Funerals
Cemeteries and Addresses
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GUIDELINES ON DEATH AND BURIAL IN ISLAM. (BASIC)
It's written in QURAN (3:185) “Everyone shall have to DIE”. Muslims believe that the present LIFE is only a trial and a preparation for a HERE AFTER. Death brings an end to our temporary life on this earth. Basic faith includes:- The day of judgement, resurrection & heaven and hell. In Islam, people mourn by reciting the Quran and pray for the deceased. The life in the Hereafter is for ever.
In Islam one has to have a belief that death can come at any time, when “MALAKUL MAWT” (Angle) comes the soul would be taken away. MAY “ALLAH” GIVE DEATH WITH “SHAHADA” ON THE TONGUE” AMEEN. “LA ILAHA ILLAL LAHU MUHAMMADUR RASULULLAH”. (There is NO God but “ALLAH” and Muhammad is “ALLAH'S Messenger).
AS DEATH APPROACHES.
If there are family members or friends present at the time of death, they should encourage the dying person to recite “DHIKR” (Quranic words, remembrance of ALLAH). They should also encourage the dying person to repeat the “SHAHADA” the testimony of faith.
THE MOMENT OF DEATH.
When death occurs, the eyes of the deceased should be closed and the lower jaw should be gently bound with a strip of clean cloth to the top of the head, to stop the mouth from staying open. The feet and toes should also be gently bound with a clean cloth to keep them together. The arms should be placed straight down the side of the body, try also to keep the fingers straight. A Doctor should be called at this time as the doctor can issue The “CAUSE OF DEATH” Certificate. Once the death certificate is obtained, ring and make an appointment at The REGISTER OFFICE to register the death and to obtain a “CERTIFICATE FOR BURIAL”, also known as The “GREEN CERTIFICATE”. Once the Green Certificate is received the Funeral Directors should be informed and the body can be taken away for GHUSL and to arrange the burial at the Cemetery. Once the times are known for burial inform family, friends etc.
ITEMS NEEDED FOR GHUSL AND KAFN (Shroud)
FOR GHUSL |
KAFN FOR MALE KAFN FOR FEMALE |
GHUSL FOR THE DECEASED.
The closest relatives should have the foremost right to the Bathing of the deceased. An adult MALE should be given ghusl by his FATHER, BROTHER, SON, etc. and for adult FEMALE should be given ghusl by her MOTHER, SISTER, DAUGHTER, etc. Other persons of the same Gender can also help where possible. Imam for male or Alima for female can show the right way to give ghusl.
METHOD OF GHUSL.
Cover the private parts (satr) with a dark thick cloth (teh'band) which should be thick enough NOT to allow a view of the BODY even when it is wet. For the male it should cover from above the navel to below the knees and for female it should cover above the chest to the ankles. Remove all clothings including the underwear. Do NOT cut or trim the deceased hair or nails. Remove any dentures, tubes or any other items connected to the body, (making sure NO blood comes out). Wearing gloves and using hands to massage the stomach gently, wash the private parts with cotton wool (changing cotton wool few times until clean). Now it is time to do “WUDHU” (ablution), to the deceased. Using the wet cotton wool, wash the mouth first and than the nostrils 3x each. (making sure NO water goes in the mouth or nostrils) now wash the face (3x) arms up to elbow (3x) massah (rubbing with wet hands) the head and lastly the feet up to the ankles (3x). Once the wudhu is done, the bathing of the deceased should be done with soap and water. Put some cotton wool in the nostrils to stop the water going in side. Starting from the front, from head to toe wash with soap and water. Once done tilt the body onto it's left side, wash from head to toe underneath with soap and water. Now tilt the body onto it's right side do the same again making sure the teh'band is in place all the time the body is washed. Once the bathing is done, take the cotton wool out of the nostrils and start to dry the deceased with towels making sure the satr is ALWAYS covered. Now the body is ready to be covered with “KAFN”(shroud).
KAFN (SHROUD)
The kafn is always white, clean and UN-SEWN. There are 3 pieces of kafn for male and 5 pieces of kafn for female.
MALE |
FEMALE |
HOW THE KAFN IS LAID OUT AND HOW THE QAMEES IS CUT.
The chadder should be long enough to cover from head to toe plus extra to tie at feet and head with thin strips. One should be used to tie near the stomach. Lay the deceased on the kafn (still with the towel to cover the private parts),put the head through the cut out in the qameez and roll the top side of the qameez over the body. The qameez should cover the satr and the towel can now be removed. At this stage the camphor and rose water solution should be applied to the forehead, nose, palms of hands, knees, toes and soles of feet. (parts of body that touch the ground when in SAJDHA. Now 1 by 1 all the pieces of kafn should be folded over the body, first the left side than the right. Ittar can also be used on the kafn. Hair should NOT be combed, tied or plaited and the female's head should be covered with the orni (scarf). 3 thin strips of cotton should be used to tie the kafn i.e. 1 over the head, 1 near the feet and 1 in the middle. The deceased can now be buried.
THE SALATUL JANAZAH
Salatul Janazah is prayed standing up with no rukus or sajdahs and there are 4 takbirs. Raising your arms to the ears say the 1st takbir fold the arms as usual and read THANA and SURAH AL-FATIHA, still standing say 2nd takbir and read DARUD -E- IBRAHIM, still standing say 3rd takbir and for a ADULT MALE read “Allahummaghfir lihayyina wa mayyitina wa shahidina wa gha'ibina wa saghirina wa kabirina wa dhakarina wa unthana allahumma man ahyaitahu minna faahyihi alal Islam wa man tawaffaitahu minna fatawaffahu alal iman.” For ADULT FEMALE change the last 2 lines to “Allahumma man ahyaitaha minna fa ahyiha alal Islam wa man tawaffaitaha minna fatawaffaha alal iman.” For NA-BAALIGH(under age) BOY, read “Allahumma aj'alhulana fartan wa aja'lhu lana ajran wa dhukran wa aj'alhu alna shafian wa mushfa'an.” For NA-BAALIGH (under age) GIRL, read “Allahumma aja'lha lana fartan wa aja'lha lana ajran wa dhukhran wa aja'lha lana shafi'atan wa mushfa'ah.” Say the 4th takbir and say SALAAM on right and than on left. NO hands should be raised to the ears at 2nd, 3rd or 4th takbir. This finishes salatul janazah. When someone dies all the good deeds stop, except in 3 cases, 1) the charity that was given, 2) the knowledge given and 3) the pious child or children making duas for the deceased parents.
BURIAL OF THE DECEASED.
The 3 thin strips tied should be undone. Some soil should be placed under the left shoulder so that the deceased is laying on the right side so as to face the QIBLAH. When putting soil under the female deceased it should be done by her father, brother, son etc. A CHADDER should be used to cover the deceased from other men to look at the female deceased.
TYPES OF GRAVES USED.
