The Book on Dying People

الرَّجُلُ يَنْزِلُ فِي قَبْرِ وَالِدِهِ وَ لَا يَنْزِلُ الْوَالِدُ فِي قَبْرِ وَلَدِهِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that a man may enter the grave of his father, but a father should not enter the grave of his sons.”

يُكْرَهُ لِلرَّجُلِ أَنْ يَنْزِلَ فِي قَبْرِ وَلَدِهِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that it is undesirable for a man to enter the grave of his sons.”

لَمَّا مَاتَ إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ أَتَى أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع الْقَبْرَ فَأَرْخَى نَفْسَهُ‌[2] فَقَعَدَ ثُمَّ قَالَ رَحِمَكَ اللَّهُ وَ صَلَّى عَلَيْكَ وَ لَمْ يَنْزِلْ فِي قَبْرِهِ وَ قَالَ هَكَذَا فَعَلَ النَّبِيُّ ص بِإِبْرَاهِيمَ ع.

“When Isma’il, son of abu ‘Abd Allah, passed away, abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), went to the grave site, allowed his body to reach the ground, and said, ‘I pray to Allah to grant you mercy and favors.’ He did not enter the grave; and he said, ‘This is how the Holy Prophet did when Ibrahim died.’”

ذَاكَ إِلَى الْوَلِيِّ إِنْ شَاءَ أَدْخَلَ وَتْراً وَ إِنْ شَاءَ شَفْعاً.

“I asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘How many should enter a grave?’ He replied, ‘It is up to the guardian of the deceased. He may ask an odd or even number of people.’”

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ص‌ مَضَتِ السُّنَّةُ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص أَنَّ الْمَرْأَةَ لَا يَدْخُلُ قَبْرَهَا إِلَّا مَنْ كَانَ يَرَاهَا فِي حَيَاتِهَا.

“Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), has said, ‘It is of the Sunnah (tradition) of the Messenger of Allah that no one should enter the grave of a woman except those who could see her in her lifetime.’”

الزَّوْجُ أَحَقُّ بِامْرَأَتِهِ حَتَّى يَضَعَهَا فِي قَبْرِهَا.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that a husband is more rightful to place his wife in the grave.”

كُنْتُ مَعَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع حِينَ مَاتَ إِسْمَاعِيلُ ابْنُهُ ع فَأُنْزِلَ فِي قَبْرِهِ ثُمَّ رَمَى بِنَفْسِهِ عَلَى الْأَرْضِ مِمَّا يَلِي الْقِبْلَةَ ثُمَّ قَالَ هَكَذَا صَنَعَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص بِإِبْرَاهِيمَ ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّ الرَّجُلَ يَنْزِلُ فِي قَبْرِ وَالِدِهِ وَ لَا يَنْزِلُ فِي قَبْرِ وَلَدِهِ.

“I was with abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), when Isma’il, his son passed away. The dead body was brought down in the grave. Thereafter he (the Imam) allowed his body to reach the ground on the side of the grave facing the direction of Qiblah. Then he said, ‘This is how the Messenger of Allah did on the death of Ibrahim.’ He the

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع الرَّجُلُ يَدْفِنُ ابْنَهُ قَالَ لَا يَدْفِنُهُ فِي التُّرَابِ قَالَ قُلْتُ فَالابْنُ يَدْفِنُ أَبَاهُ قَالَ نَعَمْ لَا بَأْسَ‌[1].

“Once I asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘Can a man bury his son?’ He replied, ‘He does not bury him in the soil.’ I (the narrator) then asked, ‘Can a son bury his father?’ He replied, ‘Yes, there is no offense in it.’”

