This was narrated from Ibn Umar, Anas, Abdullah ibn Yazid al-Ansari, al-Nakha'i, al-Sha'bi, and al-Shafi'i. Abu Hanifah said: The funeral is placed on the side of the grave, on the side toward the Qiblah, then it is entered into the grave horizontally; this is because it is narrated from Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, and because al-Nakha'i said: One who saw the people of Medina in the early era told me that they used to enter their deceased from the direction of the Qiblah, and that the method of 'sall' (sliding) was something introduced by the people of Medina. Our evidence is what Imam Ahmad narrated with his chain of transmission from Abdullah ibn Yazid al-Ansari, that al-Harith gave a will that he [Abdullah] should take charge of his body upon his death. He prayed over him, then entered the grave, and brought him in from the foot of the grave, saying: 'This is the Sunnah.' This implies the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). Ibn Umar and Ibn Abbas narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was slid into his grave from the side of his head. What is mentioned from al-Nakha'i is not sound, because his [own] madhhab is to the contrary, and because it is not permissible that a large number of people would change an apparent Sunnah in burial except for an evident cause or a prevailing authority. He said: Nothing of that was transmitted. Even if it were established, the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) is preferred over the practice of the people of Medina. If it is easier for them to take him from the direction of the Qiblah or from the head of the grave, there is no harm in that, because the recommendation of taking him from the feet of the grave was only out of desire for ease for them and kindness [toward him; thus, if] there is something easier, it would be recommended. Ahmad, may Allah have mercy on him, said: Any of these is fine.
Section: Ahmad, may Allah have mercy on him, said: The grave should be dug to the depth of the chest, and the man and woman are the same in that regard. Al-Hasan and Ibn Sirin used to recommend that the grave be dug to the depth of the chest. And he said
(1) Extracted by Abu Dawud in: The Chapter on the deceased being entered from the direction of his feet, from the Book of Funerals. Sunan Abi Dawud 2/190, 191. (2) We did not find the hadith of Ibn Umar. See: Talkhis al-Habir by Ibn Hajar 2/128 and Nasb al-Rayah by al-Zayla'i 2/298. As for the hadith of Ibn Abbas, it was extracted by Imam al-Shafi'i in the Book of Funerals. Tartib al-Musnad 1/215. (3) Dropped from the original. (4) In A and M: "toward them, for".
