FUNERAL SERVICES - Burial Method

  1.   A grave is dug deep enough to totally hide the body of the deceased.

  2.   The grave should be always perpendicular (horizontal) to the direction of Qiblah.

  3.   Only men are allowed to attend the burial.

  4.   All muslims who are present should remember death, the Hereafter, and that one-day, he too will be buried.

  5.   They should keep quiet (no talking, unless it is necessary).

  6.   The male relatives of the deceased are expected to put the body in the grave; only muslim men should carry out putting the body in the grave.

  7.   A female is placed in her grave either by her husband, her sons, her father, her brothers, or her uncles.

  8.   The deceased body should be entered to the grave from the middle of the grave.

  9.   Those who enter the deceased body in the grave should say: ‘Bismilllah Wa Ala Millati Rasulilllah’
    [In the name of Allah and in the faith of the Messenger of Allah]

  10.   The body of the deceased should rest on his right side, close to the wall and well supported, so that the body does not fall back.

  11.   The face of the deceased should be towards the Qiblah.

  12.   Those who put the deceased in the grave should not have had sexual intercourse with their wives the night before and should be in a state of Taharah.

  13.   They should undo the ties on the head and the feet.

  14.   They should place above the body, a layer of wood or big stones, so that earth will not be put directly on the body when they fill the grave with earth.

  15.   After the body is totally covered, it is desirable to throw three handfuls of soil into the grave, with each handful saying:
    ‘Minhaa khalaqnaa Kum’ [From the earth did We create you]
    ‘Wa Feehaa Nu‘eedu Kum’ [And into it shall We return you]
    ‘Wa Minhaa Nukhrijukum Taaratan Ukhraa’ [And from it shall We bring you out once again]

  16.   Then the grave should be filled up with sand or soil that was taken out from the grave; no additional soil should be brought from elsewhere.

  17.   It is allowable to put a mark on the grave or a stone to know the grave.

  18.   Just after the burial, all muslims including the relatives of the deceased, may stay in the cemetery for a while and make dua’ (supplicate) for the deceased, as he is being questioned by the Angels.

  19.   Prophet Muhammad (salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam) in an authentic Hadith said:
    "Make dua’ of Istighfar (supplicate for forgiveness) for your brother and request steadfastness for him because he is now being questioned”. (Abu Dawood).