the qiblah, a place where the deceased is placed. If the ground is soft, he should make something like a lahd using stones. Ahmad said: I do not like the shaqq (trench) because of what Ibn Abbas narrated, that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "The lahd is for us, and the shaqq is for others." Narrated by Abu Dawud, al-Nasa'i, and al-Tirmidhi (9), who said: This is a gharib (rare) hadith. If the lahd is not possible, a shaqq should be dug for him in the ground. The meaning of shaqq is to dig a trench in the floor of the grave in which the deceased is placed, and to roof it over with something. He should place the deceased in the lahd on his right side, facing the qiblah with his face, and place under his head a brick, a stone, or something elevated, just as the living person does. It has been narrated from Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, that he said: "When you place me in the lahd, let my cheek touch the ground." He should be brought close to the wall so that he does not fall on his face, and he should be propped up from behind with soil so that he does not turn over. Ahmad, may Allah have mercy on him, said: I do not like for a madrabah (10) or a pillow to be placed in the grave. A red velvet cloth (11) was placed in the grave of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him); if they place a velvet cloth, it is for a reason (12). When they finish, they set up the bricks (13) upright over him. The gaps should be sealed with mud so that the soil does not reach him. If one uses, instead of the bricks,
= al-Nasa'i, in: The Chapter on the lahd and shaqq, from the Book of Funerals. al-Mujtaba 4/66. And by Ibn Majah, in: The Chapter on what has been narrated regarding the recommendation of the lahd, from the Book of Funerals. Sunan Ibn Majah 1/496. And by Imam Ahmad, in: al-Musnad 1/169, 173, 184. (9) Extracted by Abu Dawud, in: The Chapter on the lahd, from the Book of Funerals. Sunan Abi Dawud 2/190. And by al-Nasa'i, in: The Chapter on the lahd and shaqq, from the Book of Funerals. Sunan al-Nasa'i 4/66. And by al-Tirmidhi, in: The Chapter on what has been narrated regarding the statement of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him): "The lahd is for us, and the shaqq is for others," from the Chapters on Funerals. 'Aridat al-Ahwadhi 4/266. It was also extracted by Ibn Majah, in: The Chapter on what has been narrated regarding the recommendation of the lahd, from the Book of Funerals. Sunan Ibn Majah 1/496. Ibn Hajar attributed it in: Talkhis al-Habir 2/137 to Imam Ahmad. See: Nasb al-Rayah by al-Zayla'i 2/296, and al-Fath al-Rabbani 8/52, 53. It was also extracted by Imam Ahmad via Jarir ibn Abdullah. al-Musnad 4/357, 359. (10) Al-Madrabah: A piece of cotton. (11) Its extraction was mentioned previously on page 385. (12) Perhaps it should be read: "fala'allahu" (so perhaps it is permissible). (13) In the original: "nasb" (a noun form).
