Nine Sunnah Practices of Burial and Their Authentic Hadith Evidence
1 — Prohibited Times for Burial
Hadith:
ʿUqbah ibn ʿAmir (رضي الله عنه) reported:
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ forbade praying and burying the dead during three times:
(a) When the sun rises until it is high,
(b) When the sun is at its zenith until it declines,
(c) When the sun is setting until it completely sets.”
(Muslim 831)
2 — Permissible Times for Funeral Prayer
Hadith:
Ibn ʿUmar (رضي الله عنهما) reported:
“The funeral prayer may be offered after Fajr and after ʿAsr.”
(Muwatta Malik 1/239)
3 — Making the Grave Deep and Neat
Hadith:
During the Battle of Uhud, the Prophet ﷺ said:
“Dig the graves deep, make them spacious, and keep them neat.”
(Abu Dawood 3215 — graded sahih by al-Tirmidhi)
4 — Entering the Deceased into the Grave from the Foot Side
Hadith:
ʿAbdullah ibn Yazid (رضي الله عنه) entered the deceased into the grave from the foot side and said:
“This is the Sunnah.”
(Abu Dawood 3206 — authenticated by al-Bayhaqi)
5 — Women’s Burial by Non-Intimate Men Prohibited
Hadith:
Anas (رضي الله عنه) said:
“When the daughter of the Prophet ﷺ died, he asked: ‘Is there anyone among you who has not been with his wife tonight?’ Abu Talhah (رضي الله عنه) said: ‘I have not.’ He said: ‘Then go down into the grave.’”
(Bukhari 1283)
6 — Providing Light for Night Burial
Hadith:
Ibn ʿAbbas (رضي الله عنهما) reported:
“A man was buried at night and a light was placed in his grave.”
(Ibn Majah 1520, Tirmidhi 1057)
7 — Dua When Placing the Deceased in the Grave
Hadith:
Ibn ʿUmar (رضي الله عنهما) reported:
“When the Prophet ﷺ placed the deceased in the grave, he said:
بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ وَعَلَى سُنَّةِ رَسُولِ اللّٰهِ”
(Abu Dawood 3213 — authenticated by al-Hakim and al-Dhahabi)
8 — Making a Niche (Lahd) in the Grave
Hadith:
Saʿd ibn Abi Waqqas (رضي الله عنه) said:
“Make a lahd for me and place unbaked bricks over me as was done for the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.”
(Muslim 966)
9 — Shape of the Prophet’s ﷺ Grave
Hadith:
The Prophet’s ﷺ grave was shaped like the hump of a camel.
(Bukhari 1390)
