Rituals, rules, rituals during the funeral of Muslims

According to Islamic tradition, Muslim funerals include many rules, customs and rituals. Let's consider them further...

Ablution (Taharat) and washing (Ghusul) of the dead

Rites of ablution and washing with water are performed over the dead. In the event that a Muslim was dressed in ihram (pilgrim's clothes) and rested when the pilgrimage was made, without having had time to go around the Kaaba, he is traditionally washed with clean water without camphor and cedar powder. As usual, the deceased is washed and washed three times: with water mixed with cedar powder; water mixed with camphor and then pure water.

Muslim funerals: the order of ablution

The deceased is placed on a hard bed so that his face turned to Qibla. There is always a similar bed at the mosque and also at the cemetery. The room is fumigated with incense. The genitals of the deceased are covered with cloth. Ghassal (the person who conducts ablution) washes his hands three times, puts on protective gloves, after which, pressing on the chest of the deceased, runs his hands down the stomach so that the contents of the intestine come out. After that, the genitals are washed, which are forbidden to look at. Next, the gassal changes the gloves already used in the rite, moistens them and wipes the mouth of the deceased, cleans the nose, and washes the face. After this, the Ghassal washes both hands elbow to toe, starting with the right hand. This procedure for ablution is the same for both women and men.

Muslim funerals: ablution

Before the funeral, Muslims wash the hands of the deceased to the elbow, as well as his face three times. The head, ears and neck are well wetted. Next, the legs of the deceased are washed up to the ankle. The head, as well as the beard, are washed with warm water and soap. Cedar powder (gulkair) is added to the water. The deceased is laid on the left side, and the right side is washed. The order of washing is as follows: they pour water, wipe the body, and then pour it again, washing off the soapy water with the powder. Water is simply poured onto the material covering the genitals. Such places remain without wiping. These procedures are done three times. The same is done when the deceased is placed on the right side. After that, the deceased is again washed with water three times on the right side. Laying the deceased chest down to wash his back is prohibited. To do this, the body is slightly raised behind the back, and thus water is poured on the back. After that, the deceased is laid down, the gassal runs his palms down the chest, pressing so that the feces that are still inside come out of the body. Next comes the general washing of the whole body. If the stool comes out after that, then washing will not be performed (only the soiled place is cleaned). Only one washing of the deceased is considered obligatory, washing more than three times is unnecessary. The wet body of the deceased is wiped with a towel. The forehead, nostrils, hands and feet of the deceased are smeared with incense (Bowls-anbar, Zam-Zam, Kofur, etc.).

At least 4 people must participate in the processions of ablution and washing. A close relative of the deceased can be chosen as a hassal and an assistant to the hassal, pouring water on the body. Others should be busy turning and supporting the body of the deceased in the process of washing. Men should not wash women, nor should women wash men. Small children of the opposite sex are allowed to be washed. A wife has the right to wash her husband's body. When, for example, the deceased is a man, and among those around there are only women (or vice versa), then only tayammum is performed. Ghassal must not declare any physical defects or other defects of the deceased. Washing can be both gratuitous and paid. The gravedigger and porters may also be paid for their work.

Muslim funeral: Shroud (Kafan)

Sharia does not allow the burial of the deceased in clothes. The deceased will need to be wrapped in a shroud. Kafan is made of chintz or white linen. Kafan for men is (of three parts): 1. Lifofa - fabrics (of various types and good grades) covering the deceased from head to toe (40 cm of fabric on each side, so that the shroud can be tied on both sides after wrapping body); 2. Isor - a piece of cloth for wrapping the lower part of the body; 3. Kamis - a shirt sewn so that the genitals of a man are covered. For women (five-component): 1. Lifofa - the same as for men; 2. Izor - a piece of fabric for the lower part of the body; 3. Kamis - a shirt, without a collar, with a cutout for the head; 4. Himor - a scarf to cover the head and hair of a woman, the length of which is 2 m, and the width is 60 cm; 5. Pick - a piece of fabric for covering the chest, length - 1.5 m, width - 60 cm.

