Rules of Burial.

612. It is obligatory to bury a dead body in the ground, so deep that is smell does not come out and the beasts of pray do not dig it out, and, if there is a danger of such beasts digging it out or there is the possibility that someone will be annoyed by the smell, then, the grave must be fortified by bricks and the like

613. If it is not possible to bury the dead body in the ground, it may be kept a vault or a coffin instead

614. The dead body should be laid in the grave on its right side so that the face remains towards the Qibla

619. It is not permitted to bury a Muslim in the graveyard of Kafirs, nor to bury a Kafir in the graveyard of the Muslims

620. It is also not permissible to bury the dead body of a Muslim at a place, which is disrespectful, like places where garbage is thrown

621. It is not permissible to bury a dead body in a usurped place nor in a place which is dedicated for purposes other than burial, e.g. in a Masjid or Hosseinieh

622. It is not permissible to dig up a grave for the purpose of burying another dead body in it, unless one is sure that the grave is very old and the former body has been totally disintegrated

623. Anything which is separated from the dead body (even its hair, nail or tooth) should be buried along with it. And it is Mustahab that nails and teeth cut off or extracted during lifetime are also buried.

624. If a person dies in a well and it is not possible to take him out, the well should be sealed, and the well should be treated as his grave.

Recommendatory Acts for Burial (Dafn)

627. It is Mustahab that the depth of the grave should be approximately equal to the size of an average person and the dead body be buried in the nearest graveyard, except when the graveyard which is situated farther is better due to some reasons, like if pious persons are buried there or people go there in large number for Fateha. It is also recommended that the coffin is placed on the ground a few yards away from the grave and then taken to the grave by halting three times briefly. It should be placed on the ground every time and then lifted before finally it is lowered into the grave at the 4th time. And if he dead body is of a male, it should be placed on the ground at the 3rd time in such a manner that its head should be towards the lower side of the grave and at the 4th time, it should be placed on the ground at the 3rd time towards the Qibla and should be lowered into the grave sidewise and a cloth should be spread over the grave while lowering it. It is also Mustahab that the dead body should be taken out of the coffin and lowered into the grave very gently, and the prescribed supplications should be recited before an during burying the dead body; and after the dead body has been lowered into the niche, the ties of its shroud should be unfastened and its cheek should be placed on earth, and an earthen pillow of clay should be done under its head and some unbaked bricks or lumps of clay should be placed behind its back, so that the dead body may not return flat on its back. Before closing the niche, the person reciting the Talqin should hold with his right hand the right shoulder of the dead body and should place his left hand tightly on its left shoulder and take his mouth near its ear and shaking its shoulders should say thrice:Isma’ ifham ya … here the name of the dead person and his father should be called For example, if the name of the dead person is Muhammad and his father’s name Ali, it should be said thrice: Isam ‘ifham ya Muhammad bin Ali. And then he should say: "Hal anta ‘alal ‘ahdil lazi farqtana ‘alayhi min shahadati an la ilaha itllal lahu wahdahu la sharika lah wa anna Muhammadan salal lahu ‘alayhi wa Alihi ‘abduhu wa Rasuluhu wa sayyidun nabiyyina wa khatamul mursalina wa anna ‘Aliyyan Amirul mu’minina wa sayyidul wasiyyina wa imamu nif ‘arazallahu ta’tahu ‘ala ‘alamina wa annal Hasana wal Husayna wa ‘Aliyyabnal Husayni wa Muhammadabna ‘Aliyyin wa Ja’farabna Muhammadin wa Musabna Ja’farin wa ‘Aliyyabna Musa wa Muhammadabna’ Aliyyin wa ‘Aliyyabna Muhammadin wal Hasanabna ‘Aliyyin wal Qa’timal hujjatal Mahdi salawatullahi ‘alayhim a’i’mmatul mu’minia wa hujajullahi’ala khalqi ajma’ina wa a’immatuka a’immatu hudanabrar … …. (here the name of the dead person ad his father should be called) and then the following words should be said: “Iza atakal malakanil muqarraabani Rasulayni min ‘indillahi tabaraka wa taala wa sa’alaka ‘an Rabbika wa ‘an Nabiyyika wa ‘an dinika wa ‘an Kitabika wa ‘an Qiblatika wa ‘an A’immatika fala takhaf wa la tahzan wa’qul fi jawabi hima, Allahu Rabbi wa Muhammadun sallal tahu ‘alayhi wa Alihi nabiyyi wal Islamu dini wal Qur’anu kitabi wal Ka’batu Qiblati wa Amirul mu’minina ‘Aliyybnu Abi Talib imami wal Hasanubnu ‘Aliyyi nil Mujtaba immai wal Husaynubnu ‘Aliyyi nish-shahidu bi-Karbala imami wa ‘Aliyyun Zaynul ‘Abidina imami wa Muhammadu nil Baqiru imami wa Ja’faru nis Sadiqu imami wa Musal Kazimu imami wa ‘Aliyyu-nir Riza imami wa Muhammadu nil Jawadu imami wa ‘Aliyyu nil Hadi imami wal Hasanul ‘askari imami wal Hujjatul muntazar imami ha ula’i salawatullahi ‘alayhim ajma’in A’i’mmati wa sadati wa qadati wa shufa-a’i bihim atawalla wa min a’dalhim atabarra’u fid dunya wal akhirati thumma I’lam ya …. here the name of the dead person and his father should be called and thereafter it should be said: “Annal laha tabaraka wa ta’ala ni’mar-Rabb wa anna Muhammadan sallal lahu ‘alayhi wa Alihi ni’mar Rasul wa anna ‘Aliyyabna Abi Talib wa awladahul ma’suminal A’i’mmatal ithna ‘asharah ni’mal A’i’mmah wa anna ma ja’a bihi Muhammadun sallal lahu ‘alayhi wa Alihi haqqun wa annal mawta haqqun wa suwala munkarin wa nakirin fil qabri haqqun wal ba’tha haqqun wan nushura haqqun wassirata haqqun wal mizana haqqun wa tatayiral kutubi haqqun wa annal jannata haqqun wan-nara haqqun wa annas sa’ata a’tiyatun la rayba fiha wa annallaha yab’athu man fil qubur.

