The Sunnah of placing the deceased in the grave

A: First, dedicating the first day or the first seven days after death, or the fortieth day to supplicate to Allah for the dead is an act which has no base in the Qur’an or the Sunnah. This was not a practice of the Sahabah (Companions of the Prophet, may Allah be pleased with them) or any of the Salaf (righteous predecessors); it is a Bid‘ah (innovation in religion). It is authentically reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) stated, “Whoever does an action which is not in accordance with this matter of ours (Islam), will have it rejected.” In another narration, “Whoever introduces anything into this matter of ours (Islam) that is not part of it, will have it rejected.” Second, when placing the deceased in the grave one should recite what was reported from Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: “Whenever the Prophet (peace be upon him) would place a dead body in the grave, he used to say: In the Name of Allah, and according to the religion of the Messenger of Allah.” It is also narrated that he added, “and following the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him).” Al-Tirmidhy said, “This Hadith is Hasan (a Hadith whose chain of narration contains a narrator with weak exactitude, but is free from eccentricity or blemish) Gharib (a Hadith with a single narrator usually at the beginning of the chain of narration).” (Part No. 3; Page No. 23)  Third, It is also Mustahab (advisable) to stand by the grave after burial and ask Allah to grant the deceased forgiveness and steadfastness, as the Prophet (peace be upon him) ordered us to do. As for invoking Allah’s blessings upon the Prophet (peace be upon him) when placing the dead body in the grave, this is a baseless act.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.