One bodice is enough to cover newborns or dead babies. For boys under the age of 8 or 9, wrapping in a shroud is permissible, as well as for an adult or an infant. It is desirable that the shroud be prepared for the deceased husband by the wife, and for the deceased wife by the husband, relatives or children. If the deceased was alone, then the funeral is carried out by the neighbors. Al-Tabari narrated the following hadith: “The Prophet said that a neighbor is worthy if he falls ill, so that you treat him, if he dies - bury him, if he becomes poor - lend, if he is in need - protect him, if good comes to him - congratulate him, if trouble - consoled him. Do not raise your building above his building, support your fire from his, do not irritate him with the smell of your boiler, except by drawing him from it. (Jami-ul-Fawaid, 1464). The community can bury a Muslim. The whole body is covered with cloth. If the deceased was a bankrupt person, then covering his body with three pieces of cloth would be considered sunnah. If the deceased was wealthy and did not leave debts behind, then his body is covered with three pieces of cloth without fail. Matter should be in accordance with the material wealth of the one who is buried - as a sign of respect for the deceased. The body of the deceased can be covered with a cloth that was in use, but it is better if the cloth is new. It is forbidden to cover the body of a man with silk.

Muslim funerals: wrapping (Kafanlash)

According to the funeral rules, before wrapping the body, Muslims do not cut their beard and hair, do not cut their toe and hand nails, and do not remove gold crowns. Procedures such as hair removal, nail trimming must be done while alive. The procedure for enveloping the deceased men is as follows: before covering the deceased, a lifofa is spread on the bed, which is sprinkled with fragrant herbs and flavored with various incense, for example, rose oil. An izor is spread over the bodice. After that, the deceased is laid down, dressed in a qamis. Hands are placed along the body. The deceased is anointed with incense. Then prayers are read and the dead are forgiven. Izorom envelop the body: first the left side, and then the right. Lifofu is first wrapped on the left side, then the knots are tied at the head, at the waist, and also at the legs. When the body is lowered into the grave, these knots are untied.

The order of wrapping women. It is similar to men's, with the only difference that before putting on the kamis, the breasts of the deceased are covered with a khirka - a cloth that covers the chest from the level of the armpits to the abdomen. When the qamis is put on, the hair falls on it. A scarf is placed on the face - a chimor, placed under the head. This is the only difference.

Muslim funeral: funeral stretcher (Tobut)

Tobut is a stretcher with a sliding lid. As a rule, they are available at the mosque, as well as at the cemetery. A blanket is spread over the tobut, on which the deceased is placed, after which the lid is closed and covered with a cloth. According to a number of customs, the clothes of the deceased are placed on top so that the worshipers know whether they are burying a man or a woman.

Muslim funerals: funeral prayer (Janaza)

Prayer is given special importance. It is performed by the imam of the mosque or the person replacing him. Tobut is placed perpendicular to the direction of Qibla. The imam is closest to the coffin, and behind him are those gathered in rows. Here, the difference from ordinary prayers is that there are no waist and earthly bows. The funeral prayer is 4 takbirs (Allahu Akbar) - appeals to the Almighty with a request to forgive sins and have mercy on the deceased and greet (right and left). The imam repeats three times before the beginning of the prayer the phrase: “As-Salat!”, Which means: “Come to prayer!”. Before the prayer, he turns to the relatives of the deceased and to those gathered for prayer with the question of whether there are debts for the deceased, which he did not have time to pay during his lifetime (or, conversely, did anyone remain in debt to him). Also, is there someone who was in a dispute with the now deceased, and asks to forgive him, or who asks to pay off relatives. If the reading of the prayer over the deceased does not occur, the funeral must be declared invalid. When a child or a newborn dies, who nevertheless showed signs of life (for example, crying out before death), prayer is always obligatory. If the child was stillborn, prayer is undesirable. As a rule, a prayer is read after washing the deceased and wrapping him in a shroud.

Muslim funeral: (Daphne)

It is best to bury the deceased in a nearby cemetery as soon as possible. According to the rite of burial among Muslims, when the deceased is placed on the ground, his head should be turned towards Qibla. The body is lowered into the grave feet down, and when a woman descends into the grave, a veil is held over her, so that her shroud is in the field of view of the men. Further, a handful of earth is thrown into the grave, and at the same time it is said in Arabic: “Inna lilakhi wa inna ilayhi rajiun”, which means: “We all belong to God and return to Him” (Sura Al-Baqara, 156). The grave covered with earth should be four fingers above ground level. After that, the grave is poured with water, a handful of earth is thrown onto it seven times and a prayer is read, which means in translation: “We created you from it, and we return you to it, and we will bring you out of it another time.” Then one person remains at the grave and reads talkin - the words of evidence of the Muslim's faith in Allah, His Prophet, the Holy Scriptures read over the grave of the deceased in order to facilitate the interrogation of the Angels Munkar and Nakir for the deceased.

