Who buries a sitting person. Burials according to Muslim customs, the main differences. The essence and meaning of the rite

Death and burial according to Muslim traditions

The funeral rite and all the rituals associated with it are described in great detail in the Shariah, which is a set of rules for the behavior and life of a Muslim. That is why all Muslim rites are one. They should be conducted under the guidance of knowledgeable people who have received their skills and knowledge from the older generation.

The rite of a Muslim funeral is very different from the rites of other religions in its modesty.
in this ritual. According to the traditions of Muslims, the funeral should be carried out as soon as possible, preferably within 24 or 48 hours. The most necessary attributes of a Muslim funeral are a kafan (a cloth in which the body is wrapped), a tobut (a stretcher on which the deceased is washed and later carried out), a cloth covered on the tobut, a temporary wooden board with a sign on the grave (but if it is planned to install monument, you can do without it) and transport to transport to the cemetery. Sharia laws offer a set of rules related to the resettlement of a Muslim in the afterlife, therefore, certain Sharia rituals are performed on a Muslim who is dying.

Last minutes

It is very important to lay the dying person on his back so that his feet are directed towards Mecca (landmark: southwest). If any difficulties arise at the same time, then it is allowed to turn the dying person on the left or right side so that his face is directed towards the Kaaba (Mecca). After that, they sit down next to the dying person and read to him “Kalima-i Shahadat”. It will probably be necessary to quench the thirst of a dying person, so you need to prepare cold water, and it is best to give Zam-Zam sacred water or pomegranate juice in small drops. In the last minutes of a dying man's life, Sura Ya Sin and Sura Thunder are read, they will alleviate mortal torment.

After death

It is forbidden to talk too loudly or cry near the dying person. When a person dies, first of all they close the eyes of the deceased, tie up the jaw with a bandage, take off all the clothes, but cover the hidden places (avrat) and tie the big toes together. They soften the joints of the arms and legs by squeezing and unclenching them, put something heavy on the stomach and put incense nearby. Then they perform a small ablution (small taharat). It is very important to know that only women can bathe women, and only men can wash men. It is permissible for a husband to be washed by his wife, but the husband must not wash his wife.

Small ablution - small taharat

Before the start of a small ablution, the performer of this rite must cleanse himself and his thoughts and intentions (niyat) must be pure, then you need to say: "B-smi-llah!" - "In the name of Allah!", And you can proceed. Pour clean water into a clean dish, soak a cloth in this water and wash the deceased with your left hand. Following this, you need to take a clean cloth, soak it in clean water and wash the face of the deceased with it from top to bottom, from the roots of the hair to the chin. Then wash first the right, and then the left hand up to the elbow. The same procedure must be carried out with the legs, starting with the right and ending with the left leg. You need to move from the fingers to the ankles, while you need to carefully wipe between the fingers.

Those who do not know can perform ablution without prayers, but after the ablution it is necessary to say “Kalima-i shahadat”. After completing the small ablution, the deceased is covered with a clean cloth.

The process of washing and then wrapping, as well as all subsequent actions at the funeral, should be led by the invited imam.

Ablution - Ghusul

Before the start of the funeral (daphn), one must perform a full bath (ghusl, ghusl). To do this, you need: water, a tobut or a wide bench, buckets, jugs, soap, scissors, cotton wool, incense and a towel. The body is laid on a tobut (or bench) and they begin to douse with warm clean water (you can add lotus leaves to the water). The nostrils, ears and mouth are covered with cotton so that water does not get there. They wash the hair and beard, and after that they lay the deceased on the left side, and begin to wash from the right side until the water reaches the left side. After this, the deceased is turned over to the right side and perform the same actions. Then the deceased is lifted to a sitting position, resting him on his arm, slightly pressing on his stomach to release him. Everything is thoroughly washed off, and after this, the deceased is again laid on his left side and doused with water. There are three ablutions in total. In the first ablution, one should wash with clean warm water, in the second ablution, the water should contain purifying agents, and in the third ablution, camphor should be in the water. In each of the 3 ablutions, water must be poured 3 times, or any other odd number of times.

After completing the ghusl, the deceased must be thoroughly wiped and the cotton wool removed. The head and beard are impregnated with incense from various fragrant herbs. Hair is not combed and nails are not cut. Those parts of the body that came into contact with the ground during the prostration (forehead, nose, palms, knees and toes of the feet) are rubbed with camphor.

Then the deceased is wrapped in a kafan (shroud) - clothing for the deceased, it is made of white linen or chintz.

