What are the supplications to be said when burying the deceased?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and messenger.

Jurists recommended the one who buries the deceased to say “In the name of Allaah and on the religion of the Messenger of Allaah”. Hence, Abdullaah Ibn ‘Umar narrated that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “When you place your dead in the graves, say ‘in the name of Allaah and on the religion of the Messenger of Allaah’” [Ahmad, At-Tirmithi, Abu Dawood and Ibn Maajah].

In his book, Kashaaf Al-Qinaa', the Hanbali scholar, Al-Buhooti said: “It is permissible to mention any supplication or invocation fitting the situation of placing the deceased in the grave.”

Bilaal narrated that he entered a grave with Abu Bakr . Upon going out, he was asked what Abu Bakr said? He replied: “O Allaah, his family, wealth, tribe and great sins bring him to You. You are The Forgiver, The Most Merciful, so Forgive him” [Sa‘eed Ibn Mansoor in his Sunan]

It is highly recommended to invoke Allaah The Almighty for the sake of the deceased while standing before the grave. Imaam Ahmad stated that ‘Ali and Al-Ahnaf Ibn Qays did so because of the narration of ‘Uthmaan Ibn ‘Affaan who said: "When the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, finished burying a person, he would stand over his grave and say: “Ask for forgiveness for your brother and ask that he be made steadfast, for now he is being questioned.” [Abu Dawood].

Ibn Mas‘ood narrated that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, used to stand before the grave after the sand was leveled over it and say “O Allaah, our fellow moved to Your care and departed this world. Make his tongue steadfast when he is being questioned. Do not Afflict him in his grave with a torment which he has no capacity for.” [Sa‘eed Ibn Mansoor in his Sunan].

However, there are plenty of narrations indicating the recommendation of invoking Allaah The Almighty for the sake of the deceased after placing him in the grave as well as seeking steadfastness for him. Furthermore, it is not incumbent to cite a specific supplication.

It is recommended that the one who places him in the grave should say: “In the name of Allaah and on the religion of the Messenger of Allaah” as stated in the Hadeeth.

Allaah Knows best.