What is the ruling on instructing the deceased after burial?

The questioner : May Allah reward you, esteemed Shaykh. He says: I want you to clarify the ruling on *ta'lim* (instructing), specifically instructing the deceased after burial.

The Shaykh : After what?

The questioner : After burial.

The Shaykh : Yes, the correct view is that instructing the deceased after burial is a religious innovation (*bid'ah*), because the hadith reported regarding this matter is very weak. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), when he finished burying the deceased, would stand over him and say: Then, can instructing the deceased benefit him? It cannot benefit him. The deceased's deeds are cut off, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: It would not benefit him even if you instructed him. He is among those who do not bear witness to the oneness of Allah. It is not possible for him to bear witness to the matters of the Hereafter, which are unseen matters. We must submit to them and believe in what is authentic among them, and as for what is not authentic, we leave it. The hadith of instructing, as I told you, is weak and cannot be used as evidence. Yes.