Muslim funeral: grave (Qabr)

The grave is cultivated in different ways, it all depends on the relief of the area in which Muslims live. 1. Lahad - consists of an iwan and a cell inside it. The dimensions of the aivan are 1.5 x 2.5 m, and the depth is 1.5 m. Below it is a rounded entrance to the cell (80 cm). It is made in such a size that both the body itself and the participants in the funeral procession could fit in the cell. 2. Yoke. Its components: iwan and inner shelf. The yoke is higher than the size of the bodies of the deceased by about half a meter on each side. The shelf (shikka) is made according to the length of the body or the width of the yoke (height 70 cm, width 70 cm). According to the Shari'ah, the deceased must be buried in such a way that there is no smell, and predators could not pull him out. For this purpose, the grave is strengthened with burnt bricks for the lahad, and for the yoke, it is reinforced with a board. It is not customary to bury Muslims in a coffin. If a Muslim dies while swimming, in this case Shariah requires that the funeral be delayed if possible and carried out on dry land. If, nevertheless, the land is far away, a full Muslim rite is performed over the deceased, with ablution, wrapping in a shroud and prayer. After that, a heavy object is tied to the legs of the body of the deceased, and it falls into the sea or ocean.

Muslim funerals: reading the Quran during the funeral

The reading of the verses of the Qur'an is connected with the funeral rite. In accordance with the testament of the Prophet, peace be upon him, the surah Al-Mulk is read, accompanied by many requests addressed to Allah Almighty so that He has mercy on the deceased. In prayers, in particular after the funeral, the name of the deceased is mentioned most often, and only good things are said about him. Prayers and requests to Allah must be present, because on the very first day (night) the Angels Munkar and Nakir will appear in the grave, starting the interrogation of the deceased. Prayers will ease the position of the deceased before the "underground court".

Muslim funerals: Muslim cemeteries

A characteristic feature of Muslim cemeteries is that all the graves and tombstones are directed with their facades towards Mecca. Adherents of Islam, walking past the cemetery, read a surah from the Kor'an. Often people who do not know where to turn when praying see Kybla in the direction of the graves. Among the cemetery there are special rooms designed for washing and washing the dead. It is strictly forbidden to bury a Muslim in a non-Muslim cemetery, and, in turn, a non-Muslim in a Muslim one. If the wife of a Muslim - a Christian or a Jew - died pregnant, then she is buried in a separate area, directing her back to Mecca so that the child in the mother's womb is turned to face Mecca. Sharia does not approve of various tomb buildings (for example, stones with the image of the deceased), rich family crypts, mausoleums, as well as tombs, as this humiliates poor Muslims or causes envy among some people. It is also not approved when the grave serves as a place of prayer. From here comes the requirement of Shariah: tombstones should not look like mosques. On the tombstone it is recommended to write the following:
"Inna lillahi wa inna ilyaihi rajiun"
(Indeed we belong to Allah and to Him we will be returned.)

Muslim funerals: about the opening of graves

Sharia prohibits the opening of the graves of the Prophet, peace be upon him, imams, caliphs, martyrs for the faith, as well as scientists who have some religious authority. It is also forbidden to open the burial place of a child or the burial place of an insane person whose parents are Muslims. The opening of the grave of a Muslim is allowed in the following cases: 1) when the deceased was buried in usurped land, and the owner of the site is against the fact that there was a grave on the site; 2) if the shroud and other funeral accessories are usurped or stolen, etc.; 3) if it is found out that the burial was not carried out according to the rules of Sharia (for example, without a shroud, or the body was not placed facing Qibla; 4) when a Muslim is buried not in a cemetery for Muslims or on a plot of land where sewage, garbage, etc. are scattered; 5) if there is a possibility that predators can pull out the corpse, or there is a danger of flooding the grave, there is a possibility that some enemies of the deceased may abuse his body; 6) when, after the funeral, unburied parts of the body of the deceased are found.

Muslim funerals: mourning for the deceased

Sharia does not prohibit mourning the deceased, but it is strictly forbidden to do it loudly. It is also unacceptable for close relatives of the deceased to scratch their face and body, tear their hair, or inflict any bodily harm on themselves. Also in such cases, relatives are unacceptable to tear their clothes. The Prophet said that when the family of the deceased mourns him, he suffers. According to Sharia, it should be like this: if men cry, especially young or middle-aged ones, those around them should reproach them, and crying old people and children should be gently soothed. Islam forbids the profession of mourners for the dead, however, despite the prohibitions, in many Islamic states there are still professional mourners who have especially touching voices. Mourners are hired for the duration of funeral rites and commemorations. Islam does not approve of this, it is sharply against professional mourners. The words of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, are as follows: “My community cannot tolerate the four customs of paganism: boasting of good deeds, slandering the origin of other people, superstition that fertility depends on the stars, and weeping for the dead.”

