Q: 100 ? Title: Q1-After burial what is the reason behind reading first few verses of surah Baqrah on head side ...Q2-Is it a bidah for the Imam to read surah Fateha before reading the first few verses of surah Baqrah on head side

Question

Q1-After burial what is the reason behind reading first few verses of surah Baqrah on head side and last few verses of surah at leg side and was this the practise of Prophet S.a.w?
Q2-Is it a bidah for the Imam to read surah Fateha before reading the first few verses of surah Baqrah on head side after burial or is proven by Prophet S.a.w or the Sahabah?

Answer

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Assalaamu `alaykum waRahmatullahi Wabarakatuh

Reciting Surah al Fatiha and the opening and ending verses of Surah al Baqara at the head and legside of the deceased is established from Rasulullah SAW

Ibn Umar RDI narrates that Rasulullah SAW said ?When any of you pass away then do not delay but rather hasten for his burial. And you should recite Surah al Fatiha by his head side and the closing verses of Surah al Baqara by his feet side next to his grave? Majmauz Zawaid 3/44 Maktaba al Qudsi

Abd al Rahman ibn al Ala ibn al Lajlaj RDI narrates that my father (al Ala ibn al Lajlaj Rdi) said to me ?O my son when I pass away then dig my grave as a lahd (such a grave in which there is a portion in the side to place the deceased in). When you put me in the lahd (portion on the side) then recite BIsmillah va'ala malata rasulallaha sallallahu alayhi wasllam (in the name of Allah and on the religion of the messenger of Allah SAW) then slowly throw the sand in the grave, then recite by my head side the opening and ending verses of Surah al Baqara for verily I heard Rasulullah SAW reciting them? (Ibid)

And Allah knows best

Wassalam

Darul Iftaa, Madrassah In'aamiyyah

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