Kafan for men

It consists of three parts: izar, kamis and lifafa. Isar - a sheet for covering from head to toe. Camis is a long sheet that needs to be folded in half and a hole cut out to be worn over the head like a shirt. There should be no pockets or seams. Lifafa is a piece of fabric that will go from the head and go down below the legs.

Kafan for women

It consists of five parts: izar, khimara (orni - veil), kamisa, lifafa and sinabanda (khirka) - a piece of fabric to support the chest. It is recommended that the synaband covers the body from the chest to the hips. A total of 20 meters is required for a man and 25 meters for a woman.How to put on a kafan:

Man:

1. you need to unfold the lifafa on the floor, put the izar on top, and a part of the kamis on it, the rest of it is folded at the head.

2. Now you can put the body and cover it with the folded part of the kamis up to the shins.

4. wrap the left side of the izar first, and then the right side on top of it and cover the kamis

5. Lifafa is wrapped in the same way. It is important to remember that the right side should always be the top

6. tie the ends of the lifa at the head, legs with strips of fabric.

Woman:

1. unfold the lifaf, then the sinaband, the izar on him, and then the qamis, just like a man

2. lay the body down and cover it up to the shins with the upper part of the kamis

3. remove the matter that covered the awrah

4. divide the hair into 2 parts and lay on the chest over the kamis

5. cover the head and hair with a veil

6. then, when wrapping the izar, do not forget that first the left side is covered, and then the right side is covered over it, the kamis and orni (veil) fall under the izar

7. close the lifafa: left, and then the right side

8. tie the ends of the lifaf at the head, legs with strips of matter.

Namaz janazah

After that, over the wrapped body (janazah) they read prayer - janazah. The prayer is read by the imam or the person replacing him. The difference between this prayer and others is the absence of kneeling (Rukna) and prostration (Sajd). Namaz-janazah contains 4 takbirs, a greeting to the right and a greeting to the left, as well as an appeal to Allah with a request for His mercy on the deceased and forgiveness of his sins. By the beginning of the prayer, the imam invites everyone with the words: “As-Salat!”, And then asks the audience and relatives about the presence of unpaid debts for the deceased, or debts towards him. And if there were any, then he asks for forgiveness or, in the second case, to pay off the relatives of the deceased. The body in the kafan is laid on the tobut. Relatives and friends must carry the deceased at least 40 steps and only then put him in a hearse.

grave

Kabr (grave) - is built depending on the terrain. 1) Lahad is an aivan and a cell inside. Ivan make 1.5 x 2.5m. and a depth of 1.5m. in the lower part of the aivan, a round entrance 80 cm (into the cell) is made.2) Yarma is iwan and shika (inner shelf). The yoke size should be 50 cm larger than the size of the deceased. at both sides. Shikka is equal to the size of the length of the body, or the width of the yoke (height and width are 70 cm each).The grave is fortified: the yokes are with planks, and the lahad is with baked bricks.In the cemetery, the Janaz is placed near the grave in the direction towards Mecca. People who will lower the deceased into the grave should face the same direction.When a dead woman is lowered, the unfolded cloth should be held over her body. The deceased in the grave is laid on his right side so that he faces the Kaaba. The body is lowered down. The strips of cloth that were tied around the kafan can now be untied. Then each one throws a handful of earth into the grave, while reciting the ayat (2:156) from the Koran. According to all the rules, the grave should be 4 fingers above the ground. After that, the grave is poured with water, 7 times they throw a handful of earth and read the Koran (ayat 20:57).

On this, the Muslim funeral is considered completed, finally, you should read the first hand of the “Cow” sura, first at the head, and then the last hand of the “Cow” sura near the bottom side of the grave. It is important to remember that in Muslim cemeteries all monuments and graves are directed towards the qibla (Kaaba , Mecca). It is forbidden to bury a Muslim in a non-Muslim cemetery and vice versa. After the funeral, in order to pay the last tribute to the deceased, it is necessary to read verses from the Koran. In prayers, it is necessary to ask God for the forgiveness of the deceased, because. according to legend, on the night of the funeral, 2 angels Munkar and Nakir come to the grave, they will interrogate the deceased, and our prayers will help and ease the position of the deceased before such a court. Sharia law does not approve of the establishment of mausoleums, rich crypts on the grave, because. this humiliates poor Muslims and sometimes causes envy. It is best to write on the gravestone: "Indeed, we belong to Allah and to Him we will be returned", and this is quite enough.

