Chapter 161
Supplication for the Deceased after his Burial

946. Abu `Amr (also called Abu `Abdullah and also Abu Laila) from `Uthman bin `Affan (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: After the burial of a dead man, the Prophet (PBUH) would stand by the grave and say, "Ask Allah to forgive your brother and supplicate for him for steadfastness because he is being questioned (about his deeds) now.''
[Abu Dawud].

Commentary: We are told in this Hadith that two angels question man in the grave. Allah helps a true believer in answering correctly. He says to the angels, "Allah is my Rubb. Islam is my religion. And the man sent by Allah as His Prophet is Muhammad.'' A condemned person will say, "Aa, Aa, I do not know.'' We are, therefore, particularly instructed that after the burial of a fellow-Muslim, we should supplicate beside his grave for his being firm-footed against the ordeal to which he will be subjected.

947. `Amr bin Al-`as (May Allah be pleased with him) used to say: "When you have buried me, keep standing near my grave till (for the time it takes to) a camel is slaughtered and its meat is distributed, so that I may feel your nearness and know what to reply to the angels sent by my Rubb.''
[Muslim].

Commentary: As mentioned in the previous Hadith, the Prophet (PBUH) has instructed his followers that after a Muslim's burial, they should keep standing beside his grave for some time and pray for his firmness on facing the interrogating angels in the grave. `Amr bin Al-`as, too, made a will to this effect. The reference made to Imam Ash-Shafi`i (May Allah had Mercy upon him) about the recitation of the Qur'an beside a Muslim's grave is in disagreement with the Prophet's practice. What has come to us from the Prophet (PBUH) as his Sunnah in this respect is the act of supplicating, and it will be appropriate to confine to it. Aside from it, the reference made to Imam Ash-Shafi`i seems to be of doubtful authenticity. Because according to Fath Al-Bari, Tafsir Ibn Kathir and some other books, Imam Ash-Shafi`i rejected the view that the benefit of reciting the Qur'an could be transmitted to the dead.