إِذَا أَتَيْتَ بِالْمَيِّتِ الْقَبْرَ فَسُلَّهُ مِنْ قِبَلِ رِجْلَيْهِ فَإِذَا وَضَعْتَهُ فِي الْقَبْرِ فَاقْرَأْ آيَةَ الْكُرْسِيِّ وَ قُلْ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ وَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَ عَلَى مِلَّةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص اللَّهُمَّ افْسَحْ لَهُ فِي قَبْرِهِ وَ أَلْحِقْهُ بِنَبِيِّهِ ص وَ قُلْ كَمَا قُلْتَ فِي الصَّلَاةِ عَلَيْهِ مَرَّةً وَاحِدَةً مِنْ عِنْدِ- اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كَانَ مُحْسِناً فَزِدْ فِي إِحْسَانِهِ وَ إِنْ كَ

“Abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that you should place a deceased, after his arrival near the grave, in it from the side where you intend to place his feet. When the deceased is placed in the grave, read Ayatu al-Kursiy and say, ’(I begin) in the name of Allah, in the way of Allah and on the path of the Messenger of Al

إِذَا سَلَلْتَ الْمَيِّتَ فَقُلْ- بِسْمِ اللَّهِ وَ بِاللَّهِ وَ عَلَى مِلَّةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص اللَّهُمَّ إِلَى رَحْمَتِكَ لَا إِلَى عَذَابِكَ فَإِذَا وَضَعْتَهُ فِي اللَّحْدِ فَضَعْ يَدَكَ عَلَى أُذُنِهِ‌[1] فَقُلِ اللَّهُ رَبُّكَ وَ الْإِسْلَامُ دِينُكَ وَ مُحَمَّدٌ نَبِيُّكَ وَ الْقُرْآنُ كِتَابُكَ وَ عَلِيٌّ إِمَامُكَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah, Alayhi al-Salam, has said to say this, when you place a deceased in the grave, ‘(I begin) in the name of Allah, with Allah and on the path of the Messenger of Allah. O Allah, take him to Your mercy and not to Your punishment.’ Say, when the deceased is placed in the grave, with your hand on his ear, ‘A

سَأَلْتُ أَحَدَهُمَا ع عَنِ الْمَيِّتِ فَقَالَ تَسُلُّهُ مِنْ قِبَلِ الرِّجْلَيْنِ وَ تُلْزِقُ الْقَبْرَ بِالْأَرْضِ إِلَى قَدْرِ أَرْبَعِ أَصَابِعَ مُفَرَّجَاتٍ وَ تُرَبِّعُ قَبْرَهُ.

“I asked one of the two Imam, Alayhim al-Salam, about a deceased. He said, ‘Place him in the grave from the side of the feet. Keep the grave above the ground by four open fingers and make it four cornered.’”

سُلَّهُ سَلًّا رَفِيقاً فَإِذَا وَضَعْتَهُ فِي لَحْدِهِ فَلْيَكُنْ أَوْلَى النَّاسِ مِمَّا يَلِي رَأْسَهُ لِيَذْكُرَ اسْمَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ وَ يُصَلِّيَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ ص وَ يَتَعَوَّذَ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ وَ لْيَقْرَأْ فَاتِحَةَ الْكِتَابِ وَ الْمُعَوِّذَتَيْنِ وَ قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ وَ آيَةَ الْكُرْسِيِّ وَ إِنْ قَدَرَ أَنْ يَحْسِرَ عَنْ خَدِّهِ‌[4] وَ يُلْزِقَهُ بِالْأَرْضِ فَعَلَ وَ يَشْهَدُ وَ يَذْكُرُ مَا ي

4. Sahl ibn Ziyad has narrated from Muhammad ibn Sinan from Muhammad ibn ‘Ajlan who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah, Alayhi al-Salam, has said to place a deceased gently in the grave. The person from the side of his head, when he is placed in the grave, should speak of the names of Allah. He should also say ‘Al

