and the prescribed supplications should be recited before and during the actual burying of the dead body.

After the dead body has been lowered into the ground, the ties of its shroud should be unfastened, its cheek should be placed on the ground, a pillow made of earth (dirt) should be done up under its head and some unbaked bricks or lumps of clay should be placed behind its back so that the dead body will not turn onto its back.

Before closing the grave, the person reciting the talqin should hold the right shoulder of the dead body with his right hand and should place his left hand tightly on its left shoulder and put his mouth near the deceased one’s ear, and while shaking its shoulders should say thrice (first line of text in Arabic):

The Following Should Be Read If The Deceased Is A Male

اسمع افهم يا __ ابن

“Listen and understand. O’... son of..”.

Here the name of the deceased and his father should be called. For example, if the name of the deceased was Muhammad and his father’s name was ‘Ali, then it should said three times:

اسمع افهم يا محمد بن علي

“Listen and understand O’ Muhammad son of ‘Ali”

And then he should say:

هل أنت على العهد الذي فارقتنا عليه من شهادة أن لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له، وأن محمداً ( صلّى الله عليه وآله ) عبده ورسوله وسيد النبيين وخاتم المرسلين، وأن علياً أمير المؤمنين وسيد الوصيين وإمام افترض الله طاعته على العالمين، وأن الحسن والحسين وعلي بن الحسين ومحمد بن علي وجعفر بن محمد وموسى بن جعفر وعلي بن موسى ومحمد بن علي وعلي بن محمد والحسن ابن علي والقائم الحجة المهدى ( صلوات الله عليهم ) أئمة المؤمنين وحجج الله على الخلق أجمعين، وأئمتك أئمة هدى بك أبرار، يا __ ابن

Here the name of the deceased and his father’s name should be mentioned.

Translation: “Are you still on the covenant you held when we parted, including the testimony that there is no god but Allah, the One without partners, and that Muhammad is His servant and His apostle, the chief of the prophets and the seal of the apostles, and that ‘Ali is the Commander of the Faithful and the Chief of the Deputies and the Imam whose obedience has been made incumbent by Allah upon all people, and that Hasan and Husayn, ‘Ali Ibn al-Husayn, and Muhammad Ibn ‘Ali, and Ja’far Ibn Muhammad, and Musa Ibn Ja’far, and ‘Ali Ibn Musa, and Muhammad Ibn ‘Ali and ‘Ali Ibn Muhammad and Hasan Ibn ‘Ali and the Mahdi - the Qa’im, the Hujjah - may the blessings of Allah be upon all of them - are the Imams of the faithful and the proofs of Allah for the whole of creation, are your Imams, the Imams of guidance and piety, O... (here the name of the deceased and his father’s name should be mentioned, followed by):

Here the name of the deceased and his father’s name should be mentioned.

إذا أتاك الملكان المقربان رسولين من عند الله تبارك تعالى وسألاك عن ربك وعن نبيك وعن دينك وعن كتابك وعن قبلتك وعن أئمتك فلا تخف ولا تحزن وقل في جوابهما: الله ربي، ومحمد (صلّى الله عليه وآله) نبيّي، والإسلام ديني، والقرآن كتابي والكعبة قبلتي، وأمير المؤمنين علي بن أبي طالب إمامي، والحسن بن علي المجتبي إمامي، والحسين بن علي الشهيد بكربلاء إمامي، وعلي زين العابدين إمامي، ومحمد الباقر إمامي، وجعفر الصادق إمامي، وموسى الكاظم إمامي، وعلي الرضا إمامي، ومحمد الجواد إمامي، وعلي الهادي إمامي، والحسن العسكري إمامي، والحجة المنتظر إمامي، هؤلاء صلوات الله عليهم أجمعين أئمتي وسادتي وقادتي وشفعائي، بهم أتولى ومن أعدائهم أتبرأ في الدنيا والآخرة، ثم اعلم يا ___ ابن