Islam requires enduring grief patiently. Patience (sabr) is considered a great virtue. The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said: “He who, for the sake of the dead, tears his clothes, beats himself in the face or emits cries that were in the customs of the times of jahiliyah (ignorance before the revelation of Shariah to the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him) is not one of us (i.e. e. not from among the pious)”. The fourth caliph, Imam Ali, declared: "Patience in faith is the same as the head on the body." About patience, Allah Almighty said in the Qur'an: “Seek the help of Allah in patience and prayer, indeed Allah is with the patient. Those who suffer any kind of disaster say: “Verily, we are in the power of Allah and to Him we will return! We thank Him for blessings and endure adversity in reward and punishment.” These are those over whom Grace is from their Lord, and they are on the right path. ("Al-Baqara", 153,156,157).

Muslim funerals: preparation for death

A convert to Islam needs to be ready for death every moment: day or night, in a dream or in reality. This requires:
1. Believe in the doctrine of Monotheism (there is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is His messenger) 2. Observe five basic, obligatory prayers (prayers) daily and, in addition, perform additional prayers (sunnah, witr, nafil).
3. Read the Qur'an, think about its meaning and act in accordance with it. Read the Koran during the day, as well as in the middle of the night, and before obligatory prayers. Read the Qur'an in full, once or twice every month at least. 4. Read the hadiths of the Prophet, peace be upon him, do as the Sunnah orders and beware of what she vetoes. 5. Go to the society of righteous Muslims who constantly remember Allah, benefit from communication with them in order to improve their faith and life. 6. To command what is right and to abstain from what is condemned, to which great importance is attached.

In order for the remembrance of death to become a need of the soul of a Muslim, it will need to be constantly maintained, by the fact that the believer:

a) visits the graves for reflection, drawing conclusions and observation;

b) visits the elderly, especially relatives. Youth is not given forever, it will surely be followed by the helplessness of old age. You must use your youth for good deeds before old age sets in;

c) visits the sick and observes the difference in existing diseases. You need to thank Allah for your health, applying as much strength as possible to worship Allah, until, Allah forbid, some illness happens to you.

All these actions help the Muslim to regularly renew his repentance (tauba); be in harmony with your position; increase the activity of worship. Nevertheless, a Muslim lacks attentiveness in obedience to Allah and His Prophet, peace be upon Him, lacks seriousness in fulfilling the prescriptions of Sharia - this is all the result of an indifferent, negligent, lazy attitude to worship.

“Say: “Indeed, there is no escape from death, from which you are fleeing. It will certainly overtake you, then you will be returned to the One who knows the hidden and the obvious, and He will remind you of what you did. ("Al-Jumu'a", 8)

Muslim funerals: our help to the dead

It is known that the departed need our prayers more than the living need food and drink. In this regard, one of the pious deeds of a believer is caring for the deceased Muslims. How can we help the dead now?

If an adherent of Islam has died, the remaining first thing to do is to perform a funeral rite in accordance with Sharia: wash the deceased, read namaz-janaz (a prayer to Allah for his forgiveness), read talkin (1) in the cemetery immediately after burial, it is also advisable to distribute sadaka, read the Koran.

The Qur'an says that a Muslim who reads the Qur'an correctly, as well as fulfills his prescribed duties (prayer, fasting, spending part of the property granted to him by Allah for what is necessary according to Sharia, etc.), at the End of the World, Allah promised a reward and prosperity.

The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said: “The best of you are those who have learned to read the Qur'an, its interpretation and taught it to others. They will get a big savab.” “Whoever reads at least one letter from the Quran will receive a hasanat (reward), and each subsequent letter increases the hasanat by 10 times.” "Read Surah Yasin to your dead."

Once the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, was walking through the cemetery with his companions. He stopped next to two graves and said that two sinners were suffering in them. After that, He broke a palm branch in two and placed each piece on each of the graves. The Prophet, Peace be upon him, said that this would ease the suffering of the departed sinners. If a plant benefits the deceased, then what benefit should a person be from reading the Koran, which is the Speech of Allah!

From these hadiths, we can conclude that reading the Quran is a benefactor for both the deceased and the reader, but only if the Muslim read correctly and for the sake of Allah. It is important to read the Qur'an yourself and ask Allah to give the sawab to the deceased, because the medicine for people lies in the reading of the Qur'an. To learn Sura Al-Fatiha is within the power of every Muslim (reading it three times is rewarded as for reading the Koran twice). You can learn some other short Surahs (several), for example, Al-Ikhlas (reading it three times is rewarded as reading the whole Koran), Al-Falyak, An-Nas.

