Collective graves Its a specific process that includes an odd number of washings and a number of steps dictating which body part is washed in what order. Al-Islam.org relates that a body can be preserved on the ship until a proper burial can occur. Furthermore you can add according to your perception and knowledge. WebIn Islam, an action that is not expressly prohibited or discouraged is considered halal. Even though there is a little bit of flexibility regarding cremation in other Abrahamic faiths such as Judaism and Christianity, there is no room for cremation in Islam. Hence it is prescribed to bury it, in order to ward off harm from the Muslims, not just It should be made approximately a handspan higher than the ground, and there is nothing wrong with placing a marker such as a stone or something similar, so that others of his family may be buried near him later on. 2, p. 225, #401; Sahih Muslim, vol. 2, p. 367, #1448. Those with taqwa (fear of Allah, piety) should be chosen in order to ensure proper treatment of the dead. 193-4, #254 and Sahih Muslim, vol. Any servant who meets Allah with those two {testimonies}, having no doubt in them, will enter Paradise. If possible, the body should head back to Earth for the funeral and burial, but if that can't happen, the person should be buried in space after a simple funeral. Before the body is taken away for burial, visitors and mourners file past to pay their last respects. ", "Is it because you will have double the reward? 2, p. 227, #404; Sahih Muslim, vol. Answer. For it only renews the [family's feelings of] sorrow and puts burdens on their food supplies." 453-4, #2089], Six Takbirat: Abd-Khayr said Ali ibn Abi Talib used to make six takbirat [when he led funeral prayers] on those who took part in the Battle of Badr, five takbirat on the [rest of the] Prophet's Companions, and four takbirat on all the rest of the people. However if there are males and females,the female bodies are placed in front of the Imam and the males behind the Imam even if they are young children. Muslim burials place the body facing Meccatoward the northeast ", "There are two practices found among people, both of which indicate disbelief: ridiculing the ancestry (of others) and wailing over the dead. WebIf it was required to bury every dead animal, Muslims would have to venture out into unexplored jungles where no human has set foot before just to be able to bury the 1, p. 59, #184], In Islam, women are required to shun various forms of beautification in order to avoid attracting other men during their period of mourning, since contracting marriage during this time is forbidden. The only thing which should be read prior to al-Fatihah is the "Refuge" and the basmalah. See also the answer to question no. Shrouding the body is obligatory, based on the commands of the Prophet sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam to do so. [Collected by At-Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah and authenticated in Sahih Sunan ibn Majah, vol. (July 28, 2011) http://www.missionislam.com/knowledge/funeral.htm, Husseini Islamic Center. The only exception to that rule is the sin of shirk, as it negates the very purpose of creation Verily, Allah forgives not that partners should be set up with him in worship, but He forgives except that (anything else) to whom He pleases, and whoever sets up partners with Allah in worship, he has indeed invented a tremendous sin. This inauthentic hadith incorrectly specifies that Surah Yasin should be read for the dying; to believe that doing so has special value is considered bid'ah, a sinful innovation in the religion. The preferable color is white. He closed them and said, "Verily when the soul is snatched, the eyes follow it." Raising the grave - It is that the earth of the grave be slightly raised, no more than a palm's width, so as to be higher than the surrounding ground. Carts which could have been used to transport the dead existed in the Prophet's sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam time, but he instructed his followers to walk and carry the bier with their own hands. 2, p. 439, #2013], After mentioning this hadith under the heading Visiting Graves, Ibn Hajar said, "The [scholars] disagreed regarding women [visiting graves]. ", "Verily when the soul is snatched, the eyes follow it. The majority held that they are included in the general permission for visiting graves [if there is no danger of corruption]. Because I buried an animal of mine when I heard this hadeeth. 1, p. 248, #1203]. Following it from the family's home until the body has been buried. 