Translation: “When the two angels, messengers who favoured by nearness to Allah, sent by Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, come to you and ask you concerning your Lord, your Prophet, your Religion, your Book, your Qiblah and your Imams, then have no fear and no grief, and say to them the following: Allah is my Lord, Muhammad, peace be upon him and his family is my Prophet, Islam is my Religion, the Qur’an is my Book, the Ka’bah is my Qiblah, and The Commander of the Faithful ‘Ali Ibn Abi Talib is my Imam, and Hasan Ibn ‘Ali al-Mujtaba is my Imam, and Husayn Ibn ‘Ali the Martyr in Karbala is my Imam, and ‘Ali Zain al-’Abidin is my Imam, and Muhammad al-Baqir is my Imam, and Ja’far al-Sadiq is my Imam, and Musa al-Kazim is my Imam, and ‘Ali al-Ridha is my Imam and Muhammad al-Jawad is my Imam, and ‘Ali al-Hadi is my Imam, and Hasan al-’Askari is my Imam, and al-Hujjah al-Qa’im al-Muntazar is my Imam. All of these, may the greetings of Allah be upon them are my Imams and Leaders and Masters and my intercessors. I love (all) of them and I have enmity to (all) of their enemies in this world and in the next world - then know O... (here the name of the deceased and his father’s name should be mentioned, followed by):

أن الله تبارك وتعالى نعم الرب، وأن محمداً ( صلّى الله عليه وآله ) نعم الرسول، وأن علي بن أبي طالب وأولاده المعصومين الأئمة الاثني عشر نعم الأئمة، وأن ما جاء به محمد ( صلّى الله عليه وآله ) حق، وأن الموت حق، وسؤال منكر ونكير في القبر حق، والبعث حق والنشور حق، والصراط حق، والميزان حق، وتطاير الكتب حق وأن الجنة حق، والنار حق، وأن الساعة آتية لا ريب فيها، وأن الله يبعث من في القبور

Translation: “Verily Allah, the Blessed and Exalted is the best Lord. Muhammad (S) is the best Prophet. ‘Ali Ibn Abi Talib and his infallible children, the twelve Imams are the best Imams. That what was sent to Muhammad (S) is the truth. Verily death is true, and verily the questioning is true. Verily the questioning of Munkar and Nakir in the grave is true (the two angels who will question the deceased). Verily the raising up is true and the gathering of all is true. Verily the Bridge is true and the Scale (judgement) is true. Verily the opening of the Books is true, and verily the Paradise is true and verily the Hellfire is true and there is no doubt in the coming of the Hour (of Resurrection) and verily Allah will raise up those who are in their graves”.

Then the following words should be said:

أفهمت يا

“Have you understood, O’..”.

Here the name of the deceased should be called, and thereafter the following should be said:

ثبتك الله بالقول الثابت، وهداك الله إلى صراط مستقيم، عرّف الله بينك وبين أوليائك في مستقر من رحمته

Translation: “May Allah keep you firm with the Firm Word and may Allah guide you to the straight path. May Allah acquaint you with His

Prophet and your Guardians in the abode of His Mercy”.

Then the following words should be said:

اللهم جاف الأرض عن جنبيه واصعد بروحه إليك، ولقّه منك برهاناً، اللهم عفِوك عفوك

Translation: “O’ Allah, make the earth spacious on his sides (in the grave), elevate him with his soul up to Yourself and revel to him Your proofs. O’ Allah, we beseech Your pardon, Your pardon!”

The Following Should Be Read If The Deceased Is A Female

اسمع افهمي يا __ بنت

“Listen and understand. O’... daughter of..”.

Here the name of the deceased and her father should be called. For example, if the name of the deceased was Fatimah, and her father’s name was ‘All, then it should said three times:

اسمع افهم يا فاطمة بن علي

“Listen and understand O’ Fatimah daughter of ‘Ali”

And then he should say:

هل أنت على العهد الذي فارقتنا عليه من شهادة أن لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له، وأن محمداً ( صلّى الله عليه وآله ) عبده ورسوله وسيد النبيين وخاتم المرسلين، وأن علياً أمير المؤمنين وسيد الوصيين وإمام افترض الله طاعته على العالمين، وأن الحسن والحسين وعلي بن الحسين ومحمد بن علي وجعفر بن محمد وموسى بن جعفر وعلي بن موسى ومحمد بن علي وعلي بن محمد والحسن ابن علي والقائم الحجة المهدى ( صلوات الله عليهم ) أئمة المؤمنين وحجج الله على الخلق أجمعين، وأئمتك أئمة هدى بك أبرار، يا__ بنت

Here the name of the deceased and her father’s name should be mentioned.