According to the requirements of Sharia, the grave should not become a place for prayer and therefore should not look like a mosque. Islam does not forbid crying for the dead, but it is better to pray instead. Sharia provides for mourning for the deceased in the first days after death (3 days).

Islam is one of the most widespread religions in Moscow, second only to Orthodoxy in terms of the number of believers. The religious and cultural traditions of this religion are diverse, so even devout Muslims sometimes do not know some of their nuances. Thus, a funeral, in accordance with the traditions of Islam, is a complex set of rituals that require the participation of a clergyman. Our article will help you learn more about how Muslims are buried.

Before death

If Christian denominations require the dying to confess their sins, then the dying Muslim needs to read the Kalima-i Shahada, a prayer that reads: "I testify that there is no Deity but Allah, and I also testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah." If the dying person cannot pronounce the Shahada himself, then relatives should quietly whisper it. It is believed that if the last words of the deceased were Shahada, then the Almighty will show mercy to him. Also, relatives are forbidden to leave the dying alone. They must be there to serve him a glass of water - this is an important and ancient Muslim tradition.

Preparation for burial

When relatives are sure that death has come, they put the deceased on his right side facing Mecca. It is also allowed to position the deceased with their feet towards Mecca and raise his head. Islamic traditions prescribe to take care of the body of the deceased and give it a proper look. To do this, it is necessary to stretch the joints, put a weight on the stomach (in order to prevent swelling), tie up the jaw (it is undesirable that it opens arbitrarily) and lower the eyelids. When the fact of death is established, the relatives of the deceased should offer a prayer to Allah for the forgiveness of the sins of the deceased and the consecration of his grave.

Ablution is a complex ritual procedure necessary for the funeral of every Muslim. It requires four people of the same gender as the deceased - an exception is possible for spouses. The ablution itself is carried out by only one person, who is called a gassal - usually this is either a close relative or a specially hired person. The task of the gassal assistant is to pour water on the deceased (water with cedar powder and pure water is used), while the other participants in the procedure support and turn the body over.

Ablution begins with the fact that the deceased is placed on a hard bed (this can be taken in the mosque) facing Mecca, and a rag or towel is placed on the hips, thereby covering the genitals. Since the bowels are cleansed during ablution, the room should be fumigated with incense. Ablution consists of several stages. First, the deceased must wash his head and face, followed by washing the feet to the ankles. Then the deceased is alternately laid on his side, washing the right and left sides of the body. The procedure ends with a washing of the back. The deceased must not be placed on his stomach - to wash his back, his body is lifted by Ghassala assistants. Washing the deceased more than three times is considered unnecessary.

After the deceased has been washed, he is dressed in a special shroud called a kafan. The male shroud consists of several items: a lifafa, a fabric that covers the body from head to toe, an izara, a fabric that wraps the lower part of the body, and a kamis, a long shirt that covers the body from the shoulders to the pelvis. The women's kafan also includes a khimar - a wide scarf to cover the head, and a pick - a cloth that is placed on the chest. It is customary to sprinkle Lifafu with incense to kill the possible smell of decomposition.

Funeral prayer and burial

It is customary to bury the deceased on the day of death. After the deceased has been washed and dressed, he is placed on a tobut (special funeral stretcher). The body on the tobut is referred to the place where the funeral prayer (janazah) is performed. This prayer is different in that it is carried out outside the walls of the mosque, all its participants pray standing, and the body of the deceased is placed in front of the imam so that his face is turned towards Mecca. As part of the prayer, the participants ask Allah to forgive the sins of the deceased and grant him His mercy. If the janazah was not performed, then from the point of view of Islam, the funeral cannot be considered valid.

After performing the janazah, the body of the deceased on the tobut is taken to the cemetery, where the funeral (daphn) is performed. Islam uses graves that differ from those accepted in Christianity and Judaism - in Muslim graves, special niches are made, called lahad. The body of the deceased is immersed in the grave while reading the verses (Sura Al-Mulk is most often used) and placed in the lyakhad so that the head looks towards Mecca, after which the lyakhad is covered with bricks or boards. Islam disapproves of tombstones, so tombstones are decorated extremely modestly, as a rule, only the name of the deceased, his years of life and the sura are indicated on them. All grave monuments should face Mecca. It is noteworthy that women are usually not allowed to attend funerals. The Koran also forbids burying Muslims in non-Muslim cemeteries, and representatives of other religions in Muslim ones.

Commemoration and condolences

Condolences (taziya) to the family and relatives of the deceased are also regulated. They should be expressed within three days after death, and this should be done only once. If friends, neighbors or close families of the deceased were on the way during the funeral, then they are allowed to express condolences belatedly. Wearing mourning for more than three days is also considered unacceptable. An exception to this rule is a woman who is mourning for her husband - she should mourn "four months and ten days."

