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Encyclopedia of Religion entry for
Grave
Arabic The Traditions of Muhammad, as well as the works of Muslim doctors, teach that a dead body is conscious of pain, and therefore great care is taken to prevent any pressure upon the body. ‘Amir relates that his father Sa ‘d ibn Abu Waqqas said on his death-bed, "Make a lahd for me towards Makkah, and put unburnt bricks upon my grave, as was done in the case of the Prophet (Sahihu-Muslim, p 211) Sufyan at-Tammar relates that he "saw the Prophet ‘s grave, and the top of it was like a camel ‘s back." (Sahihu ‘l-Bukhari) Ibn ‘Abbas says "a red cloth was place upon the Prophet ‘s grave." (Mishkat, book v c vi.) Jabir says, "the Prophet prohibited building with mortar on graves, and also placing inscriptions upon them." (Mishkat, book v c vi). But notwithstanding this tradition (which is acted upon by the Wahhabis), masonry tombs are most common in all parts of Islam, and form some of the most striking specimens of Muhammadan architecture. [TOMBS.] 
; Heb. 
. The graves of Muhammadans are so dug as to allow the body to lie with its face towards Makkah; consequently in India they are dug from north to south. It is usual to dig a grave the depth equal to the height of the breast of a middle-sized man, and to make a recess at the bottom, which is called lahd, in which the body is places. The body having been placed in the recess, it is closed with earth and a mound raised over it.
citations: Dictionary of Islam, Hughes
article created 2006-04-12 , last updated 2006-04-12
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