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Throwing handfuls of dirt in the grave

Question

After placing earth on the dead, some take handfuls of dirt and throw them on the grave thrice. We hope that you would give us a Hadeeth, if any, about this issue.

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and messenger.

It is narrated on the authority of Abu Hurayrah  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  him that once, the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, performed the funeral prayer on a deceased (Muslim) and then came to his grave and threw three handfuls of dirt at the direction of his head. [Ibn Maajah: Saheeh]

Many Hadeeths, narrated by Ad-Daraqatni and others  may  Allaah  have  mercy  upon  them support this meaning. It is also reported from ‘Ali  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  him that he did it.

According to Ibn Qudaamah  may  Allaah  have  mercy  upon  him in his Al-Mughni: “It is narrated from Ahmad  may  Allaah  have  mercy  upon  him that he attended a funeral procession and, when earth was put over the dead, he stood toward the grave and threw three handfuls of dirt on it and then returned to his place and said, commenting: ‘This is handed down from ‘Ali  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  him in an authentic narration, that he threw handfuls of dirt on the grave of Ibn Mukaffaf.’ Clarifying the reason why this is recommended, he mentioned the Hadeeth narrated by Ibn Maajah  may  Allaah  have  mercy  upon  him which we mentioned above.

Allaah Knows best.

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