An adherent of the Islamic faith can also do good deeds with the intention of "Isale-sawab" (i.e. asking Allah to give reward to the dead). If a person with such an intention keeps an additional fast, distributes sadaka, builds a mosque, reads dhikr, salawat and istighfar, becomes a distributor of knowledge on Islam, then the dead receive a full savab for any of these deeds, and at the same time, the savab of the person who committed these deeds does not decrease.

Today there are people who believe that there is no benefit from holding a commemoration, which tells about death and resurrection for reporting on the Day of Judgment, etc., distributing sadak or reading the Koran for the dead, there is no benefit. This view is erroneous and dangerous for many reasons. Some of the reasons:

1. Those who do not believe that sawab from good deeds is passed on to the dead, in fact doubt the Almighty of Allah. The world was created by Allah from nothing, and it was not difficult for Him. By His Will, sawab can be given to anyone - living or dead, about which there are many sayings of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him.

2. Those who do not recognize the possibility of such Muslims helping each other, in fact, want to destroy the fraternal bonds of Muslims based on mutual support, love and willingness to help in difficult times. The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, stated that His community should be as united as the human body: if one organ hurts, then the whole body will hurt.

3. Islamic scholars confirm the benefits of giving sadaqah and reciting the Quran for the dead. Those who do not agree with this opinion go against the majority. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “My Ummah does not unite in error.”

4. Talkin - testifying words about the faith of a Muslim in Allah, His Prophet, the Holy Scriptures, read over the grave of a resting person, in order to facilitate his interrogation of the Angels Munkar and Nakir.

Grief walks alongside joy, we are always waiting for good things, but do not forget that funerals are inevitable in the life of every family, and they come, as always, unexpectedly and at the wrong time... When someone leaves this world, it must be done with dignity , according to the traditions and religion of the deceased. Muslim rites of passage to another world are quite original, they may even seem strange to some.

Getting the body in order

If you know, then it will not be news to you that the body preparation procedure is carried out in three stages, according to the centuries-old tradition. A ritual three-time washing of the deceased is carried out (what exactly is written below), and the very room in which these actions are carried out is fumigated with incense. Let's get back to washing. For this are used:

1. Water with cedar powder.
2. camphor solution.
3. Cool water.

There are some difficulties in washing the back, since the deceased should not be placed chest down. The deceased is lifted to wash him from below, then the palms are passed along the chest from top to bottom, pressing with medium force. This is necessary for all impurities to come out of the body. Then the deceased is washed in its entirety and the soiled places are cleansed if, after the final washing and pressure on the chest, excrement occurred.

It is necessary to emphasize how a Muslim is buried in modern times - today it is enough to wash the body once or twice, and carrying out this procedure more than three times is considered unnecessary. The deceased is wiped with a woven towel, legs, arms, nostrils and forehead are smeared with incense, which are used, for example, Zam-Zam or Kofur. In no case is it allowed to cut the deceased's nails and hair.

At any Muslim cemetery there is a room for ablutions, and not only the relatives of the deceased can perform the ceremony, but, if they wish, the cemetery workers can take over the execution of this procedure.

Laws and regulations

According to Sharia law, it is strictly forbidden to bury a Muslim in a non-Islamic cemetery, and vice versa - to bury a person of another faith in a Muslim cemetery.
When they ask how to properly bury a Muslim, when burying the deceased, they pay attention to the location of the grave and the monument - they should be directed strictly towards Mecca. If the pregnant wife of a Muslim, who had a religion other than Muslim, is to be buried, then she is buried with her back to Mecca in a separate area - then the child in the mother's womb will be facing the Shrine.

burial

If you do not know how a Muslim is buried, please note that another very important aspect of the procedure is that representatives of this religion are buried without a coffin. Exceptional cases of burials in coffins are severely mutilated dismembered bodies or their fragments, as well as decomposed corpses. The deceased is taken to the cemetery on a special iron stretcher, rounded at the top, called a "tabuta". A grave is being prepared for the deceased with a hole in the side, which looks like a shelf - that's where the deceased is placed. This prevents water from entering the body when watering flowers. Therefore, in Islamic cemeteries one cannot walk between the graves, since Muslims bury the dead in the grave, but in fact the buried person turns out to be located in it a little to the side, while directly under the grave is empty. This location of the deceased prevents, in particular, animals from smelling him, digging up the grave and pulling him out. By the way, it is for this purpose that the Muslim grave is reinforced with bricks and boards.

Certain prayers are read over the deceased Muslim. The body is lowered into the grave feet down. It is customary to throw earth and pour water into the grave.