'Aishah quoted Allah's Messenger sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam as saying, "Whoever died owing fasts, his guardian should fast on his behalf." [Sahih Al-Bukhari, vol. WebIslamic funerals are to help mourners cope with their grief, but are also meant to offer hope for a good afterlife for the deceased. I just want him to have a resting place finally. r/islam is the place to discuss any topics related to Islam & Muslims. After completeing the wudhu,the woman's hair should be undone if it was braided and the hair thoroughly washed.Then the rest of the body should be washed, turning the body on it's side so as to complete the right side before washing the left. 2, pp. Cremation is largely discouraged because of the Islamic belief in resurrection of the physical body. After placing the man's hands on his chest, right hand on top of left hand, you wrap each sheet, right side first, over the body. I asked, "Is it because you will have double the reward?" Kissing the face of the dead is considered a part of the Sunnah of the Prophet sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam and his companions. A prayer is said over the body, and 3, p. 863, #3987 and Sunan Abi Dawud, vol. 3, p. 1165, #4180]. 7, p. 390, #575, Muslim, vol. The surviving bird dug the earth with its talons and buried its victim. road used by the Muslims. "Authentic Step by Step Illustrated Janazah Guide." Traditionally, you don't put anything for the deceased on or around the grave: This means no cut flowers, candles or other offerings. Islam Q&A, You can ask your question on the website via this link: https://islamqa.info/en/ask, Password should contain small, capital letter and at least 8 characters long, Log in However, in both cases, a burial chamber is created from the earth, and sealed with bricks of unbaked clay. Anyone who can tell me if this is just a coincidence and not something bad. (That is, if the deceased non-Muslim relative does not write a will (wasiyah) and the non-Muslim state divides up his / her wealth according to it's manmade laws, the Muslim relative is prohibited by Islamic law to accept any share allotted to him / her by this process.). An Executed Criminal - One who voluntarily confesses to a crime whose punishment is death should be prayed for, since such a confession is an unparalleled form of true repentance. The matter is broad in scope, because there is no text in shareeah to The final washing should have some perfume in it, such as camphor or the like. 2, p. 463, #2131]. He dug a grave and buried Abel. Questions cannot be asked through this form. [Sahih Al-Bukhari, vol. 2, p. 436, #2002]. [Collected by Al-Bayhaqi and Ad-Daraqutni and authenticated in Ahkam al-Jana'iz, p. 113], Seven Takbirat - Musa, the son of 'Abdullah ibn Yazid, said that Ali ibn Abi Talib made the funeral prayer using seven takbirat for Abu Qatadah, who was among those who took part in the Battle of Badr. Both ways were done by the Prophet sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam, but he favored the second method by indicating that it's reward was greater. WebIt is also recommended that the dead body should be taken out of the coffin and lowered into the grave very gently and the prescribed supplications should be recited before and Most Muslim funeral traditions focus on respect and allow for more grieving time to help those in mourning recover from the loss. 1, p. 157, #281 and Sahih Muslim, vol. Four Takbirat - Abu Hurayrah related that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam announced the Najashi's death on the same day which he died and went out with them to a place designated for large congregational prayers. In this way, contact with the dead body is minimized, which keeps the grief and hurt of seeing the dead down to a minimum. See disclaimer. 105365. For example, a person could die while on a ship. If the dead person is without wealth or the inheritance was not sufficient to cover all of his or her debts, the Islamic state will be responsible to repay the remainder, if the dead person had made serious efforts to pay it. WebBut I don't know where. However at the time of dying there were no instructions. 25 July 2011. [Sahih Al-Bukhari, vol. This prayer is known as salat al-gha'ib. What has been affirmed?" The placing of wreaths and flowers is a non-Muslim ritual. When the body of the deceased is not present, funeral prayers may be offered in absentia in exactly the same manner (the four takbirat) as if the body was present. Muslims believe in similar constructs to heaven and hell, referred to as Jannah (paradise or heaven) and Jahannam (hell). 