ISLAMIC RULES

• There is no authentic proof of reading chapter Yasin (36) from the Quran beside a dying Muslim.
• There is no authentic proof of directing the dying Muslim to the Qiblah.
• There is no Islamic teaching of putting the Quran under the head of a dying Muslim.
• There is no Islamic teaching of asking junubs (Those who did not take a shower after a sexual act and menstruating women) to leave the room.
• There is no Islamic teaching of putting flowers, candles etc., in the deceased's room.
• There is no Islamic teaching of reading the Quran during the Ghusul (washing the deceased body).
• There is no Islamic teaching of making special zikr (Certain words to remember Allah) during the Ghusul.
• There is no Islamic teaching of writing any thing on the shrouds.
• Salatul Janazah for the one who died far away is allowed.
• There is no Islamic teaching of putting the picture of the deceased or some of his/her clothes or flowers in front of or around the Kafan (Shroud).
• It is prohibited to cremate the body of a dead Muslim, even if the deceased requested it before his death.
  
• To use a coffin (Box) is not allowed, unless there is necessity to use it, such as the body of the deceased is damaged, or for health reasons, or when the grave is wet and cannot be dried.
• There is no Islamic teaching of transferring the deceased to another country.
• There is no Islamic teaching of reading the Quran in the cemetery.
• There is no Islamic teaching of shouting with special zikr (Certain words to remember Allah) before, during, and after burial.
• Women are forbidden from attending the burial.
• During burial, all Muslims who are present should keep quiet (No talking unless it is necessary). They should remember death, the hereafter, and that one-day they too will be buried.
• A grave is dug deep enough to totally hide the body of the deceased.
• The grave should be always perpendicular (Horizontal) to the direction of Qiblah.
• Only Muslim men should carry out putting the body in the grave.
• Those who put the deceased in the grave should not have had sexual intercourse with their wives the night before.
• The deceased's male relatives are expected to put the body in the grave.
• A deceased Female is placed in her grave by her husband, her sons, her father, her brothers, or her uncles.
• The deceased's body should be entered to the grave from the direction where his feet will be (From the rear of the grave).
• Those who enter to put the body of the deceased in the grave should say: (Bismil llah wa ala millati rasulil llah), which means: "In the name of Allah and in the faith of the Messenger of Allah".
• The deceased's body should rest on his right side, and should be close to the wall and supported so that the body will not fall back.
• The deceased's face should be towards the Qiblah.
• They should undo the tie on the head and the feet.
• There is no Islamic teaching of revealing the face of the deceased after putting the body in the grave.
• They should put above the body a layer of wood or other layer, so that dirt will not be put directly on the body when they fill the grave with dirt.
• After the body is totally covered, it is desirable to throw three handfuls of soil into the grave.
• Just after the burial, all Muslims including the deceased's relatives, may stay in the cemetery for a while and make Dua' (Supplicate) for the deceased, since the Angels are questioning him.
• There is no Islamic teaching of slaughtering an animal during or after burial.
• It is prohibited to build any form of construction on the grave, or decorate the grave.
• It is prohibited to step over, lean, or sit on a grave.
• It is prohibited to put candles on the grave.
• There is no Islamic teaching of putting flowers, food, water, or money around the grave that will benefit the deceased.
• There is no Islamic teaching of putting anything in, on or around the grave that will benefit the deceased.
  
• There is no Islamic teaching of arranging a mourning gathering on the day of death, or on the third day after death, or on the seventh, or on the twentieth day, or on the fortieth day, or on the anniversary of the death.
• There is no Islamic teaching that the relatives of the deceased should wear black clothes.
• There is no Islamic teaching of staying in a state of sadness for one year.
• There is no Islamic teaching of visiting the grave after three days, or seven days, or twenty days, or forty days.
• There is no Islamic teaching of visiting the grave of the parents every Friday.
• There is no Islamic teaching of visiting the grave any special days such as Eid days, Ashura day, or Ramadan.
• There is no Islamic teaching of reading the Quran (Al – Fatiha) during the visit to the cemetery, but only make Dua (Supplicate) for the deceased and other dead Muslims.
• There is no Islamic teaching of wiping hands over the grave, or kissing the grave.
• The purpose of visiting the cemetery is to remember the fact that everyone is going to die and that we must prepare ourselves for the Day of Judgment and to make Dua (supplicate to Allah) to forgive the deceased ‘s sins.
• Visiting the cemetery benefits the dead too, since the visitors will make dua' (supplicate) for the deceased and other dead Muslims to forgive their sins and have mercy on them.
• All Muslims when visiting the cemetery should wear proper decent clothes and also they should not behave in anyway that is not Islamic.
• All scholars have no dispute about the point that it is prohibited for Muslim females to frequently visit the cemetery.
• Mourning over the dead is allowed in Islam, but there is a great difference between what is allowed Islamically and the practice of some Muslims at the present time.
• Grief at the death of a beloved person is normal, and weeping for the dead is allowed in Islam. What is prohibited is to express grief by wailing (Bewailing refers to mourning in a loud voice like shouting), shrieking, beating the chest and cheeks, tearing hair or clothes, breaking things or scratching faces or saying phrases that makes a Muslim lose faith.
• From the authentic teachings of Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) there are ONLY three things that benefit the dead:
  • Charity; Continuos Charity
  • Knowledge left by the deceased from which some benefit may be obtained;
  • A virtuous son or daughter who makes Dua' (Pray, supplicate) on deceased’s behalf, or perform duties that the deceased did not do during his lifetime such as fasting missed days or Hajj, or pay his debts.
• Unfortunately, people buy very expensive coffins, build and decorate fancy graves for their beloved ones, and spend a large amount of money to buy a grave site in a cemetery that has a beautiful view. They put flowers, candles, food, perfume, on the grave, thinking that doing all of this may benefit the deceased.