✔ Obligation to Bury the Deceased in a Grave That Protects from Predators
✍ Written by: Imran Ayyub Lahori
The grave of a Muslim must be dug deep, wide, and strong enough to protect the body from wild animals, as per the clear command of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).
Hazrat Hisham bin ‘Amir (رضي الله عنه) narrated that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:
احفروا وأعمقوا وأحسنوا
"Dig, deepen, and make the grave well."
Sahih: Sahih Abu Dawood: 2754
Kitab al-Janaiz: Chapter on Deepening the Grave
Abu Dawood: 3215
Ahmad: 4/19
Tirmidhi: 1713
Ibn Majah: 1560
✔ Allamah Siddiq Hasan Khan (رحمه الله):
“There is no difference of opinion in this matter. It is established as obligatory in the Sharī‘ah.”
Rawdah al-Nadiyyah: 1/439
✔ Shaykh al-Albani (رحمه الله):
“It is wājib to dig the grave deep, wide, and properly constructed.”
Ahkam al-Janaiz: p. 181
Burying the deceased in a properly dug grave that ensures protection from animals and natural elements is not just a matter of tradition—it is a religious obligation (wājib) confirmed by the Sunnah and accepted by the scholars.
✍ Written by: Imran Ayyub Lahori
❖ It Is Wājib to Dig a Proper Grave That Shields the Deceased
The grave of a Muslim must be dug deep, wide, and strong enough to protect the body from wild animals, as per the clear command of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).
✦ Prophetic Instruction:
Hazrat Hisham bin ‘Amir (رضي الله عنه) narrated that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:
احفروا وأعمقوا وأحسنوا
"Dig, deepen, and make the grave well."
Sahih: Sahih Abu Dawood: 2754 Kitab al-Janaiz: Chapter on Deepening the Grave Abu Dawood: 3215 Ahmad: 4/19 Tirmidhi: 1713 Ibn Majah: 1560❖ Scholarly Consensus
✔ Allamah Siddiq Hasan Khan (رحمه الله):
“There is no difference of opinion in this matter. It is established as obligatory in the Sharī‘ah.”
Rawdah al-Nadiyyah: 1/439✔ Shaykh al-Albani (رحمه الله):
“It is wājib to dig the grave deep, wide, and properly constructed.”
Ahkam al-Janaiz: p. 181✔ Key Point:
Burying the deceased in a properly dug grave that ensures protection from animals and natural elements is not just a matter of tradition—it is a religious obligation (wājib) confirmed by the Sunnah and accepted by the scholars.