Translation: “Are you still on the covenant you held when we parted, including the testimony that there is no god but Allah, the One without partners, and that Muhammad is His servant and His apostle, the chief of the prophets and the seal of the apostles, and that ‘Ali is the Commander of the Faithful and the Chief of the Deputies and the Imam whose obedience has been made incumbent by Allah upon all people, and that Hasan and Husayn, ‘Ali Ibn al-Husayn, and Muhammad Ibn ‘Ali, and Ja’far Ibn Muhammad, and Musa Ibn Ja’far, and ‘Ali Ibn Musa, and Muhammad Ibn ‘Ali and ‘Ali Ibn Muhammad and Hasan Ibn ‘Ali and the Mahdi - the Qa’im, the Hujjah - may the blessings of Allah be upon all of them - are the Imams of the faithful and the proofs of Allah for the whole of creation, are your Imams, the Imams of guidance and piety, O... (here the name of the deceased and her father’s name should be mentioned, followed by):

Here the name of the deceased and her father’s name should be mentioned.

إذا أتاك الملكان المقربان رسولين من عند الله تبارك تعالى وسألاك عن ربك وعن نبيك وعن دينك وعن كتابك وعن قبلتك وعن أئمتك فلا تخف ولا تحزن وقل في جوابهما: الله ربي، ومحمد (صلّى الله عليه وآله) نبيّي، والإسلام ديني، والقرآن كتابي والكعبة قبلتي، وأمير المؤمنين علي بن أبي طالب إمامي، والحسن بن علي المجتبي إمامي، والحسين بن علي الشهيد بكربلاء إمامي، وعلي زين العابدين إمامي، ومحمد الباقر إمامي، وجعفر الصادق إمامي، وموسى الكاظم إمامي، وعلي الرضا إمامي، ومحمد الجواد إمامي، وعلي الهادي إمامي، والحسن العسكري إمامي، والحجة المنتظر إمامي، هؤلاء صلوات الله عليهم أجمعين أئمتي وسادتي وقادتي وشفعائي، بهم أتولى ومن أعدائهم أتبرأ في الدنيا والآخرة، ثم اعلمي يا __ بنت

Translation: “When the two angels, messengers who favoured by nearness to Allah, sent by Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, come to you and ask you concerning your Lord, your Prophet, your Religion, your Book, your Qiblah and your Imams, then have no fear and no grief, and say to them the following: Allah is my Lord, Muhammad, peace be upon him and his family is my Prophet, Islam is my Religion, the Qur’an is my Book, the Ka’bah is my Qiblah, and The Commander of the Faithful ‘Ali Ibn Abi Talib is my Imam, and Hasan Ibn ‘Ali al-Mujtaba is my Imam, and Husayn Ibn ‘Ali the Martyr in Karbala is my Imam, and ‘Ali Zain al-’Abidin is my Imam, and Muhammad al-Baqir is my Imam, and Ja’far al-Sadiq is my Imam, and Musa al-Kazim is my Imam, and ‘Ali al-Ridha is my Imam and Muhammad al-Jawad is my Imam, and ‘Ali al-Hadi is my Imam, and Hasan al-’Askari is my Imam, and al-Hujjah al-Qa’im al-Muntazar is my Imam. All of these, may the greetings of Allah be upon them are my Imams and Leaders and Masters and my intercessors. I love (all) of them and I have enmity to (all) of their enemies in this world and in the next world - then know O... (here the name of the deceased and her father’s name should be mentioned, followed by):

أن الله تبارك وتعالى نعم الرب، وأن محمداً ( صلّى الله عليه وآله ) نعم الرسول، وأن علي بن أبي طالب وأولاده المعصومين الأئمة الاثني عشر نعم الأئمة، وأن ما جاء به محمد ( صلّى الله عليه وآله ) حق، وأن الموت حق، وسؤال منكر ونكير في القبر حق، والبعث حق والنشور حق، والصراط حق، والميزان حق، وتطاير الكتب حق وأن الجنة حق، والنار حق، وأن الساعة آتية لا ريب فيها، وأن الله يبعث من في القبور