2, p. 192, #339, p. 228, #407 and Sahih Muslim, vol. However, it is recommended that those who wash the dead take an Islamic bath (ghusl) afterwards, based on the following hadith: Abu Hurayah reported that the Prophet sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam said, "Whoever washes the dead should take a ghusl, and whoever carries the corpse should make wudhu." But if burying it will ward off If the Muslims will be harmed by it and bothered by its smell, then it is obligatory to bury it or take it far away from the highways and byways used by the people. You people are Allah's witnesses on earth." Some people from his family began to wail, so he said, "Only pray for good for yourselves, for verily the angels say 'Amin' to whatever you say," He then prayed, saying: Allahummagh-fir li Abi Salamah warfa' darajatahu filmahdiyin, [O Allah, forgive Abu Salamah and raise his level among the rightly guided,], [and let his remaining offspring be like him. He (the Prophet) replied, "Even three." There is no difference between the man and woman in the number of sheets used. He said, "O Ibn 'Awf, this is mercy." It's called the 'Iddah (or Edda), and it lasts four months and 10 days. To wrap a male Muslim corpse, you use three white sheets and four ropes. . Because of the rules about a quick burial, it's traditional to bury a Muslim where he or she died. Furthermore, women share in the benefits of visiting the graves. 2, p. 208, #372; Sahih Muslim, vol. 2, p. 556, #2553], Planting Twigs on Graves - It is not permissable to plant any flowers or twigs on the grave. Negative words should be avoided this will only increase the difficulties the sick and dying are facing. 2, p. 699, #3218]. [Al-Bukhari, 2/449, narrated Abul-Aswad], A funeral procession passed and the people praised the deceased. If neither the Amir nor his representative is present, the one who has the most knowledge of al-Qur'an should lead the funeral prayer, even if he is a child. 2020 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. As soon as a Muslim person dies, it's customary to close the eyes, bind the jaw and cover the body with a clean sheet. [Al-Bukhari 2/385, narrated 'Abdullah]. Relatives of the deceased are obliged to be patient, practice self restraint, and gracefully accept Allah's decree, because Allah has already promised mankind that He would test them. WebThree fist-sized spheres of hand-packed soil prepared beforehand by the gravediggers are used to prop up the corpse, one under the head, one under the chin and one under the 2, p. 436, #2002; Sunan Abu Dawud, vol. For the acceptance of Islam at this point to be of any benefit, it must be based on knowledge, it must be expressed sincerely and with certainty, and it must take place before the actual throes of death begin. ", "Verily the dead are punished in their graves by the wailing of their family over them. He said, "It has been affirmed to him." That includes: Crying or weeping in a loud voice; following it with incense (bukhoor) etc. ", "I dislike gatherings, even if there is no wailing or crying. ", "For any Muslim who dies and four of his close neighbours testify that they have known him to be good, Allah-the Blessed, the Highest-will say, 'I have accepted your testimony and forgiven him for what you do not know about.' The preferable number is generally considered to be three sheets, based on the fact that the Prophet sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam was shrouded in three. We'll look at Muslim burial traditions on the next page. obligatory to bury it or take it far away from the highways and byways used This should take the form of whatever is thought will bring them consolation, stem their grief and help them to be patient. For it only renews the [family's feelings of] sorrow and puts burdens on their food supplies. [Collected by Al-Bukhari, Muslim, Ibn Majah and Al-Bayhaqi; Al-Bukhari, vol. There are different rules for shrouding male and female Muslims. It is appropriate to send flowers after the funeral. In my life I encountered Under this law Muslims may leave a portion of their wealth to non-Muslim relatives and a Muslim may also receive a portion in a will from a non-Muslim relative, because it is considered a gift. Muslims gather in a group to pray silently that Allah will have mercy on this person and all other dead Muslims. Please copy/paste the following text to properly cite this HowStuffWorks.com article: Becky Striepe It's important that the people who perform the washing also be Muslim and of the same sex as the deceased. Structures over Graves - The building of any kind of structures over graves is strictly prohibited. 