BURYING-GROUND

Arabic مقبرة‎ maqbarat or maqbarah , “The place of graves.” Persian Qabr-gāh , or Qabristān . They are sometimes spoken of by religious Muslims as Marqad, a “cemetery” or “sleeping-place,” but the name has not obtained a general application to burial-grounds in the East as it has in the West. They are generally situated outside the city, the graves being covered with pebbles, and distinguished by headstones, those on the graves of men being with a turban-like head. The graves are dug from north to south. The grave-yards are usually much neglected. The Wahhābīs hold it to be a meritorious act, in accordance with the injunctions of the Prophet, to neglect the graves of the dead, the erection of brick tombs being forbidden. ( Hidāyah , Arabic ed., vol. i. p. 90.) A grave-yard does not become public property until the proprietor formally makes a gift or bequest of it. ( Hidāyah , vol ii., p. 357.) BUSHRĀ ( بشرى‎ ). “Good news;” “the gospel.” A word used in the Traditions for the publication of Islām. ( Mishkāt , xxiv. c. i.) “Accept good news, O ye sons of Tamīm,” which ʿAbdu ʾl-Ḥaqq says means “embrace Islām.”