Why sitting?

Why and how are Muslims buried sitting? This is due to the fact that Muslims believe in a living soul in the deceased body immediately after the funeral - until the angel of death transfers it to the angel of paradise, who will prepare the soul of the deceased for eternal life. Before this action, the soul answers the questions of the angels, such a serious conversation should take place in decent conditions, so sometimes (not always) Muslims are usually buried sitting.

Caftan for burial

How is a Muslim buried according to the rules? There is one more feature. It is customary to wrap the deceased in a white shroud or caftan, which is considered to be grave clothing and consists of fabric cuts of different lengths. It is better that the caftan be white, and the quality of the fabric and its length should correspond to the status of the deceased. At the same time, it is allowed to prepare a caftan during the life of a person.

The knots on the shroud are tied at the head, waist and legs, and they are untied immediately before the burial of the body.

The male caftan consists of three pieces of linen. The first covers the deceased from head to toe and is called "lifofa". The second piece of fabric - "izor" - wraps around the lower part of the body. Finally, the shirt itself - "kamis" - should be of such length that the genitals were covered. They allow you to understand how Muslims are buried, the photos presented in the article.

As for the female burial costume, a Muslim woman is buried in a caftan, consisting of the above-described parts, as well as a scarf ("pick") covering her head and hair, and a "khimora" - a piece of cloth covering her chest.

Days and dates

Sharia law clearly defines how Muslim men and women are buried. This procedure should be carried out on the day of the death of the deceased. Only men are present at the funeral, but in some Muslim countries women are also allowed to the procession, both sexes must have their heads covered. It is not customary to speak at a funeral, only the mullah reads prayers, remaining at the grave for about one more hour (and earlier - before sunrise) after the burial procedure and the departure of the procession from the cemetery (with his prayers, he must “suggest” to the soul of the deceased how to answer the angels). In the picture below you can see how Muslims are buried - the photo illustrates the mullah's prayer.

As in Christianity, in Islam there are third, seventh (not ninth) and fortieth days from the moment of death, which are commemorative. In addition, relatives and friends of the deceased gather every Thursday from the seventh to the fortieth day and commemorate him with tea, halvah and sugar, a mullah sits at the head of the table. The house where the deceased lived should not hear music for 40 days after the tragic event.

Features of the funeral of a child

Pigeons are bought in advance, the number of which should equal the number of years of the deceased. When the funeral procession leaves the house, one of the relatives opens the cage and releases the birds into the wild. Favorite toys of an untimely departed child are placed in a children's grave.

The gravest sin is to dare to take a life

Why do God-fearing Muslims dare to commit suicide, and how are suicidal Muslims buried? The Islamic religion categorically prohibits both violent actions against other people and over one's own body (the act of suicide is violence against one's own flesh), punishing for this the road to hell. After all, committing an act of suicide, a person opposes Allah, who predetermines the fate of every Muslim. Such a person, in fact, voluntarily renounces the life of his soul in paradise, that is, as it were, enters into an argument with God... - is this conceivable?! Often such people are driven by banal ignorance, a true Muslim will never dare to commit such a grave sin as suicide, because he understands that eternal suffering awaits his soul.

Suicide funeral

Despite the fact that Islam condemns unlawful killing, the burial rite is carried out in the usual manner. The question of how Muslim suicides are buried, and how it should be done correctly, has repeatedly arisen before the leadership of the Islamic church. There is a legend according to which the prophet Muhammad refused to read a prayer over a suicide and thus punished him for the gravest sin and doomed his soul to torment. Nevertheless, many believe that a suicide is a criminal before Allah, but not in relation to other people, and such a person himself will answer to God. Therefore, the process of burying a sinner should not differ in any way from the standard procedure. Today, there is no ban on holding a funeral prayer for suicides, the mullahs read a prayer and carry out the burial procedure according to the usual scheme. To save the soul of a suicide, his relatives can do good deeds, give alms on behalf of a buried sinner, live modestly, decorously and strictly follow Sharia law.

So, the fourth obligatory action that must be performed in relation to the deceased believer is his burial. This is a collective duty for Muslims.

In a hadith narrated by al-Hakim and al-Bayhaqi, it is said that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “ Whoever dug up the grave of a Muslim and, having laid him in it, fell asleep, the Almighty will credit such a reward for this as for building a house for the needy, in which he would live until the Day of Judgment ».

Sharia burial rules are as follows. It is recommended to bury the deceased as soon as possible. A Muslim should only be buried in a Muslim cemetery. You can bury the dead even after sunset. In the event of an epidemic or war, it is allowed to bury several dead in one grave, setting up barriers between their bodies.

