Etiquettes of Burying the Deceased

Question:
A letter reached the program from listener (A. A. A.) from the Eastern Region, in which he asks several questions, one of which is: What are the etiquettes of burying the deceased in Islam?

Answer:
The Sunnah in burying the deceased is that he should have a niche, this is the best, a niche in the qibla side of the grave to his size, then he is buried on his right side, and he is turned toward the qibla, then bricks are placed on it upright, and the gaps are sealed with clay, then soil is sprinkled on it, and his grave is raised from the ground by the width of a hand; so that it is known that it is a grave.
This is the Sunnah in burying the deceased of the Muslims: that the grave is dug and deepened to the navel—the navel of a standing man and the like—and that he has a niche, this is the best, in its qibla direction to the size of the deceased, then the deceased is placed in it on his right side, and one says: In the name of Allah, when placing him: In the name of Allah, and upon the religion of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). Then bricks are placed on it, and the gaps are sealed; so that soil does not enter on him, then soil is sprinkled on it, and the grave is raised by the width of a hand; so that it is known that it is a grave and is not desecrated.
This is the Sunnah, then it is sprinkled with water, and pebbles are placed on it, and markers are placed on the two ends of the grave: a brick a brick at its two ends; so that it is known that it is a grave.

The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.