BURIAL

When the coffin is brought to the grave, it must be left at the backside of it. Then, it must be approached towards the grave in three stages. If the dead person is a woman, then the coffin must be put in front of the greave towards the kiblah direction. Then, the dead person’s heir or the person deputized by the heir to do so may go down the grave. Meanwhile, he is recommended to say this supplicatory prayer:

O Allah, (please) make this grave to be one of the gardens of Paradise,

but do not make it to be one of the holes of the Fire.

The burier is required to go down to the grave barefooted, bareheaded, and having the buttons of his shirt unfastened. Receiving the dead body, he should begin with the head to take it down to the grave. Meanwhile, he should say these words:

In the Name of Allah, in Allah,

on the way of Allah,

and following the principles of Allah’s Messengers.

O Allah, (this is on the basis of the) belief in You

and giving credence to Your Book.

This is what Allah and His Messenger promised us,

and Allah and His Messenger spoke the truth.

O Allah, (pleas) increase us faith and submission (to You).

Then, the burier should make the dead body lie down on the right side facing the kiblah direction. He should then unknot the knots of the shrouds from the sides of the head and the legs. He should then put the cheek of the dead person on the soil. It is recommended to put with the dead body an amount of soil taken from the tomb of Imam al-Husayn (‘a). He should then line up bricks on the dead body and say these words meanwhile:

O Allah, (please) maintain (communion) his loneliness,

entertain his lonesomeness,

have mercy upon his seclusion,

put with him part of Your mercy

due to which he will dispense with the mercy of any one other than You,

and resurrect him with those to whom he has been loyal;

namely, the Immaculate Imams, peace be upon them.

PROMPTING THE DEAD

Before lining up bricks, it is recommended to prompt the dead person to say the two creeds of Islam and the Holy Imams by names. Hence, the prompter, addressing the dead person, should say:

O [so-and-so] the son of [so-and-so]

remember the covenant on which you have departed the abode of this world:

the profession that there is no god save Allah,

One and Only and having no associate,

that Muhammad is His servant and messenger,

and that 'Ali the Commander of the Faithful,

al-Hasan, al-Husayn,

'Ali the son of al-Husayn,

Muhammad the son of 'Ali,

Ja'far the son of Muhammad,

Musa the son of Ja'far,

'Ali the son of Musa,

Muhammad the son of 'Ali,

'Ali the son of Muhammad,

al-Hasan the son of 'Ali,

and the Rising Argument-person,

peace be upon them all

are your Imams. They are the pious leaders to true guidance.

Upon accomplishing lining up the bricks, the burier, as well as all the attendants advisably using the backsides of their hands, should pour down dust on the dead body. Meanwhile, they are recommended to say these words:

We are Allah’s and to Him shall we return.

This is what Allah and His Messenger promised us,

and Allah and His Messenger spoke the truth.

O Allah, (please) increase us faith and submission (to You).