Should prayer for the deceased at the grave be offered together?

Dear Brothers & Sisters,
As-Salaamu-Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)
One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:
When the deceased has been buried in the grave, one of the people stands and offers du’aa’ for the deceased and the people say “Ameen” to his du’aa’. Is this action part of the Sunnah?.
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Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.

Shaykh Ibn Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on him) issued a fatwa stating that it is permissible to offer du’aa’ together, so one of the people attending the funeral may say du’aa’ and the people say “Ameen” to his du’aa’, or each person may offer du’aa’ individually. 

He said: 

The Sunnah that is proven from the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) indicates that it is prescribed to say du’aa’ for the deceased after the burial. When the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) had finished burying someone, he would stand over the grave and say: “Pray for forgiveness for your brother, and ask that he be made steadfast, for right now he is being questioned.” Narrated by Abu Dawood, 3221; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood. 

There is nothing wrong with one person saying du’aa’ and the listeners saying “Ameen”, or with each person saying du’aa’ by himself for the deceased. 

Majallat al-Buhooth al-Islamiyyah, 68/53. 

This is with regard to its being permissible. However what is better and closer to the Sunnah is for each person to make du’aa’ individually. 

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) said concerning du’aa’ offered together: 

This is not part of the Sunnah of the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) or the way of the Rightly-Guided Caliphs (may Allaah be pleased with them), rather the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to tell them to pray for forgiveness for the deceased and ask for him to be made steadfast, individually and not together.” 

Fataawa al-Janaa’iz, p. 228. 

And Allaah knows best.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah's Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.
Your brother and well wisher in Islam

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