إِذَا أَرَدْتَ أَنْ تَدْفِنَ الْمَيِّتَ فَلْيَكُنْ أَعْقَلُ مَنْ يَنْزِلُ فِي قَبْرِهِ‌[5] عِنْدَ رَأْسِهِ وَ لْيَكْشِفْ خَدَّهُ الْأَيْمَنَ حَتَّى يُفْضِيَ بِهِ إِلَى الْأَرْضِ وَ يُدْنِي فَمَهُ إِلَى سَمْعِهِ وَ يَقُولُ اسْمَعْ افْهَمْ ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ اللَّهُ رَبُّكَ وَ مُحَمَّدٌ نَبِيُّكَ وَ الْإِسْلَامُ دِينُكَ وَ فُلَانٌ إِمَامُكَ اسْمَعْ وَ افْهَمْ وَ أَعِدْهَا عَلَيْهِ ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ هَذَا التَّلْقِينَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah, Alayhi al-Salam, has said that the person nearest in kinship to the deceased should enter the grave for burial near his head, remove the shroud from the right side of his face, place it on earth, with his mouth near the ear of the deceased, say three times, ‘Listen and understand.’ Allah is your Lord,

إِذَا وُضِعَ الْمَيِّتُ فِي لَحْدِهِ فَقُلْ- بِسْمِ اللَّهِ وَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَ عَلَى مِلَّةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص عَبْدُكَ ابْنُ عَبْدِكَ نَزَلَ بِكَ وَ أَنْتَ خَيْرُ مَنْزُولٍ بِهِ اللَّهُمَّ افْسَحْ لَهُ فِي قَبْرِهِ وَ أَلْحِقْهُ بِنَبِيِّهِ اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا لَا نَعْلَمُ مِنْهُ إِلَّا خَيْراً وَ أَنْتَ أَعْلَمُ بِهِ فَإِذَا وَضَعْتَ عَلَيْهِ اللَّبِنَ فَقُلِ اللَّهُمَّ صِلْ وَحْدَتَهُ وَ آنِسْ وَحْشَتَهُ وَ أ

“The Imam (a.s.), said, ‘When a deceased is placed in the grave you should say, “(I begin) in the name of Allah, in the way of Allah and according to the traditions of the Messenger of Allah. (O Allah), this, Your servant, son of Your servant has become Your guest and You are the best host. O Allah, make his grave spac

إِذَا وَضَعْتَ الْمَيِّتَ فِي لَحْدِهِ قَرَأْتَ آيَةَ الْكُرْسِيِّ وَ اضْرِبْ يَدَكَ عَلَى مَنْكِبِهِ الْأَيْمَنِ ثُمَّ قُلْ يَا فُلَانُ قُلْ‌[4] رَضِيتُ بِاللَّهِ رَبّاً وَ بِالْإِسْلَامِ دِيناً وَ بِمُحَمَّدٍ ص نَبِيّاً وَ بِعَلِيٍّ ع إِمَاماً وَ سَمِّ إِمَامَ زَمَانِهِ.

7. It is a narration from him (narrator of previous Hadith) by his father from Hammad from Hariz from Zurarah who has said the following: “He (the Imam), ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said, that when you place a deceased in his grave, read Ayatu al-Kursiy and hold his right shoulder with your hand, then say, ‘O so and so say,

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع مَا أَقُولُ إِذَا أَدْخَلْتُ الْمَيِّتَ مِنَّا قَبْرَهُ قَالَ قُلِ اللَّهُمَّ هَذَا عَبْدُكَ فُلَانٌ وَ ابْنُ عَبْدِكَ قَدْ نَزَلَ بِكَ وَ أَنْتَ خَيْرُ مَنْزُولٍ بِهِ وَ قَدِ احْتَاجَ إِلَى رَحْمَتِكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَ لَا نَعْلَمُ مِنْهُ إِلَّا خَيْراً وَ أَنْتَ أَعْلَمُ بِسَرِيرَتِهِ وَ نَحْنُ الشُّهَدَاءُ بِعَلَانِيَتِهِ اللَّهُمَّ فَجَافِ الْأَرْضَ عَنْ جَنْبَيْهِ وَ لَقِّنْهُ حُجَّتَ

8. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad and Muhammad ibn Yahya from Ahmad ibn Muhammad all from ibn Mahbub from abu Ayyub from Sanaa ‘ah who has said the following: “I asked abu ’Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, ‘What should we say when placing a deceased from us in the grave?’ He said to say, ‘O Allah,

يُشَقُّ الْكَفَنُ مِنْ عِنْدِ رَأْسِ الْمَيِّتِ إِذَا أُدْخِلَ قَبْرَهُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that a shroud should be cut open from where the head of the deceased is when he is placed in the grave.”

