Reciting the Beginning and End of Surat al-Baqara after Burial

Question

When people, having buried a deceased person in the grave, recite verses of Surat al-Baqara — should those reciting at the head end and at the foot end then recite while placing their index finger into the soil inside the grave? And after this recitation, should people leave the graveyard immediately, or should they stay, or should at least the relatives stay?

Answer

Reciting the beginning and end of Surat al-Baqara is established by hadith. Placing the index finger in the soil is not established [by hadith]; rather, it is a practice of the shaykhs (mashayikh), so there is no harm either way.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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