that he sat down (1). Scholars differed concerning this. Some held that standing had been abrogated and that sitting was his later practice. Others held that both were permissible: his standing showed that it was recommended, while his refraining from standing showed that remaining seated was permissible (2). This interpretation is preferable to claiming abrogation (3).
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His practice was not to bury the deceased at sunrise, at sunset, or when the sun stood at its zenith at midday (4).
His practice was to use a burial niche in the side of the grave, to dig the grave deep, and to widen it at the deceased’s head and feet. It is reported that when he placed the deceased in the grave, he would say: “In the name of Allah, with Allah’s help, and upon the religion of the Messenger of Allah” (5). In another narration (6): “In the name of Allah, in the cause of Allah, and upon the religion of the Messenger of Allah.”
(1) Recorded by Muslim (962) from ‘Alī ibn Abī Tālib.
(2) This is the view of Ibn ‘Aqīl and Shaykh al-Islām. See al-Furū‘ (3:368).
(3) The author discusses this issue extensively in Tahdhīb al-Sunan (2:362–365).
(4) Recorded by Muslim (831) from ‘Uqbah ibn ‘Āmir.
(5) Recorded by Ahmad (4812, 4990, 5233, 5370, 6111), Abū Dāwūd (3213), al-Tirmidhī (1046), al-Nasā’ī in al-Kubrā (10860), Ibn Mājah (1550), Ibn Hibbān (3110), al-Hākim (1:366), and al-Bayhaqī (4:55), through several chains from ‘Abd Allāh ibn ‘Umar as a marfū‘ report (attributed to the Prophet). There is disagreement over whether it is marfū‘ or mawqūf (attributed to Ibn ‘Umar himself). Al-Nasā’ī (10861) and al-Dāraqutnī in al-‘Ilal (2838) favored the mawqūf attribution, as did Ibn ‘Abd al-Hādī in al-Muharrar, following no. 541. See al-Talkhīs al-Habīr (3:1229–1230).
(6) Recorded by Ibn Mājah (1550, 1553) and al-Bayhaqī (4:55) through two chains from Ibn ‘Umar. The correct view is that it is mawqūf. See the preceding source references.