The Height of the Grave Above the Ground
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Question:
He asks another question and says: Some people mention that the grave is raised above the ground by the width of a hand, is this correct or not? And what is its evidence? And if it is increased beyond the width of a hand, what is its ruling? And how do we reconcile this with what was reported from 'Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) as it came in Muslim: "Shall I not send you with what the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) sent me with, that you do not leave an image except that you erase it, and do not leave a raised grave except that you level it"?
Answer:
Yes, there is no harm in raising the graves by the width of a hand, as it is established from the hadith of Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas: "That he raised his grave by the width of a hand, and that the grave of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was likewise." The secret behind this is so that they are recognized as graves so that they are not desecrated, so that they are not trampled upon, and so that people do not sit on them. If they are leveled with the ground, their markers may become hidden. So if they are raised by the width of a hand or approximately that, this is excused and prescribed; so that they are recognized as graves, and so that they are protected and not trampled.
As for the hadith of 'Ali and what came in its meaning, the intended meaning is the excess of elevation beyond this, such as building mosques on them, or domes, or structures that are removed. Rather, they are raised with the soil itself, the same soil that was taken out of the grave. This is placed on top of it; because when a person is buried, some of the soil that was in the grave remains, and some of the other soil remains; because if it had been packed tightly at first... greatly, and then after it is taken out, some of it accumulates on top of some, and a remainder of it stays when the deceased is buried. This remainder is placed on the grave as a marker that it is a grave. And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade adding to its soil. So the soil that remained from the deceased is what is raised on its place as a marker that it is a grave, and no additional soil, or cement, or gravel, or anything else is brought to it. No, the soil is sufficient, and markers are placed at its ends as a sign that it is a grave. And there is no harm in placing some gravel on it to preserve the soil, and it is sprinkled with water; there is no harm in all of this. Yes.
The presenter : Praise be to Allah, praise be to Allah, may Allah reward you with good.
He asks another question and says: Some people mention that the grave is raised above the ground by the width of a hand, is this correct or not? And what is its evidence? And if it is increased beyond the width of a hand, what is its ruling? And how do we reconcile this with what was reported from 'Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) as it came in Muslim: "Shall I not send you with what the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) sent me with, that you do not leave an image except that you erase it, and do not leave a raised grave except that you level it"?
Answer:
Yes, there is no harm in raising the graves by the width of a hand, as it is established from the hadith of Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas: "That he raised his grave by the width of a hand, and that the grave of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was likewise." The secret behind this is so that they are recognized as graves so that they are not desecrated, so that they are not trampled upon, and so that people do not sit on them. If they are leveled with the ground, their markers may become hidden. So if they are raised by the width of a hand or approximately that, this is excused and prescribed; so that they are recognized as graves, and so that they are protected and not trampled.
As for the hadith of 'Ali and what came in its meaning, the intended meaning is the excess of elevation beyond this, such as building mosques on them, or domes, or structures that are removed. Rather, they are raised with the soil itself, the same soil that was taken out of the grave. This is placed on top of it; because when a person is buried, some of the soil that was in the grave remains, and some of the other soil remains; because if it had been packed tightly at first... greatly, and then after it is taken out, some of it accumulates on top of some, and a remainder of it stays when the deceased is buried. This remainder is placed on the grave as a marker that it is a grave. And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade adding to its soil. So the soil that remained from the deceased is what is raised on its place as a marker that it is a grave, and no additional soil, or cement, or gravel, or anything else is brought to it. No, the soil is sufficient, and markers are placed at its ends as a sign that it is a grave. And there is no harm in placing some gravel on it to preserve the soil, and it is sprinkled with water; there is no harm in all of this. Yes.
The presenter : Praise be to Allah, praise be to Allah, may Allah reward you with good.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.