1. Sahl ibn Ziyad has said that according to the narration of our people:the depth of the grave is up to one’s collarbones. Certain ones have said that it is up to one’s chest and still others say that it is up to the whole height of a man, so one can pull the sheet over the head of those in the grave. The depth of Lahad is as high as one can sit straight inside. He (the narrator) has said that when Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.), was about to die, he fainted for a while and then he removed the cloth and said, ‘All praise belongs to Allah who has made us heirs of paradise. We can live wherever we like and this is good reward for those who do good deeds.’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘Dig for me (a grave) and sprinkle water properly.’ He (the narrator) has said that he (the Imam) (a.s.), then pulled the sheet over his face and passed away.’” (Shahid al-Thani has said that fainting of the Imam in this Hadith is not in a literal sense; as long as an Imam is alive he is responsible and in a fainting condition one is not responsible). (Lahad is a prepared room horizontally at the bottom of the grave as opposed to a vertical ditch in the center of the grave)

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar·Thaqalayn link·The Arabic above is the original.

2. Sahl has narrated from certain persons of his people from abu Hammam ’Isma‘il ibn Hammad who has said the following: “Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), when about to leave this world said, ‘When I die dig a grave for me as a straight cut in the ground, as opposed to digging straight and then digging horizontally a passage to accommodate the body which is called Lahad. If people say that the Messenger of Allah was place in Lahad, accept it as true.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar·Thaqalayn link·The Arabic above is the original.

3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Hammad ibn ‘Uthman from al-Halabiy who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Abu Talhah al-Ansariy prepared Lahad for the Messenger of Allah.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar·Thaqalayn link·The Arabic above is the original.

4. Ali has narrated from his father from al-Nawfaliy from al-Sakuniy who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Holy prophet, prohibited digging the grave deeper than three hands (yards).”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar·Thaqalayn link·The Arabic above is the original.