Is it important to keep a place for the dead to sit in the grave?

In many areas of our country, common people think that since the deceased will be seated in the grave for questioning, it is important to keep a place for the deceased to sit up in the grave. From this idea they dig the grave deep and place the body about two cubits high with bamboo and earth so that the dead person can sit well.

According to Islamic belief, question and answer in the grave is correct, but trying to place the dead in the grave is unnecessary and futile. Because the placement of the dead person, the question and answer will not be in this world, but in an invisible world called Barjakh. It has nothing to do with burial regulations.

We don't need to think about how the dead person will sit in the coffin, where the angels will be, etc. All this will happen by Allah's command and power. Therefore, after placing the corpse in the grave, it is a rule to keep the bamboo close to the corpse without leaving too much space.

The depth of the grave should be such that the dead body does not smell bad and also the dead body is protected from the attacks of wild animals. So the grave should be at least waist deep. It is best to deepen the full body volume if possible. Hazrat Umar (RA) before his death bequeathed that his grave should be as deep as the length of a human body. (Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaiba: 7/324)

3 practices related to burial

It is Sunnah to lay the deceased in the grave with the right ear facing the Qibla. That is to say, the whole body of the deceased, including the chest and face, should face the Qibla. To dig the grave so that the body of the deceased is facing the Qibla. Allah's Messenger (PBUH) said, Kaaba is the Qiblah of Muslims while alive and dead. (Sunan Abu Dawud: 2865)

Many people in our country, due to ignorance, think that it is enough to turn the face towards the Qiblah after laying the dead person in the grave. It's not right. Rather, the deceased should lie facing the Qibla completely.

After placing the deceased in the grave, it is mustahab for those present to pat the head of the deceased three times with both hands. Abu Huraira (RA) said, The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) performed a funeral prayer. He then approached the grave of the deceased and struck three times on his head. (Sunan Ibn Majah: 1565)

It is also mustahab to bury the deceased by staying for a while at his grave and praying for mercy and forgiveness for him, and praying for his firmness of faith in response to the angels' questions. It is narrated that Rasool (pbuh) did such a deed. It was narrated from Uthman Ibn Affan (ra), that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) used to stay there after burying the dead and say, Ask forgiveness for your brother. Pray for him for strength. He will be asked now. (Sunan Abu Dawud: 3213)

OFF/JIM