Inserting wooden Planks before Filling the Grave

Q: Janaa'iz-26: After laying the deceased to rest in the Grave but before filling the grave with sand, people place wooden planks or bamboo across the body. What is the status of this act in the Shari?ah? In our area, the people do not do this, beacause of which the sand covers the body. Is this not disrespectful to the dead person?

Answer:? There are two types of graves; the niche grave and the box grave. When the ground is hard, a niche is dug on the grave wall facing Qibla, in which the body is laid to rest. A wall of unbaked bricks is then made to prevent the sand from falling on top of the body. Mud is then used to fill the gaps in between. If unbaked bricks are unavailable. bamboo sticks may be used and if this is also unavailable. wooden planks are used as a last resort. This creates a type of room for the body.
However, when the ground is soft, a box type grave is dug. In this type, a groove is dug lengthways across the centre of the grave for the body to placed inside. Unbaked bricks. bamboo, etc are then places across the groove to create a roof to protect the body from the falling sand.

Placing the body in the grave without any barrier (as asked in the question) conflicts with the Sunnah practice and is also disrespectful to the deceased. This practice should therefore be forsaken. And Allaah knows best what is most correct.

Fatawa Rahimiyyah vol.3