Chapter on Instructing the Dying (Talqin al-Muhtadarin)

Muhammad ibn al-Hasan said: “Our companions have differed regarding the narration and its interpretation; Muhammad ibn al-Hasan al-Saffar said: “The word is 'jaddada' (renovated) with a 'jim' only. He stated that it is not permissible to renovate a grave and apply clay over it completely after time has passed and it was originally plastered. However, if someone dies and their grave is plastered, it is permissible to repair other graves without renovating them entirely.” Sa'd ibn Abdullah said: “The word is 'haddada' (raised) with a 'ha' without a dot, meaning to build up and raise a grave.” Ahmad ibn Abi Abdullah al-Barqi said: “The word is 'jaddatha' (reburied) with a 'jim' and 'tha,' without elaborating further on its meaning. It could mean the prohibition of reusing a grave for another burial since 'jadath' refers to a grave.” Muhammad ibn Ali ibn al-Husayn ibn Babawayh (Al Saduq) said: “The word is 'jaddada' with a 'jim,' and its meaning is to exhume a grave. He explained that whoever exhumes a grave renovates it and necessitates its reconstruction, effectively turning it into a new grave.” He (Al Saduq) added that: “'Renovation' as understood by Muhammad ibn al-Hasan al-Saffar, 'Raising' as understood by Sa'd ibn Abdullah, and 'Reburial' as understood by al-Barqi all fall within the meaning of the narration. Whoever opposes the Imam عليه السلام regarding renovation, elevation, or exhumation and permits any of these acts has left Islam.” Our teacher, Muhammad ibn Muhammad ibn al-Nu'man (may Allah سبحانه وتعالى have mercy on him), said: “The narration may also be read with 'kha' and two 'dals' as 'khaddada,' derived from Allah’s سبحانه وتعالى words in the Quran: "Cursed were the companions of the trench" (Surah Al-Buruj 85:4)”. 'Khadd' means a trench, and 'khaddadt' means 'I dug a trench.' Based on this version, the prohibition would extend to digging a grave either for burial or exhumation, as explained by Muhammad ibn Ali. All these interpretations are possible, and Allah سبحانه وتعالى knows best the intended meaning conveyed by the one who originally reported the narration عليه السلام.