Which is better to dig: a side grave (lahd) or a middle grave (shaqq)?

Question

Is it better to dig a side grave (lahd) or a middle grave (shaqq)? We mostly dig a middle grave — is this permissible?

Answer

Making a side grave (lahd) is superior (afdal); making a middle grave (shaqq) is also permissible. So it is in “al-Durr al-Mukhtar”.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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