Section: Mounding the grave (tasnim) is superior to flattening it (tastih). Malik, Abu Hanifah, and al-Thawri held this view. Al-Shafi'i said: Flattening it is superior. He stated: "It has reached us that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, flattened the grave of his son Ibrahim." From al-Qasim, who said: "I saw the graves of the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, Abu Bakr, and Umar, and they were flattened." Our evidence is what Sufyan al-Tammar reported, that he said: "I saw the grave of the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, mounded (musannam)." Extracted by al-Bukhari with his chain of transmission. A similar report is narrated from al-Hasan. Furthermore, flattening the grave resembles the buildings of worldly people, and it is more similar to the hallmark of the people of innovation, so it is disliked. Our hadith is more established than their hadith and more authentic, thus acting upon it is more appropriate.

Section: Ahmad was asked about standing at the grave after it is buried, for the sake of supplicating for the deceased. He said: "There is no harm in that; Ali and al-Ahnaf ibn Qays both stood [by graves]." Abu Dawud reported with his chain of transmission from Uthman, who said: When a man was buried, the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, would stand over him and say: "Seek forgiveness for your brother, and ask for steadfastness for him, for he is being questioned now." Al-Khallal reported with his chain of transmission, as did Muslim and al-Bukhari [on the authority of al-Sari], who said: When death approached Amr ibn al-'As, he said: "Sit by my grave for the duration of time it takes to slaughter a camel and distribute its meat, so that I may find comfort in you."

Section: As for the instruction (talqin) after the burial, I have not found anything from Ahmad regarding it, nor do I know of any...