4, p. 1, #1, Sahih Muslim, vol. Create an account, If you do not have an account, you can click the button below to create one, Create new account [Sahih Al-Bukhari, vol. [Fath Al-Bari, vol. This does not contradict the recommendations for patience, as long as the mourning does not exceed three days for her child or relative and four months and ten days for her husband. See also Mishkat al-Masabih, vol. Furthermore, he identified such practices as acts of kufr (disbelief), because they indicate displeasure with what Allah has decreed. After the burial is complete, there are several things which are Sunnah: To make the grave a little higher than the ground, approximately a handspan, and not to make it level with the ground, so that it may be distinguished as a grave and respected, and not subjected to disrespect. The dying individual is obliged to accept his lot gracefully so that it becomes a source of reward and blessing for him on the Day of Judgement. The death wish reflects a belief that Allah has burdened one beyond his or her capacity and indicates a lack of patience. 2, p. 1002, #3521. We did not ask him regarding one witness. Ibn Mas'ud reported that the Prophet said, "Whoever slaps his face, tears his clothes, or invites (others) to an un-Islamic slogan is not of us." The dying person should be in a psychological state between fear and hope. Regardless of how old we are, we never stop learning. The body should be laid out, stripped of its garments and its joints loosened, if possible. [Sunan Abi Dawud, vol. WebTurning the body of one who is dying so that he or she faces the qiblah [Makkah] has no foundation in the practice of the Prophet sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam and his companions. Birds have long symbolized freedom, hope, and spiritual transcendence. The custom of organizing gatherings in the home, at the grave or in the masjid to give condolences to the family of the deceased is against the Sunnah of the Companions of the Prophet. After placing the body on a high table and saying, "In the name of Allah," the washers use cloths to methodically clean the body, top to bottom and left to right, repeating the process three to seven times until the body is clean. [Collected in all six major books of hadith. In theory, a deceased Muslim should be buried as soon as possible. Following the Bier - To follow a Muslim's bier is among the obligatory rights due to every Muslim from all Muslims who witness his or her funeral procession. 2, p. 898, #3157, Sunan Ibn Majah vol. Even if it's not required there's nothing wrong with it and it's a nice thing to do. Submission to God (Islam in Arabic) is a way of life that encourages kindness, tolerance and acceptance. If the Muslims will be harmed by it and bothered by its smell, then it is Abdullah ibn Ja'far narrated that the Prophet sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam delayed coming to visit Ja'far's family 'for three days after his death', then he came to them and said, "Do not cry for my brother after today." man (faith) includes the belief that Allah is the source of all good and that all of His actions are wise. [Sahih Sunan an-Nasa'i, vol. 2, p. 156, #280], Depth of the Grave - The grave should be dug deep and wide, and be well-prepared. Multiple authentic hadiths show that the Prophet Because of both the wrap and the desire to bury the dead as soon as possible, Muslim funerals generally dont have a viewing, though this may be done by certain members of the community directly after the body is wrapped. 2, p. 236, #419; Sahih Al-Bukhari, vol. Burial in the Graveyard - It was the Prophet's sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam Sunnah to bury the dead in the graveyard of Madinah, known as Al-Baqi. These practices all heighten the pain and sorrow that accompany death, while Islam seeks to minimize it. Gathering to offer condolences, even though the people do that. 5, pp. . ", "The deceased who is wailed over is tortured for that wailing. The Prophet sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam taught that patiently bearing the trials of this life is an act of righteousness which expiates sins. Both Abu Sa'id al-Khudri and Abu Hurayrah quoted the Prophet sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam as saying "Prompt your dying ones (to say): la ilaha illallah." Click On Detroit. But if one must do it, let him say: Allahumma ahyini ma kanatil-hayatu khayran li [O Allah keep me alive as long as living is best for me] wa tawaffani itha kanatil-wafatu khayran li [and take my life if death is better for me]. Sa'id ibn al-Musayyib ibn Hazn (634-713CE), from the Madinite tribe of Makhzum, who was one of the seven leading legal scholars of Madinah. 