Authored by: Shaykh Mubashir Ahmad Rabbani (حفظه الله)
What should a person say when lowering a deceased into the grave? Are there any Sunnah supplications for this occasion?
When lowering a deceased into the grave, there are authentic and established supplications from the Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) that are to be recited. These supplications highlight the respect and reverence due to the moment of burial and serve as a reminder of the deceased's departure upon the path of Islam.
❶ It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar (رضي الله عنهما) that the Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said:
"جب تم اپنے مُردوں کو قبر میں اتارو تو کہو:
«بِسْمِ اللَّهِ وَعَلَى سُنَّةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ»"
“When you lower your deceased into the grave, say: ‘In the name of Allah and upon the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah.’”
[Abu Dawud: Book of Funerals, Chapter on Supplication for the Deceased When Placed in the Grave: Hadith 3213; Ibn Majah: 1550; Tirmidhi: 1046; Sahih Ibn Hibban: 773; Al-Hakim: 1/366; Al-Bayhaqi: 4/55; Ahmad: 2/27, 2/40]
❷ In another narration, the wording is:
«بِسْمِ اللَّهِ وَعَلَى مِلَّةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ»
“In the name of Allah and upon the religion of the Messenger of Allah.”
❸ A third narration states:
"المَيِّتُ إِذَا وُضِعَ فِي قَبْرِهِ فَلْيَقُلِ الَّذِينَ يَضَعُونَهُ حِينَ يُوضَعُ فِي اللَّحْدِ:
«بِسْمِ اللَّهِ وَبِاللَّهِ وَعَلَى مِلَّةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ»"
“When the deceased is placed into the grave, those placing him into the lahd (niche) should say: ‘In the name of Allah, and by the help of Allah, and upon the religion of the Messenger of Allah.’”
[Al-Hakim: 1/366]
These narrations confirm that it is Sunnah for those lowering the deceased into the grave to recite one of these supplications. The consistent elements of all variations are invoking the name of Allah and affirming the deceased’s connection to the Prophet’s Sunnah or religion. Such practices help maintain the solemnity and spiritual focus of the burial process, aligning it with the guidance of the Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم).
✿ Question:
What should a person say when lowering a deceased into the grave? Are there any Sunnah supplications for this occasion?
✿ Answer:
When lowering a deceased into the grave, there are authentic and established supplications from the Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) that are to be recited. These supplications highlight the respect and reverence due to the moment of burial and serve as a reminder of the deceased's departure upon the path of Islam.
✿ Narrations from Hadith:
❶ It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar (رضي الله عنهما) that the Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said:
"جب تم اپنے مُردوں کو قبر میں اتارو تو کہو:
«بِسْمِ اللَّهِ وَعَلَى سُنَّةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ»"
“When you lower your deceased into the grave, say: ‘In the name of Allah and upon the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah.’”
[Abu Dawud: Book of Funerals, Chapter on Supplication for the Deceased When Placed in the Grave: Hadith 3213; Ibn Majah: 1550; Tirmidhi: 1046; Sahih Ibn Hibban: 773; Al-Hakim: 1/366; Al-Bayhaqi: 4/55; Ahmad: 2/27, 2/40]
❷ In another narration, the wording is:
«بِسْمِ اللَّهِ وَعَلَى مِلَّةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ»
“In the name of Allah and upon the religion of the Messenger of Allah.”
❸ A third narration states:
"المَيِّتُ إِذَا وُضِعَ فِي قَبْرِهِ فَلْيَقُلِ الَّذِينَ يَضَعُونَهُ حِينَ يُوضَعُ فِي اللَّحْدِ:
«بِسْمِ اللَّهِ وَبِاللَّهِ وَعَلَى مِلَّةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ»"
“When the deceased is placed into the grave, those placing him into the lahd (niche) should say: ‘In the name of Allah, and by the help of Allah, and upon the religion of the Messenger of Allah.’”
[Al-Hakim: 1/366]
✿ Conclusion:
These narrations confirm that it is Sunnah for those lowering the deceased into the grave to recite one of these supplications. The consistent elements of all variations are invoking the name of Allah and affirming the deceased’s connection to the Prophet’s Sunnah or religion. Such practices help maintain the solemnity and spiritual focus of the burial process, aligning it with the guidance of the Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم).
