A brick, a stone, or some soil is placed beneath the deceased’s head, and he is drawn close to the front wall of the grave. Earth is then heaped up behind his back to support him, so that he neither falls forward onto his face nor rolls over onto his back.

Next, the mouth of the burial niche is sealed with mud-bricks and clay until it is completely closed, after which the soil that was removed from the grave is returned—no soil from elsewhere is added.

The grave is raised above ground by roughly a handspan and shaped like a low hump so that rainwater runs off it. Pebbles are scattered over the surface and it is lightly sprinkled with water so that the earth settles and does not scatter. The wisdom in raising it by this amount is so that people recognize it as a grave and do not step on it. There is no harm in placing marker stones at its head and foot to show its limits and identify it, provided nothing is written on them.

When the burial is complete, it is recommended for the Muslims present to stand at the graveside and supplicate for the deceased, saying, “Ask Allah to forgive your brother and pray that he be made steadfast, for even now he is being questioned,” narrated by Abū Dāwūd. As for reciting any part of the Quran at the graveside, this is an innovation, for neither the Messenger of Allah nor his noble Companions ever did so, and every innovation is misguidance.

It is forbidden to build over graves, to plaster them, or to write on them, for Jābir reported: “The Messenger of Allah forbade plastering the grave, sitting on it, and building over it …”