If it is not possible to place the grave between the person and the qiblah, how does he pray over the deceased?
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The Shaykh : Fine, and also: the majority practice in the era of the Salaf was four takbirs. This is why they asked Zayd about the fifth takbir: is it based on a principle? Is it based on a sunnah (recommended practice) or not? He informed them that it is a sunnah (recommended practice), and that the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) used to say it.
The questioner : If it is not possible to place the grave between the one praying and the qiblah because there are houses or buildings behind it?
The Shaykh : What do you mean?
The questioner : In our place, Shaykh, in Egypt... sometimes it is not possible for me to place the grave between me and the qiblah because there are houses behind it, and they may extend twenty meters.
The Shaykh : Fine, move forward until you reach the grave.
The questioner : It is not possible.
The Shaykh : Why?
The questioner : This grave right now, even to place it between me and the qiblah, is not possible, because there are buildings between me and it right now.
The Shaykh : Fine, do I pass the buildings and reach the grave and stand on it?
The questioner : It is not possible.
The Shaykh : Fine, this grave is placed on the foundation of the walls.
The questioner : ... behind it are graves, without specifying the manner, connected.
The Shaykh : I mean this building is a building of graves, not a building of the living, Glory be to Allah! And are the cemeteries in your place like this?! It appears that if it is not possible, it is like the prayer for the absent one; he intends it, even in his house, as long as it is not possible for the deceased to be in front of him, because one of the conditions of the prayer is that the deceased be in front of him. It appears that in this case, the prayer for the absent one is performed over him, or it is said: get as close to it as you can.
The questioner : If it is not possible to place the grave between the one praying and the qiblah because there are houses or buildings behind it?
The Shaykh : What do you mean?
The questioner : In our place, Shaykh, in Egypt... sometimes it is not possible for me to place the grave between me and the qiblah because there are houses behind it, and they may extend twenty meters.
The Shaykh : Fine, move forward until you reach the grave.
The questioner : It is not possible.
The Shaykh : Why?
The questioner : This grave right now, even to place it between me and the qiblah, is not possible, because there are buildings between me and it right now.
The Shaykh : Fine, do I pass the buildings and reach the grave and stand on it?
The questioner : It is not possible.
The Shaykh : Fine, this grave is placed on the foundation of the walls.
The questioner : ... behind it are graves, without specifying the manner, connected.
The Shaykh : I mean this building is a building of graves, not a building of the living, Glory be to Allah! And are the cemeteries in your place like this?! It appears that if it is not possible, it is like the prayer for the absent one; he intends it, even in his house, as long as it is not possible for the deceased to be in front of him, because one of the conditions of the prayer is that the deceased be in front of him. It appears that in this case, the prayer for the absent one is performed over him, or it is said: get as close to it as you can.