The smallest and most necessary grave is a pit that, after the deceased is buried in it, prevents the spread of smell from his body and protects his body from wild animals, i.e. protects him from predators digging up his grave and eating his body.

If, without digging a hole and laying the body of the deceased right on the surface of the soil, build some kind of structure over it or cover it with many stones and earth, this will not be enough, even if this prevents the spread of smell and protects from wild animals. Because this is not called burial, and in order for the action to be called burial, it is necessary to dig a hole (grave).

It is impossible to bury in the same way in houses built underground, because even if this protects from animals, it does not prevent the spread of smell. This is what the book Tuhfat says.

Ibn Salah and Subuki say that it is sinful (haram) to bury the deceased in such (underground) houses.

Ibn Qasim writes that if this house is built in a pit (underground) and protects the deceased from wild animals and smell, then it is enough to bury him there, and if he does not meet these requirements, then the deceased is not buried in it. This is what the book I'anat says.

In the book Bushra al-Karim, three reasons are given in favor of the prohibition of burying the deceased in such houses:

1) mixing in them dead men and women;

2) there is a need to bury the next deceased there, until the body of the person buried there has completely decomposed;

3) and this does not prevent the spread of the smell emanating from the dead.

Construction of the grave

A grave (kabr) can be built in different ways - it depends on the composition, humidity and density of the soil, as well as on the terrain where the cemetery is located.

The grave of a Muslim is a pit, in one of the walls of which a niche (lyahd) is made. The pit is dug out in such a way that its dimensions correspond to the dimensions of the deceased, i.e. the length of the grave will be somewhat larger than the height of the deceased, the width is half the length of the grave (about 60–80 cm), the depth is at least 150 cm, but it is better (sunnah) to dig the grave is deeper (usually up to 190–230 cm).

In the book "Bushra al-Karim" it is written that it is sunnah for the niche in the grave to be wide, free, in particular those sides where the head and legs of the deceased rest, so that this allows the deceased to be laid a little in the position in which the person is when bowing in salat (ruku'). This is also stated in a reliable hadith of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). It is reported from Hashim ibn Amir that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Dig a grave, make it spacious and do it well "(Ibn Maja).

The optimal size of the grave is such that its width allows both the one who buries the deceased and the deceased himself to freely go down there. And the depth is better so that it is such that if a person of average height, descending into the grave, raises his hands, then they would not come out of the grave, that is, higher (approximately 225 cm).

It is also desirable that the ceiling on both sides be high, in case the body of the deceased swells, so that he does not touch the ceiling. It is even necessary to make the ceiling so high.

If the soil is dense, then it is better to make such a niche for the body of the deceased at the bottom of the grave, in which the deceased would freely fit. The niche is placed in one of the walls of the grave, which is located in the Qibla direction, and is of such a height that it is possible to sit in it (i.e., approximately 80-100 cm), and a little more than the width of the deceased’s shoulders (minimum 50 cm).

In this niche, sometimes, if the soil is moist and soft, a thin slab is placed to the right of the body, and a thicker slab to the left, and the ceiling is strengthened. And in some cases, at the bottom of the grave, leaving in the middle a place sufficient to place the body of the deceased in it, a wall is erected on both sides.

Then the body of the deceased is laid there, with his face turned towards the Qibla, the ceiling is covered with stone or wooden slabs, and the grave is completely filled up.

It is not customary for Muslims to be buried in a coffin (tabut) - this is undesirable (makruh), although it is not forbidden. In exceptional cases, the dead are buried in a coffin, and this will not be makruh, for example, if a Muslim died and his body was dismembered or when the corpse had already decomposed, etc.

It is forbidden to bury Muslims in the wall, as well as to cremate his body, even if he bequeathed it during his lifetime or gave his consent to it.

How are Muslim funerals? Traditions, customs, rituals according to Shariah

Who was at the funeral of a Muslim will never forget this.

Most striking is the trepidation with which the relatives and friends of the deceased try to fulfill all the Shariah prescriptions and bury the loved one as a True Muslim. Starting from the dying state, and until a year (and even more) has passed after the funeral, relatives will diligently perform certain rituals. Many of them will seem strange to an unknowing person, but for true Muslims they are important, they are sacred. The funeral itself takes place in several stages.

Funeral preparation

The Qur'an calls to prepare for death throughout life, so that at the end of it, with a light heart, to accept such a difficult test. Special rituals prescribed in the Shariah begin to be performed while a person is still alive, but already at death. First of all, they invite an imam, a Muslim priest, so that “Kalimat-shahadat” is read over the death bed. In addition to reading a prayer, do the following:

The dying person is laid on his back with his feet towards Mecca. This is the personification of the path of the soul to a holy place.

