and to seek forgiveness for him, for once the deceased is laid in the earth two angels come to him and ask about his Lord, his religion, and his Prophet. Accordingly, whenever the Prophet ﷺ finished the burial he would stand by the grave and say, “Seek forgiveness for your brother and pray that he be made firm, for right now he is being questioned.”

Thus it is recommended that, after the people have completed the burial, one pause at the grave and say: “O Allah, forgive him” three times, and “O Allah, grant him steadfastness” three times, because the Prophet ﷺ would usually repeat his supplications three times. Then one should depart, without remaining there for further remembrance, Qur’an recitation, or additional supplication; this is what the Sunnah indicates.

As for the report that ‘Amr ibn al-‘Āṣ (Allah be pleased with him) instructed his family to stay by his grave for the time it takes to slaughter a camel and distribute its meat, saying, “Perhaps I will feel reassured by your presence and know how to answer my Lord’s messengers”—meaning the angels—this was his personal reasoning, and we do not concur with it. The guidance of the Prophet ﷺ is more perfect than that of any other. The Prophet ﷺ never remained seated by a grave after burial for the span of slaughtering a camel and dividing its meat, nor did he command his Companions to do so. All he enjoined was that they stand at the grave, ask forgiveness for the deceased, and pray that he be made steadfast.