CORPSES CHAPTER 65 – THE RULING OF THE GRAVE
According to a narration from Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him):
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) said: “Making lahd in graves is our sign. And digging [a simple grave] is the practice of others.” [116]
**Note:** *Lāhid* refers to excavating a niche within a grave, facing towards the qibla (direction of prayer), sufficient for the deceased to enter. This is considered desirable. A *shāq* is a grave that is simply opened without creating such a niche. It is not dug if the soil is soft or unsuitable for a lahd. Making lahd in graves is a characteristic specific to Muslims; other nations dig a simple pit and bury the deceased therein.