It is necessary to help the sufferer cope with thirst by giving a sip of cold water. If possible, pomegranate juice or Zam-Zam, sacred water, is dripped into the mouth.

Crying loudly is forbidden so that the dying person can concentrate on his last test and not grieve for the worldly. Therefore, compassionate women may not be allowed to go to bed or even taken out of the house.

Immediately after death, the eyes of the deceased are closed, arms and legs are straightened, and the chin is tied. The body is covered with a cloth, a heavy object is placed on the stomach.

Muslim funerals should be held as soon as possible, preferably on the same day. Therefore, usually the followers of Islam are not taken to the morgue, but are immediately prepared for burial.

Ablution and washing (taharat and ghusl)

Islam has a strict attitude towards cleanliness. If cleansing rites are not observed, the body of the deceased is considered defiled, and the soul is not ready to meet God. Taharat is a bath, purification of the material body, while ghusl is more of a ritual washing.

First, Gassala is chosen - a responsible person who will conduct the rites of ablution and washing. It must be a close relative, usually one of the elders. At the same time, women wash women, men wash men, but a wife can wash her husband. At least three more people will help Gassal conduct cleansing rites. If it is not possible for the deceased to be washed by a person of his gender, instead of washing with water, the rite of tayammum is performed - cleansing with earth or sand. Taharat takes place in a special room in a cemetery or at a mosque. Incense is lit in the room before the start of ablution. Gassal washes his hands three times and puts on gloves. Then he covers the lower part of the deceased with a cloth and performs the purification procedure. Then follows the washing (ghusl). The body of the deceased is washed 3 times: with water with cedar powder, with camphor and pure water. All parts of the body are washed and wiped in turn, the head and beard are washed with soap.

Wrapping in a shroud (kafan)

According to the customs of Muslims, both men and women are buried barefoot, dressed in a simple shirt (kamisa) and wrapped in several pieces of linen. A rich and respected Muslim who has not left behind debts is wrapped in an expensive cloth. But not in silk: a Muslim man, even during his lifetime, is forbidden to wear silk.

A man's shroud is a shirt, a piece of cloth to envelop the bottom of the body, and a large piece of cloth to envelop the entire body with the head on all sides.

The female shroud consists of the same shirt, only to the knees, a piece of fabric for the lower part, a large piece of fabric to envelop the body from all sides, as well as a piece for hair and another for the chest. Newborns and very young children are completely wrapped in one cut. According to Muslim customs, the closest relatives dress the deceased in a shroud, usually those who took part in the ablution.

Burial (daphne)

Muslim burials take place only in the cemetery. Cremation is a big ban, it is equated to burning in hell. That is, if a Muslim cremated the body of a relative, it's like he doomed his loved one to hellish torment. They lower the deceased into the grave with their feet down, while holding a veil over the women: even after death, no one should see her body. The imam throws a handful of earth into the grave, pronounces the sura. Then the burial place is poured with water, the earth is thrown seven times. After the funeral of a Muslim, everyone leaves, but one person remains to read prayers for the soul of the deceased. By the way, since Muslims are buried without a coffin, after the funeral, wild animals can smell the smell and dig up the grave. This must not be allowed: to desecrate a grave and a dead body is a terrible sin. The Muslim people found a way out in burnt bricks. They strengthen the grave with it so that it cannot be excavated, and the burnt smell repels animals.

Funeral prayer (janazah).
Muslims are buried without a coffin. Instead, a special stretcher with a lid (tobut) is used. The deceased is carried on a stretcher to the grave, where the imam begins to read the janazah. This is a very strong and important prayer in the Islamic tradition. If it is not read, the funeral of a Muslim is considered invalid.

Muslim commemoration

There is no feast immediately after the funeral. For the first three days after death, relatives should only pray for the deceased, and keep cooking and household chores to a minimum. On the 3rd, 7th and 40th days after the funeral, as well as a year later, memorial meals are held. All these days (until the fortieth) music should not sound in the house of the deceased. Luxurious wakes with gourmet meals are frowned upon among radical Muslims. Islam forbids “eating” the family of the deceased, forcing grieving relatives to take care of the housework. Instead, you need to support in every possible way, help both morally and financially. The memorial meal should be a simple dinner in the circle of loved ones.

A commemoration in Islam is, first of all, a commemoration of the deceased, a prayer for his soul and an opportunity for the family to unite in order to more easily survive grief. Alcohol at the wake of the Muslims is strictly prohibited.