Islamic Burial Practices: Laying the Deceased on Their Right Side
Question: In India and Pakistan, it is common to lay the deceased on their back with hands placed on the chest. Is this method correct according to Shariah?
Answer: When burying the deceased, it should be done by saying:
“بسم الله وعلی ملة رسول الله”
(In the name of Allah and on the religion of the Messenger of Allah) and placing the body in the grave from the feet side. The body should be laid on its right side with the face towards the Qibla (Kaaba), as the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said regarding the Kaaba:
“قبْلتكمْ أحْیاء وأمْواتا”
(Your Qibla for the living and the dead) [Narrated by Abu Dawood: 2875, authenticated by Sheikh Albani].
This means that the deceased should also be laid facing the Qibla. When we have evidence that the deceased should be laid facing the Qibla, then deviating from this method is not correct. Commonly, the deceased is laid on their back with hands placed on the chest, but this method is not reported.
There are two types of graves: one with a niche (lehad) and the other without a niche (shaqq). When burying in a shaqq grave, something should be placed on the back to lay the deceased on their right side, so that the burial is according to the Sunnah. Alternatively, the body can be supported by the wall to lay it on the right side.
In summary, regardless of the type of grave, the method of burial should follow the prescribed way.
Sheikh Maqbool Ahmed Salafi.