سُلَّ الْمَيِّتَ سَلًّا.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘You should place the deceased in the grave gently.’”

إِذَا وَضَعْتَ الْمَيِّتَ فِي الْقَبْرِ قُلْتَ- اللَّهُمَّ هَذَا عَبْدُكَ وَ ابْنُ عَبْدِكَ وَ ابْنُ أَمَتِكَ نَزَلَ بِكَ وَ أَنْتَ خَيْرُ مَنْزُولٍ بِهِ فَإِذَا سَلَلْتَهُ مِنْ قِبَلِ الرِّجْلَيْنِ وَ دَلَّيْتَهُ‌[1] قُلْتَ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ وَ بِاللَّهِ وَ عَلَى مِلَّةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص اللَّهُمَّ إِلَى رَحْمَتِكَ لَا إِلَى عَذَابِكَ اللَّهُمَّ افْسَحْ لَهُ فِي قَبْرِهِ وَ لَقِّنْهُ حُجَّتَهُ وَ ثَبِّتْهُ بِالْقَوْلِ

11. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ‘Uthman ibn ‘Isa from Sama‘ah who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said that when you place a deceased in the grave say, ‘O Allah [this is] Your servant son of a male servant and a female servant who has become Your gues

كَتَبَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ بِلَالٍ إِلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع‌ أَنَّهُ رُبَّمَا مَاتَ الْمَيِّتُ عِنْدَنَا وَ تَكُونُ الْأَرْضُ نَدِيَّةً فَنَفْرُشُ الْقَبْرَ بِالسَّاجِ‌[2] أَوْ نُطْبِقُ عَلَيْهِ فَهَلْ يَجُوزُ ذَلِكَ فَكَتَبَ ذَلِكَ جَائِزٌ.

“Once Ali ibn Bilal wrote to abu al-Hassan (a.s.), about the condition of a grave asking, ‘Someone may die in our area but the ground of the grave is wet.’ We pave it (the floor) with teak (wooden board) or cover it in this way, is this permissible? He (the Imam) wrote the answer, ‘It is permissible.’” H 4536, Ch. 64,

أَلْقَى شُقْرَانُ‌[3] مَوْلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص فِي قَبْرِهِ الْقَطِيفَةَ.

‘Ali (a.s.), placed bricks on the grave of the Holy prophet.’ I then asked, ‘If one places tiles on the grave is it harmful to the deceased?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘No, it is not harmful.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ جَعَلَ عَلِيٌّ ع‌ عَلَى قَبْرِ النَّبِيِّ ص لَبِناً فَقُلْتُ أَ رَأَيْتَ إِنْ جَعَلَ الرَّجُلُ عَلَيْهِ آجُرّاً هَلْ يَضُرُّ الْمَيِّتَ قَالَ لَا.

Muhammad Bin Yahya, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad, from Ali Bin Al Hakam, from Husayn Bin Usman, from Ibn Muskan, from Aban Bin Taghlib who said, ‘I heard Abu Abdullah asws saying: ‘Ali asws made a slab to be upon the grave of the Prophet saww ’. So I said, ‘What is your asws view if the man were to make a brick to be upon h

رَأَيْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ ع يَقُولُ مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ لَا مَا شَاءَ النَّاسُ فَلَمَّا انْتَهَى إِلَى الْقَبْرِ تَنَحَّى فَجَلَسَ فَلَمَّا أُدْخِلَ الْمَيِّتُ لَحْدَهُ قَامَ فَحَثَا عَلَيْهِ التُّرَابَ ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ بِيَدِهِ.

