Islam
Death
The funeral rites are not in the Muslim Qur’an (holy book) but in law books. Rituals vary depending upon the customs of the country.
As the Qur’an says “Every person will taste death” so Muslims need to know how to prepare for death and what to do after death.
As the Qur’an says “Every person will taste death” so Muslims need to know how to prepare for death and what to do after death.
BELIEFS ABOUT DEATH
Muslims believe that when someone dies they will see the angel of death and who will take this soul depending on how the person has behaved in his or her life. Next, the dead person will be asked three questions by two angels Munkar and Nakeer:
Who is your lord?
Who is your prophet?
What is your religion?
It is believed that some people will go straight to hell if they don’t answer the questions correctly. Some people will straight go to heaven. The rest will spend some time in hell and then go to heaven because they have not been too bad.
Who is your lord?
Who is your prophet?
What is your religion?
It is believed that some people will go straight to hell if they don’t answer the questions correctly. Some people will straight go to heaven. The rest will spend some time in hell and then go to heaven because they have not been too bad.
While Dying
When Muslims are dying, they pray using one of Muhammad’s prayers:
‘Allah, help me through the hardship and agony of death’.
They also repeat the Shahadah:
‘There is no god but Allah; Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.’
Relatives also pray for the grace of Allah.
‘Allah, help me through the hardship and agony of death’.
They also repeat the Shahadah:
‘There is no god but Allah; Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.’
Relatives also pray for the grace of Allah.
After Death
The body is put on a stretcher with the head in the direction of the Qiblah (in Mecca). The eyes and mouth of the dead person are closed, the arms are stretched along the side of the body and the legs are straightened. The Wali (the person who has been chosen to carry out the ritual washing) or relative is informed of the death.
A ritual washing is carried out by relatives (of the same sex). The body is washed three times, then fragrance is put on the body, after it is wrapped in a cloth and finally placed in a coffin.
A ritual washing is carried out by relatives (of the same sex). The body is washed three times, then fragrance is put on the body, after it is wrapped in a cloth and finally placed in a coffin.
Washing the body (Ghusle Mayyit)
1. First, remove any dirt or any blood from the body.
2. Wash the body with sidr water (water in which berries or lotus leaves have been added) and say a niyyat (prayer):
‘I am washing this dead body with Sidr water Wajib Qurbatan IlaLlah’
3. Wash the body with water to which a little camphor has been added and say a niyyat:
‘I am washing this dead body with camphor water Wajib Qurbatan IlaLlah’
4. Wash the body with clean water and say a niyyat:
‘I am washing this dead body with clean water Wajib Qurbatan IlaLlah’
5. Dry the body with a clean towel.
2. Wash the body with sidr water (water in which berries or lotus leaves have been added) and say a niyyat (prayer):
‘I am washing this dead body with Sidr water Wajib Qurbatan IlaLlah’
3. Wash the body with water to which a little camphor has been added and say a niyyat:
‘I am washing this dead body with camphor water Wajib Qurbatan IlaLlah’
4. Wash the body with clean water and say a niyyat:
‘I am washing this dead body with clean water Wajib Qurbatan IlaLlah’
5. Dry the body with a clean towel.
Add a fragrance to the body (Tahnit)
Before adding the fragrant powder:
‘I am doing tahnit on the body Wajib Qurbatan IlaLlah’
Camphor powder is put on the seven parts of the body which rest on the ground when praying (forehead, hands, knees and toes). Say a niyyat while doing this.
‘I am doing tahnit on the body Wajib Qurbatan IlaLlah’
Camphor powder is put on the seven parts of the body which rest on the ground when praying (forehead, hands, knees and toes). Say a niyyat while doing this.
Wrapping the body (Kafan)
The body must be wrapped in three pieces of white cloth – a loin cloth, long shirt, a large piece of cloth that covers the whole body. Other piece of cloth may also be used for example, shorts, scarf and bra.
PRAYERS FOR THE DEAD (SALAATUL MAYYIT)
The body is put in front of the congregation facing towards Mecca. The mourners stand near the coffin near rose. Prayers are said by the Imam and are repeated by the congregation.
Laws in many countries say bodies should be put in coffins and so this is what is carried out. However, in some Muslim countries the body is put straight in the ground without a coffin. The body should be buried in a Muslim graveyard if possible.
Laws in many countries say bodies should be put in coffins and so this is what is carried out. However, in some Muslim countries the body is put straight in the ground without a coffin. The body should be buried in a Muslim graveyard if possible.
BURIAL (NAMAZ-E-MAYYIT)
The funeral takes place as soon as possible after death. Five prayers are said at the graveside and then more prayers are said as the body is lowered into the ground:
‘In the name of Allah, we bury according to the way of the Prophet of Allah’
and
‘From the earth we create you and into it shall we return you, and from it shall we bring you out once again.
Some earth should be put on the cheek. The corpse is buried facing Mecca.
Prayers are said that night for the dead person. Relatives visit the grave a week after the burial as a sign of respect.
‘In the name of Allah, we bury according to the way of the Prophet of Allah’
and
‘From the earth we create you and into it shall we return you, and from it shall we bring you out once again.
Some earth should be put on the cheek. The corpse is buried facing Mecca.
Prayers are said that night for the dead person. Relatives visit the grave a week after the burial as a sign of respect.