The Required Depth of a Grave, the form of the Grave and Prepared Lahad for the Messenger of Allah

رَوَى أَصْحَابُنَا أَنَّ حَدَّ الْقَبْرِ إِلَى التَّرْقُوَةِ وَ قَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ إِلَى الثَّدْيِ وَ قَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ قَامَةِ الرَّجُلِ حَتَّى يُمَدَّ الثَّوْبُ عَلَى رَأْسِ مَنْ فِي الْقَبْرِ وَ أَمَّا اللَّحْدُ فَبِقَدْرِ مَا يُمْكِنُ فِيهِ الْجُلُوسُ قَالَ وَ لَمَّا حَضَرَ عَلِيَّ بْنَ الْحُسَيْنِ ع الْوَفَاةُ أُغْمِيَ عَلَيْهِ فَبَقِيَ سَاعَةً ثُمَّ رَفَعَ عَنْهُ الثَّوْبَ ثُمَّ قَالَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَو

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

قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع‌ حِينَ احْتُضِرَ إِذَا أَنَا مِتُّ فَاحْفِرُوا لِي وَ شُقُّوا لِي شَقّاً فَإِنْ قِيلَ لَكُمْ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص لُحِدَ لَهُ فَقَدْ صَدَقُوا[1].

“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.’

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص لَحَدَ لَهُ أَبُو طَلْحَةَ الْأَنْصَارِيُّ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Abu Talhah al-Ansariy prepared Lahad for the Messenger of Allah.’”

أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ص نَهَى أَنْ يُعَمَّقَ الْقَبْرُ فَوْقَ ثَلَاثَةِ أَذْرُعٍ‌[2].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Holy prophet, prohibited digging the grave deeper than three hands (yards).”

يَنْبَغِي لِأَوْلِيَاءِ الْمَيِّتِ مِنْكُمْ أَنْ يُؤْذِنُوا إِخْوَانَ الْمَيِّتِ بِمَوْتِهِ فَيَشْهَدُونَ جَنَازَتَهُ وَ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَيْهِ وَ يَسْتَغْفِرُونَ لَهُ فَيُكْتَبُ لَهُمُ الْأَجْرُ وَ يُكْتَبُ‌[3] لِلْمَيِّتِ الِاسْتِغْفَارُ وَ يَكْتَسِبُ هُوَ الْأَجْرَ فِيهِمْ وَ فِيمَا اكْتَسَبَ لِمَيِّتِهِمْ مِنَ الِاسْتِغْفَارِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘The guardians of a deceased should inform the brothers (in belief) of the deceased about his death so they may attend his funeral services, perform prayer and appeal on his behalf for forgiveness (from Allah). Thus, a reward for them is written down as well as forgiveness. Also the pe