Then the following words should be said: "Afahimta ya … (here the name of the dead person should be called) ” and, thereafter, the following should be said: "Thabbatakallahu bil qawlith thabit wa hadakallahu ila siratim mustaqim ‘arrafallahu baynaka wa bayna awliya’ika fi mustaqarrim min rahmatih." Then the following words should be uttered: "Alla humma jafil arza ‘an jambayhi vas’ad biruhihi ilayka wa laqqihi minka burhana Alla humma ‘afwaka ‘afwaka."

628. It is recommended that the person who lowers the dead body in the grave should be Pak, bare-headed and bare-footed and he should climb out of the grave from the feet side. Moreover, persons, other than the near relatives of the deceased, should put the dust into the grave with the back side of their hands and recite the following:

“Inna lillahi wa innailayhi raji’un. ” If the dead person is a woman, her Mahram and in the absence of a Mahram her kinsmen should lower her in the grave

629. It is Mustahab that the grave be square or rectangular in shape and its height equal to four fingers’ span. A sign should be fixed on it for the purpose of identification and water should be poured on it, and then those present should place their hands on the grave parting their fingers and thrusting them into earth. Then recite Surah al-Qadr 7 times and pray for the forgiveness of the departed soul and say: “ Alla humma jafil arza ‘an jam bayhi wa as’idilayka ruthahu wa laqqihi minka rizwana wa askin qabrahu min rahmatika ma tughneehi bihi ‘an rahmati man sitwaka."
630. It is Mustahab that when the persons who attached the funeral have departed, the guardian of the dead person or the person whom the guardian grants permission should recite the prescribed supplications for the dead person

631. It is Mustahab that after the burial, the bereaved family is consoled, praying for their well-being. However, if the condolence is given long after the event, and if it serves to refresh the sorrowful memories, then t should be avoided. Inna lillahi wa innailayhi raji’un. ” If the dead person is a woman, her Mahram and in the absence of a Mahram her kinsmen should lower her in the grave

629. It is Mustahab that the grave be square or rectangular in shape and its height equal to four fingers’ span. A sign should be fixed on it for the purpose of identification and water should be poured on it, and then those present should place their hands on the grave parting their fingers and thrusting them into earth. Then recite Surah al-Qadr 7 times and pray for the forgiveness of the departed soul and say: “ Alla humma jafil arza ‘an jam bayhi wa as’idilayka ruthahu wa laqqihi minka rizwana wa askin qabrahu min rahmatika ma tughneehi bihi ‘an rahmati man sitwaka."

630. It is Mustahab that when the persons who attached the funeral have departed, the guardian of the dead person or the person whom the guardian grants permission should recite the prescribed supplications for the dead person

631. It is Mustahab that after the burial, the bereaved family is consoled, praying for their well-being. However, if the condolence is given long after the event, and if it serves to refresh the sorrowful memories, then t should be avoided.
It is Mustahab that food be sent to the members of the family of the deceased for 3 days. It is, however, Makrooh to take meal with them in their homes.

632. It is also Mustahab that a person should observe patience on the death of his near ones, especially on the death of his son, and, whenever the memory of the departed soul crosses his mind, he should say: "Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un" and should recite the Holy Qur’an for the sake of the departed. A man should visit the graves of his parents and pray there for the blessings of Allah for himself and should make the grave solid so that it may not be easily ruined

633. One should refrain from scratching one face or body and injure himself to display the grief

634. It is not permissible to tear one’s cloth on the death of anyone, except than father and brother

635. If a man mourning the death of his wife or child tears his clothes, or a wife mourning a dead person scratches her face causing blood to come out, or pulls her hair, he/she should set a slave free, or feed ten poor, or provide them dress and if it is not possible, he/she must fast for 3 days and if blood does not come out, as an obligatory precaution, he/she must do the same

636. The obligatory precaution is that while weeping over the death.