Islamic Funerals

on Sunday, February 24, 2013

From flowers, trees, animals to the human beings, every living organism has to die. Death is indeed the most truthful fact in the world and that no human being can claim to be in exception to this. In the Holy Quran, it has been mentioned that every soul is going to have a taste of death. In terms of beliefs about death, some people are of the view that nothing happens after death, but in terms of the Islamic principles, there is indeed a life that follows death. In comparison to this worldly existence, the life after death is of a permanent nature. Most religions haven’t been able to give a complete account about what happens after death, but that is not the case with Islam, as it offers details  about what happens after. Moreover, the explanations Islam offers do come to appeal our rationality.

There are a number of ways in which the funeral of the deceased is carried out. But here I would be offering an account of the Islamic Funerals, which are known to be one of the most unique of them all. At the time of preparing and carrying out the funerals, there are some principles and regulations which the family members and relatives are bound to carry out. Firstly, before dying it is necessary for the family members to compel the dying person to say “There is no God but Allah”. After the person has died, the family members should consult a doctor or an experienced individual for the confirmation of the death. Moreover, those individuals who are close to the deceased should always close his or her eyes in case they remain open at the time of cessation or expiry.

In Islam, it is also imperative to cover the body of the deceased in a striped cloth. Now here, in lines to the Sunnah and teachings of Prophet Muhammad, the family members are allowed kiss the deceased and to cry over him or her. But here, it is important to note that you are only allowed to cry over the death for a period of 3 days only. In case the deceased was married, then his wife is allowed to mourn for a period of 4 months and 10 days, which is also known as the “Eddah” period. Muslim families do face a number of issues in this regard. and prefer to consult an Islamic Scholar or an authority figure in order to get answers to their problems. For example, in terms of crying over the death of a family member, you are not allowed to yell or weep.

In terms of making preparation for the burial process, it is advised to all the Muslims to hasten the process including the bathing of the deceased “Ghusl” that is carried out only by some trained and willing individuals. The burial can be delayed in case a family member lives some other place and will be arriving a bit late. Before the deceased is buried, a funeral prayer is also arranged in which all friends, family members and all other acquaints are gathered. Soon after the prayer has been performed, a family member of the deceased should inquire from the people who are gathered, about the debts the deceased owed to them. It is the duty of the family members to clear out all the debts of the deceased. What follows then is the burial, which marks the end of the persons physical existence.



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