Ruling on putting a dead person, after being shrouded, in a coffin and then in the grave

Q 1: What is the ruling of the Shari`ah (Islamic law) on putting a dead person, after being shrouded, in a coffin and then in the grave?

A 1: The Sunnah (action following the teachings of the Prophet) is not to bury the dead person in a coffin, because neither the Prophet (peace be upon him) nor the Companions after him did that. However, what is prescribed is to wrap the dead person in three white garments and put him in a Lahd (a crevice on the side of a grave facing the direction faced for Prayer) in his grave. Q 3: What is the ruling of the Shari`ah on burying spouses in one grave if they died together? A 3: Burying spouses in one grave is impermissible except when (Part No. 7; Page No. 301) needed like in a case where there are many dead people because of a disease, battle or the like. In such a case, it is permissible to bury two, three or more in one pit as the Prophet (peace be upon him) did with those who were killed in the Battle of Uhud. Q 4: What is the ruling of the Shari`ah on digging up the wife's grave to bury her husband beside her if he requested that in his will? What are the cases in which the Shari`ah permits digging out a grave? A 4: It is impermissible to dig out the wife's grave for the sake of burying her beside her husband even if he requested that in his will. Q 5: What is the evidence from the Qur'an and Sunnah that the dead hear the noise made by the shoes of those attending the funeral when walking away and that they can see those who visit them? If that is the case, what are the preferable times for visiting the graves, especially the times when the dead can see those who visit them? A 5: It was authentically reported in the Two Sahih (authentic) Books of Hadith (i.e. Al-Bukhari and Muslim) that the dead person hears the noise made by the shoes of those attending his funeral after burying him when they are leaving. It was reported from Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: When one is put in his grave and his friends leave him, and indeed he can hear the sound of their shoes when leaving, two angels come to him and sit him down. They say to him: "What did you used to say about that man (Muhammad (peace be upon him))?" As for the believer, he will say: "I testify that he is the slave of Allah and His Messenger." It will be said to him: "Look at your seat in Hell-fire, (Part No. 7; Page No. 302) Allah has replaced it for you with a seat in Paradise and he will see both of them." Qatadah said: He mentioned that his grave is then widened for him, then he returned to the Hadith of Anas and said: Whereas the hypocrite and the disbeliever will be asked: "What did you used to say about this man?" He will reply: "I don't know; I used to say what the people used to say." So they will say to him: "Neither did you know nor did you take the guidance (by reciting the Qur’an)." Then he will be hit with iron hammers once, that he will send a cry so loud that everything near him will hear it, except the Jinn and human beings. There is no text in the Shari`ah indicating a specific time for visiting the dead. Rather, the Prophet's (peace be upon him) command of visiting the graves for the sake of remembering death and deriving a lesson is general. He (peace be upon him) said: I forbade you before from visiting the graves, but now you may visit them for they remind you of the Hereafter. As far as we know, there is no text reported from the Prophet (peace be upon him) indicating that the dead can see those who visit them. This, in principle, does not exist since there is no supporting evidence. Moreover, the dead cannot hear what the living say in principle unless there is specific proof of that like the Hadith of Anas that was mentioned previously. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) says: ...but you cannot make hear those who are in graves. He (Glorified be He) also says: Verily, you cannot make the dead to hear (i.e. benefit them and similarly the disbelievers).