“I heard abu al-Hassan (a.s.), say, ‘It is what Allah wills, not what people will.’ When he approached the grave, he kept to a side and sat down. When the deceased was placed in the grave, he stood up and filled three handfuls of soil in the grave, one at a time.”

إِذَا حَثَوْتَ التُّرَابَ عَلَى الْمَيِّتِ فَقُلْ إِيمَاناً بِكَ وَ تَصْدِيقاً بِبَعْثِكَ‌ هذا ما وَعَدَنَا اللَّهُ وَ رَسُولُهُ‌ قَالَ وَ قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص يَقُولُ مَنْ حَثَا عَلَى مَيِّتٍ وَ قَالَ هَذَا الْقَوْلَ أَعْطَاهُ اللَّهُ بِكُلِّ ذَرَّةٍ حَسَنَةً.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that when you fill soil in the grave of a deceased say, ‘(It is) out of faith in You (O Allah) and an acknowledgement of Your resurrection. This is what Allah and His Messenger have promised us.’ He (the Imam) said that Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), has said, ‘I heard the Messenger of Allah

كُنْتُ مَعَ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع فِي جِنَازَةِ رَجُلٍ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا فَلَمَّا أَنْ دَفَنُوهُ قَامَ ع إِلَى قَبْرِهِ فَحَثَا عَلَيْهِ مِمَّا يَلِي رَأْسَهُ ثَلَاثاً بِكَفِّهِ ثُمَّ بَسَطَ كَفَّهُ عَلَى الْقَبْرِ ثُمَّ قَالَ اللَّهُمَّ جَافِ الْأَرْضَ عَنْ جَنْبَيْهِ وَ أَصْعِدْ إِلَيْكَ رُوحَهُ وَ لَقِّهِ مِنْكَ رِضْوَاناً وَ أَسْكِنْ قَبْرَهُ مِنْ رَحْمَتِكَ مَا تُغْنِيهِ بِهِ عَنْ رَحْمَةِ مَنْ سِوَاكَ ثُمَّ مَضَى.

“I was with abu Ja‘far (a.s.), in a funeral procession for one of our companions. When they buried him, he (the Imam) stood up next to his grave, then filled soil toward his head, three handfuls. He then extended his palm over the grave, and then said, ‘O Allah make earth spacious on his both sides, raise his spirit to

رَأَيْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَطْرَحُ التُّرَابَ عَلَى الْمَيِّتِ فَيُمْسِكُهُ سَاعَةً فِي يَدِهِ ثُمَّ يَطْرَحُهُ وَ لَا يَزِيدُ عَلَى ثَلَاثَةِ أَكُفٍّ قَالَ فَسَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ يَا عُمَرُ كُنْتُ أَقُولُ إِيمَاناً بِكَ وَ تَصْدِيقاً بِبَعْثِكَ هَذَا مَا وَعَدَ اللَّهُ وَ رَسُولُهُ إِلَى قَوْلِهِ تَسْلِيماً[1] هَكَذَا كَانَ يَفْعَلُ- رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص وَ بِهِ جَرَتِ السُّنَّةُ.

“I saw abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), fill soil in the grave of a deceased. He held it (soil) in his hand for a while then tossed it in the grave and did not do more than three handfuls. I asked him about it and he replied, ‘O ‘Umar I was saying, “It is out of faith in You (O Allah), and an acknowledgement of Your resurrecting

مَاتَ لِبَعْضِ أَصْحَابِ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع وَلَدٌ فَحَضَرَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَلَمَّا أُلْحِدَ تَقَدَّمَ أَبُوهُ فَطَرَحَ عَلَيْهِ التُّرَابَ فَأَخَذَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع بِكَفَّيْهِ وَ قَالَ لَا تَطْرَحْ عَلَيْهِ التُّرَابَ وَ مَنْ كَانَ مِنْهُ ذَا رَحِمٍ فَلَا يَطْرَحْ عَلَيْهِ التُّرَابَ فَإِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص نَهَى أَنْ يَطْرَحَ الْوَالِدُ أَوْ ذُو رَحِمٍ عَلَى مَيِّتِهِ التُّرَابَ فَقُلْنَا يَا ا