1, p. 12, #18 for an English translation of this hadith]. The Dignity Memorial brand name is used to identify a network of licensed funeral, cremation and cemetery providers that include affiliates of Service Corporation International, 1929 Allen Parkway, Houston, Texas. 1. [Al-Bukhari, vol. The Prophet sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam explicitly instructed his followers on numerous occasions to differ in their religious and social customs from non-Muslims. [Sunan Ibn Majah, vol. 1, p. 59, nos. However, a birds death can evoke sadness, despair, and even death. Kitaab al-Mawt, via Ayyoob as-Sakhtiyaani. Indeed we are grieved by your separation. Ideally, wear gloves when doing so. Women are not encouraged to take part based on the fact that the Prophet sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam prohibited their participation. Like the silent prayer, this occurs outside of the mosque, if possible, and the entire prayer service takes place standing. Weeping is acceptable, but the Islamic faith discourages loud crying and acting out during the mourning period. The ruling permitting women to visit graves is supported by hadith. 2, p. 453, #2084], Salat al-Gha'ib - If someone dies in a country or situation where there is no one to perform the salat al-janazah for him, it is permitted for a group of muslims to make a funeral prayer for him in his absence. This was the only way that the Prophet sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam and his companions did it. ", "He who slaps the cheeks, tears the clothes and follows the tradition of the Days of Ignorance is not from us. End quote from Fataawa al-Lajnah ad-Daaimah, 8/444-445. Islamic Graveyard Rules Family and friends customarily bring food to the family to keep them from having to attend to these details. Then another funeral procession passed and the people spoke badly of the deceased. But it is clear that they have a place because they breathe, they are alive, they eat and so they may have a life after death. Aisha, Bilal Abu. 2, p. 778, #3552]. 1, p. 345, #604], The only exception to this rule was in the case of the funeral prayer for the Prophet sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam, in which the Prophets sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam Companions seem to have all prayed seperately due to the uniqeness of the situation and their state of confusion at the time. 2, p. 889, #3115, Sunan ibn Majah, vol. 2, p. 463, #2130], The Charity Of Children - Parents will benefit from whatever righteous deeds their children do, without decreasing the reward of their children's good deeds. "What Are Islamic Burial Traditions?" Both methods were practiced in the time of the Prophet sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam. Hence it is prescribed to bury it, in order to ward off harm [Muslim, vol. Rather it was narrated by Ibn Abid-Dunya in his 3, p. 852, #3928], According to the system of Islamic inheritance laws (fara'id), non-Muslims are not classified as heirs to Muslims. After the silent Fatihah, there are four more prayers in a traditional Muslim funeral service. 4, p. 244]. Conservative Muslims believe that the person's spirit can hear these cries, and they cause the spirit anguish. For more information, please see our ", "Never pray for any of them who die, and do not stand by their graves, for verily they have disbelieved in Allah and His Messenger and died in sin. Web835 likes, 21 comments - Anoushey Ashraf (@anousheyashraf) on Instagram: "@mcetarbiyah is a great place for kids to learn about how Islam teaches patience, kindness and go" Anoushey Ashraf on Instagram: "@mcetarbiyah is a great place for kids to learn about how Islam teaches patience, kindness and goodness for all. 304-5]. and so on; should they be buried, or left unburied on the ground? [Sahih Al-Bukhari, vol. preferable to bury them so that they will not harm or bother anyone. Cain (Qabeel) admitted that he was not even as intelligent as that crow, who taught him to bury the dead body of his brother Abel (Habeel). The process requires a certain amount of strength, and men are generally stronger than women. Disbelievers - The performance of funeral prayers or even seeking forgiveness or mercy for those who die in open disbelief or nifaq (subtle disbelief) is strictly forbidden, based on the following instruction of Allah in the Qur'an: In Congregation - Salat al-janazah, like the five daily compulsary prayers, must be performed in congregation.