Translation: “Verily Allah, the Blessed and Exalted is the best Lord. Muhammad (S) is the best Prophet. ‘Ali Ibn Abi Talib and his infallible children, the twelve Imams are the best Imams. That what was sent to Muhammad (S) is the truth. Verily death is true, and verily the questioning is true. Verily the questioning of Munkar and Nakir in the grave is true (the two angels who will question the deceased). Verily the raising up is true and the gathering of all is true. Verily the Bridge is true and the Scale (judgement) is true. Verily the opening of the Books is true, and verily the Paradise is true and verily the Hellfire is true and there is no doubt in the coming of the Hour (of Resurrection) and verily Allah will raise up those who are in their graves”.

Then the following words should be said:

افهمت يا

“Have you understood, O’..”.

Here the name of the deceased should be called, and thereafter the following should be said:

ثبتك الله بالقول الثابت، وهداك الله إلى صراط مستقيم، عرّف الله بينك وبين أوليائك في مستقر من رحمته

Translation: “May Allah keep you firm with the Firm Word and may Allah guide you to the straight path. May Allah acquaint you with His

Prophet and your Guardians in the abode of His Mercy”.

Then the following words should be said:

اللهم جاف الأرض عن جنبيها واصعد بروحها إليك، ولقّها منك برهاناً، اللهم عفِوك عفوك

Translation: “O’ Allah, make the earth spacious on her sides (in the grave) and elevate her soul up to Yourself and reveal to her Your proofs. O’ Allah, we beseech Your pardon, Your pardon!”

Rule 145

It is recommended that the person who lowers the dead body in the grave should be Tahir, bareheaded (no covering on his head) and bare-footed and he should climb out of the grave from the side of the feet of the deceased. Moreover, people other than near relatives of the deceased should put dirt into the grave with the backside of their hands and recite the following:

إنا الله وإنا إليه راجعون

“Verily we are (all) from Allah, and to Him is our return”.

If the deceased is a woman, then she should be lowered into the grave by a Mahram and in the absence of a Mahram, her relative.

Rule 146

It is Mustahab that the grave is square or rectangle in shape and its height is equal to four fingers’ span. A sign should be fixed on it for the purpose of identification, water should be poured on it and then those present should place their hands on the grave parting their fingers and inserting them into the ground. One should then recite Surah al-Qadr seven times and pray for forgiveness of the departed soul by saying:

If the Deceased is a Man:

اللهم جاف الأرض عن جنبيه، واصعد إليك بروحه، ولقه منك رضواناً، وأسكن قبره من رحمتك ما تغنيه به عن رحمة من سواك

Translation: “O’ Allah, make the earth spacious on his sides (in the grave) and raise his soul to Yourself and reveal to him Your pleasure and place in his grave, Your mercy such that you make him needless of the mercy of others besides Yourself”.

If the Deceased is a Woman:

اللهم جاف الأرض عن جنبيها، واصعد إليك بروحها، ولقها منك رضواناً، وأسكن قبرها من رحمتك ما تغنيه بها عن رحمة من سواك

Translation: “O’ Allah, make the earth spacious on both her sides and raise her soul to Yourself. Meet her with a merciful welcome. Place in her grave, Your mercy such that you make her needless of the mercy of others besides Yourself”.

Surah Al-Qadr

َََّبِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.

إِنَّا أَنْزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ

Surely We revealed it on the grand night. (97:1)

وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ

And what will make you comprehend what the grand night is? (97:2)

لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ خَيْرٌ مِنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ

The grand night is better than a thousand months. (97:3)

تَنَزَّلُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ وَالرُّوحُ فِيهَا بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِمْ مِنْ كُلِّ أَمْرٍ

The angels and the Ruh (Spirit) descend in it by the permission of their Lord for every affair, (97:4)

سَلَامٌ هِيَ حَتَّىٰ مَطْلَعِ الْفَجْرِ

Peace! it is till the break of the morning. (97:5)

Rule 147

It is Mustahab that when the people who attended the funeral have left, the guardian of the deceased or the person the guardian grants permission to, should recite the prescribed supplications for the deceased. These prescribed supplications can be found in the detailed books of Fiqh.