“A son of one of the companions of abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), died. Abu ‘Abd Allah attended the funeral. When the deceased was placed in the grave, his father went forward to toss soil into his grave. Abu ‘Abd Allah held his hand and said, ‘You must not toss soil on him. No one of his relatives should do so. The Messenger

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص سَلَّ إِبْرَاهِيمَ ابْنَهُ سَلًّا وَ رَبَّعَ قَبْرَهُ‌[2].

Rasulullah (sw) placed his son Ibrahim in a basket-shaped place in the grave and made the surface into a square shape.’”

يُسْتَحَبُّ أَنْ يُدْخَلَ مَعَهُ فِي قَبْرِهِ جَرِيدَةٌ رَطْبَةٌ وَ يُرْفَعَ قَبْرُهُ مِنَ الْأَرْضِ قَدْرَ أَرْبَعِ أَصَابِعَ مَضْمُومَةٍ وَ يُنْضَحَ عَلَيْهِ الْمَاءُ[3] وَ يُخَلَّى عَنْهُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘It is preferable to place two fresh twigs of palm tree with the deceased in the grave, raise the surface of the grave above ground by four inches, sprinkle water on it and then leave it alone.’”

سَأَلْتُهُ‌[1] عَنْ وَضْعِ الرَّجُلِ يَدَهُ عَلَى الْقَبْرِ مَا هُوَ وَ لِمَ صَنَعَ فَقَالَ صَنَعَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص عَلَى ابْنِهِ بَعْدَ النَّضْحِ قَالَ وَ سَأَلْتُهُ كَيْفَ أَضَعُ يَدِي عَلَى قُبُورِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ فَأَشَارَ بِيَدِهِ إِلَى الْأَرْضِ وَ وَضَعَهَا عَلَيْهَا ثُمَّ رَفَعَهَا وَ هُوَ مُقَابِلُ الْقِبْلَةِ.

“I once asked him (the Imam) (a.s.), about one’s placing his hand over the grave, its significance and why it is done. He (the Imam) said, ‘The Messenger of Allah had done so over the grave of his son after sprinkling water.’ He (the narrator) has said that I then asked, ‘How should I place my hand over the graves of t

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص يَصْنَعُ بِمَنْ مَاتَ مِنْ بَنِي هَاشِمٍ خَاصَّةً شَيْئاً لَا يَصْنَعُهُ بِأَحَدٍ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ كَانَ إِذَا صَلَّى عَلَى الْهَاشِمِيِّ وَ نَضَحَ قَبْرَهُ بِالْمَاءِ وَضَعَ كَفَّهُ عَلَى الْقَبْرِ حَتَّى تُرَى أَصَابِعُهُ فِي الطِّينِ فَكَانَ الْغَرِيبُ يَقْدَمُ أَوِ الْمُسَافِرُ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْمَدِينَةِ فَيَرَى الْقَبْرَ الْجَدِيدَ عَلَيْهِ أَثَرُ كَفِّ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص فَيَقُولُ مَنْ م

‘The Messenger of Allah would do something over the grave of the people from the tribe of banu Hashim and he would not do on other Muslims’ graves. After performing Salah (prayer) for a deceased from banu Hashim, sprinkling water over his grave, he would place his hand over the grave while his fingers pressed in the cl

