What is the ruling on the *lahd* (side chamber) in the grave when burying the deceased?

The Shaykh : ... and do not let me hear the sound of the calamity ... it seeks to prioritize transactions regarding the state today.

The questioner : Yes, it is known.

The Shaykh : Yes, well, while the burial permit is being issued, it is possible, meaning, to dig more than one *lahd* (side chamber).

The questioner: Yes, that is correct.

The Shaykh : Therefore, one should not narrow the matter and bring the issue to the point of asking which is better: hastening the burial or making a *lahd* (side chamber).

The questioner : Yes.

The Shaykh : It is not possible to combine the two matters.

The questioner : My Shaykh, what happened is that we had this paper ready, and we had prayed over him, and we arrived at the cemetery. When we arrived at the body, meaning at the funeral, I found that the grave had been dug as a *shaqq* (trench). So I wanted to make a *lahd* (side chamber). This *lahd* took us half an hour to dig, meaning the extra time compared to the *shaqq* (trench). With the funeral present, that is what I mean. So I was wondering which is more preferable: that I am now present, meaning the funeral is at the grave, and I have the *shaqq* (trench), and I have the *lahd* (side chamber). The *lahd* requires an extra half hour between widening it and it being a *shaqq* (trench) and proceeding. So this thought came to my mind.

The Shaykh : Yes.

The questioner : This is where the question comes from.

The Shaykh : So we take a lesson from this incident that the second time we should be careful in advance so that we do not fall into such a delay.

The questioner : Yes, that is correct.

The Shaykh : As for this incident, it remains a specific ijtihad (independent legal reasoning) regarding the situation at that hour. It cannot be said in this case that the *lahd* (side chamber) which requires waiting is better, or that hastening to bury him in the *shaqq* (trench) is better. Each of these is an emergency matter that cannot be made a rule.

The questioner : Yes, that is correct.

The Shaykh : This is what I want to say.

The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.

The Shaykh : But we benefit from it for others.

The questioner : Yes, that is right.

The Shaykh : So, what was your situation?

The questioner : I swear by Allah, my Shaykh, when I found the opportunity that the people were far from the Sunnah of the *lahd* (side chamber).

The Shaykh : Yes.

The questioner : And applying it, and the opportunity in this cemetery to... it is not a government cemetery... regarding the digging of the grave, I wanted to publicize the Sunnah and declare that the grave should be dug as a shiqq, and since there were many strong young men, and even if I had dug it, it would have taken about half an hour, so, praise be to Allah, the shiqq was easy and the lahd was easy, so I made it a lahd and explained to them that this is the Sunnah, and the people... so the best is that people should prefer this, and whoever is compelled to dig a shiqq, he should make it a shiqq, and as for returning to the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) , so from this perspective, I thought it should be a lahd, so I made it a lahd.

The Shaykh : Yes, what you did.

The questioner : May Allah reward you with good, O Shaykh.

The Shaykh : And may Allah reward you with good.

The questioner : May Allah keep you safe and bless you.

The Shaykh : Welcome.

The questioner : Shaykh, may Allah reward you with good, Shaykh.

The Shaykh : And beware of that.

The questioner : Well, our Shaykh ... they spoke to you about this time so that you would tell us so that we can be with you, if Allah wills.

The Shaykh : If Allah wills, welcome.

The questioner : May Allah reward you with good, my Shaykh.

The Shaykh : May Allah preserve you.

The questioner : Initially, my Shaykh, do you have a willingness?

The Shaykh: How.

The questioner : Initially ... .