369 - Issue: He said: (Neither baked bricks [ajur], nor wood, nor anything touched by fire should be placed into the grave).
We have already mentioned that adobe bricks [labin] and reeds [qasab] are recommended, and Ahmad disliked wood. Ibrahim al-Nakha'i said: They used to recommend adobe bricks and dislike wood. It is not recommended to bury [the deceased] in a coffin (tabut), because it was not reported from the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, nor his companions; furthermore, it contains an imitation of the people of this world, while the earth is more effective at absorbing the body's effluence. Baked bricks are disliked because they are from the construction of the affluent, and likewise for everything else touched by fire, out of an optimistic wish that fire might not touch him.
Section: When finished with the lahd (niche), he should pour the soil over it. The grave should be raised above the ground by about a span, so that it is known to be a grave, so it may be avoided and prayers for mercy may be offered for its occupant. Al-Saji reported from Jabir that the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, had his grave raised from the ground by about a span. Al-Qasim ibn Muhammad reported, saying: I said to 'A'ishah, "O Mother, uncover for me the grave of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and his two companions." She uncovered for me three graves that were neither prominently raised nor flat, but leveled with the red gravel of the open space. Extracted by Abu Dawud. It is not recommended to raise it with more than its own soil. Ahmad explicitly stated this and reported with his chain of transmission from 'Uqbah ibn 'Amir that he said: "No more soil should be put in the grave than what came out of it when it was dug." Al-Khallal reported with his chain of transmission from Jabir who said: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, forbade adding to the grave more than [the amount of] its excavation. It is not recommended to raise the grave
(1) In the original: "yastahibbuna" (they recommend). (2) In A, M: "fayuwaffa". (3) Extracted by al-Bayhaqi, in: The Chapter on not adding to the grave more than its soil so it does not become very high, from the Book of Funerals. Al-Sunan al-Kubra 3/410. Al-Zayla'i also attributed it to Ibn Hibban in his Sahih. Nasb al-Rayah 2/303. (4) Lati'ah: leveled with the surface of the earth. (5) In: The Chapter on leveling the grave, from the Book of Funerals. Sunan Abi Dawud 2/192. (6) Extracted by al-Bayhaqi, in: The Chapter on not adding to the grave more than its soil so it does not become very high, from the Book of Funerals. Al-Sunan al-Kubra 3/410.