إِنَّ أَبِي قَالَ لِي ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ فِي مَرَضِهِ يَا بُنَيَّ أَدْخِلْ أُنَاساً مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْمَدِينَةِ حَتَّى أُشْهِدَهُمْ قَالَ فَأَدْخَلْتُ عَلَيْهِ أُنَاساً مِنْهُمْ فَقَالَ يَا جَعْفَرُ إِذَا أَنَا مِتُّ فَغَسِّلْنِي وَ كَفِّنِّي وَ ارْفَعْ قَبْرِي أَرْبَعَ أَصَابِعَ وَ رُشَّهُ بِالْمَاءِ فَلَمَّا خَرَجُوا قُلْتُ يَا أَبَتِ لَوْ أَمَرْتَنِي بِهَذَا لَصَنَعْتُهُ وَ لَمْ تُرِدْ أَنْ أُدْخِلَ عَلَيْكَ

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘One day my father during his illness said to me, ‘Son, call certain people from Quraysh and people of al-Madinah, so I can appoint them as witness.’ I then called a number of people. He said, ‘O Ja‘far, when I die, give Ghusl (bath) to me, place me in the shroud, raise the surface of

يَتَجَافَى عَنْهُ الْعَذَابُ مَا دَامَ النَّدَى فِي التُّرَابِ.

“About spraying water on the grave abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Suffering is withdrawn from it as long as the moisture exists.’”

كَانَ رَشُّ الْقَبْرِ عَلَى عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص.

“Abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that sprinkling water over a new grave was during the time of the Messenger of Allah.”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ إِذَا فَرَغْتَ مِنَ الْقَبْرِ فَانْضِحْهُ ثُمَّ ضَعْ يَدَكَ عِنْدَ رَأْسِهِ وَ تَغْمِزُ كَفَّكَ عَلَيْهِ بَعْدَ النَّضْحِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘When you complete the grave sprinkle water on it, then place your hand near the head of the deceased and depress your hand on it after sprinkling water.”’

قَامَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع عَلَى قَبْرِ رَجُلٍ مِنَ الشِّيعَةِ فَقَالَ اللَّهُمَّ صِلْ وَحْدَتَهُ- وَ آنِسْ وَحْشَتَهُ وَ أَسْكِنْ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ رَحْمَتِكَ مَا يَسْتَغْنِي بِهَا عَنْ رَحْمَةِ مَنْ سِوَاكَ.

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), stood on the grave of one of his followers and said, ‘O Lord, grant company in his loneliness, comfort his fear and settle down with him of your mercy that much which will make him free from want from others except yourself.’”

يُدْعَى لِلْمَيِّتِ حِينَ يُدْخَلُ حُفْرَتَهُ وَ يُرْفَعُ الْقَبْرُ فَوْقَ الْأَرْضِ أَرْبَعَ أَصَابِعَ.

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘Prayers are said when a deceased is placed in his grave and the surface of the grave is raised above the ground by four fingers.’”

مَا عَلَى أَهْلِ الْمَيِّتِ مِنْكُمْ‌[1] أَنْ يَدْرَءُوا عَنْ مَيِّتِهِمْ لِقَاءَ مُنْكَرٍ وَ نَكِيرٍ قُلْتُ كَيْفَ يَصْنَعُ قَالَ إِذَا أُفْرِدَ الْمَيِّتُ فَلْيَتَخَلَّفْ عِنْدَهُ أَوْلَى النَّاسِ بِهِ فَيَضَعُ فَمَهُ عِنْدَ رَأْسِهِ ثُمَّ يُنَادِي بِأَعْلَى صَوْتِهِ- يَا فُلَانَ بْنَ فُلَانٍ أَوْ يَا فُلَانَةَ بِنْتَ فُلَانٍ هَلْ أَنْتَ عَلَى الْعَهْدِ الَّذِي فَارَقْتَنَا عَلَيْهِ مِنْ شَهَادَةِ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إ

‘It does not harm the family of a deceased among you to prevent his fear of meeting al-Munkar and al-Nakir (interrogating angels).’ I (the narrator) then asked, ‘How can they do so?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘When the deceased is left alone, the nearest relative is left behind near the deceased who places his mouth near the

لَا تُطَيِّنُوا الْقَبْرَ مِنْ غَيْرِ طِينِهِ.

“Abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘You must not apply clay to the grave which is not of the clay of that grave.’”

قَبْرُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص مُحَصَّبٌ حَصْبَاءَ حَمْرَاءَ[3].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘The grave of the Messenger of Allah is covered with red color pebbles.”

لَمَّا رَجَعَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى ع مِنْ بَغْدَادَ وَ مَضَى إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ مَاتَتْ لَهُ ابْنَةٌ بِفَيْدَ[1] فَدَفَنَهَا وَ أَمَرَ بَعْضَ مَوَالِيهِ أَنْ يُجَصِّصَ قَبْرَهَا وَ يَكْتُبَ عَلَى لَوْحٍ اسْمَهَا وَ يَجْعَلَهُ فِي الْقَبْرِ[2].

“When abu al-Hassan (a.s.), returned from Baghdad to al-Madinah, one of his daughters died in Fayd. He (the Imam) buried her and commanded certain people of his followers to build her grave with lime, write her name on the tombstone and place it on the grave.”

أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ص نَهَى أَنْ يُزَادَ عَلَى الْقَبْرِ تُرَابٌ لَمْ يُخْرَجْ مِنْهُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘The Holy prophet prohibited adding of such soil into the grave which has not come from that grave.’”

مَنْ خُلِقَ مِنْ تُرْبَةٍ دُفِنَ فِيهَا.

’From whatever soil one is created in that soil one is buried also.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ النُّطْفَةَ إِذَا وَقَعَتْ فِي الرَّحِمِ بَعَثَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ مَلَكاً فَأَخَذَ مِنَ التُّرْبَةِ الَّتِي يُدْفَنُ فِيهَا فَمَاثَهَا[1] فِي النُّطْفَةِ فَلَا يَزَالُ قَلْبُهُ يَحِنُ‌[2] إِلَيْهَا حَتَّى يُدْفَنَ فِيهَا.

“I once heard abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), say, ‘When al-Nutfah (seed, sperm) falls in the womb Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, sends an angel who takes from the soil in which he is to be buried and dissolves it into the al-Nutfah. His heart continues yearning for that place until he is buried therein.’”

لَيْسَ التَّعْزِيَةُ إِلَّا عِنْدَ الْقَبْرِ ثُمَّ يَنْصَرِفُونَ لَا يَحْدُثُ فِي الْمَيِّتِ حَدَثٌ فَيَسْمَعُونَ الصَّوْتَ‌[4].

“Abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that condolence is offered only near the grave. Thereafter people should disperse so that if something should happen to the deceased no one can hear the voice.”

التَّعْزِيَةُ لِأَهْلِ الْمُصِيبَةِ بَعْدَ مَا يُدْفَنُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that condolences should be offered to the people of the deceased after burial takes place.”

لَيْسَ التَّعْزِيَةُ إِلَّا عِنْدَ الْقَبْرِ ثُمَّ يَنْصَرِفُونَ لَا يَحْدُثُ فِي الْمَيِّتِ حَدَثٌ فَيَسْمَعُونَ الصَّوْتَ.

“He (the Imam) (a.s.), has said that condolences should be offered only near the grave. Thereafter people should return so that they cannot hear the voice if anything happens to the deceased.”

التَّعْزِيَةُ الْوَاجِبَةُ بَعْدَ الدَّفْنِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the necessary condolence should be offered after burial takes place.”

لَمَّا مَاتَ إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع خَرَجَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَتَقَدَّمَ السَّرِيرَ بِلَا حِذَاءٍ وَ لَا رِدَاءٍ.

“When Ismai‘1 ibn abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), died, abu ‘Abd Allah walked to the coffin (stretcher) barefoot and without a gown.”

يَنْبَغِي لِصَاحِبِ الْمُصِيبَةِ أَنْ يَضَعَ رِدَاءَهُ حَتَّى يَعْلَمَ النَّاسُ أَنَّهُ صَاحِبُ الْمُصِيبَةِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that people of the deceased should remove their gowns. This can serve as a sign to show that they are of the people of the deceased.”