Expressing condolences should be in the house of the deceased or in the mosque. It is recommended to use the formula: “May Allah Almighty do you a favor, may he exalt you with a degree and allow you to endure the loss with firmness.” The Qur'an does not object to the expression of condolences to non-believers and their families, but in this case the formula is different. It is customary to commemorate the dead on the third, seventh and fortieth day after death. The Koran considers it a sin to express one's grief too emotionally - let's say a quiet cry, but not screams and lamentations.

Muslim cemeteries in Moscow

There are several Muslim cemeteries in Moscow, as well as Muslim plots in non-Muslim cemeteries. Such a division is prescribed by the Koran, which forbids the burial of Muslims in the cemeteries of the Gentiles, and vice versa. The active Muslim cemeteries in Moscow include Danilovskoye Muslim and Kuzminskoye. The oldest Muslim cemetery in the capital was the Tatar cemetery outside the Kaluga Gates, but it has not survived to this day. In the 1980s, Muslim sections were created at Butovsky, Volkovsky, Domodevsky, Zakharyinsky, Shcherbinsky cemeteries and in a number of other necropolises.

You might be interested:

Muslims generally believe that the good deeds a person does during his lifetime qualify him to enter Paradise on the Day of Judgment. Many followers of Islam believe that the dead remain in their graves until the last day, experiencing peace in heaven or suffering in hell.

When death is inevitable

When a Muslim feels the approach of death, his family members and very close friends should be present. They instill hope and kindness in the dying, and also read “steps,” confirming that there is no other God but Allah. As soon as a loved one has died, those present should say: “Verily, we belong to Allah, and indeed we return to Him.” Those present should close the eyes and lower jaw of the deceased, covering the body with a clean cloth. They should also say "dua" (petition) to Allah to ask for the forgiveness of the sins of the deceased. Relatives should hasten to pay off all the debts of the deceased, even if this means that all their wealth will be exhausted.

How Muslims are buried - when to hold a Muslim burial?

According to Islamic Sharia, the body must be buried as soon as possible after death, which means that funeral planning and preparations begin immediately. The local organization of the Islamic community helps with the funeral and burial, coordinates with the funeral home.

How Muslims are buried - organ donation

Organ donation is acceptable to Muslims. As the Qur'an teaches, "Whoever comes to the rescue of one person saves the life of all mankind." If questions arise regarding donation, relatives of the deceased consult with an imam (religious leader) or a Muslim funeral home.

How Muslims are buried - an autopsy

Ordinary autopsies are not acceptable in Islam as they are seen as desecrating the body of the deceased. In most cases, the family of the deceased can legally waive the autopsy procedure.

How Muslims are buried - embalming

Embalming and cosmetology are also not permitted unless required by state or federal law. Due to the ban on embalming and the urgency with which the body must be buried, it is not possible to transport the body from other countries.

How Muslims are buried - cremation

Cremation of the body of Muslims is prohibited.

How Muslims are buried - body preparation

The preparation of the body of the deceased begins with washing and wrapping (kafan). The deceased should be washed three times or an odd number of times. The procedure is performed by four people, moreover, men must be washed by men, and women by women. Usually, ablution is performed in this order: top right, upper left side, lower right side, lower left side. Women's hair is washed and braided into three braids. After the washing procedure, the body is covered with a shroud.

Envelop the body with three large white pieces of material stacked on top of each other. The body shell must be placed on top of the sheets. Women wear sleeveless dresses to the toes, and their heads are covered. If possible, the left hand of the deceased lies on the chest, and the right covers the left on top, as in a state of prayer. Pieces of cloth should be wrapped around the body, and the cover itself should be secured with ropes. One of them is attached above the head, the other is tied to the body, and the third passes under the feet.

Then the body for the memorial service is moved to the mosque ("Masjid"). Janazah prayers (panikhidas) should be performed by all members of the community. Prayers are read in a special room or in the courtyard of the mosque. Prayers turn to the qibla, forming three lines: men close to the deceased, then other men, children and the last women.

How Muslims are buried - burial

After performing the Janazah prayer, the body of the deceased is carried to the cemetery. Traditionally, only men are present at the burial. The grave must be dug perpendicular to the qibla, and the body of the deceased is laid on its right side, facing the qibla. At the same time, the lines “Bismilllah wa ala millati rasulilllah” are read. Then a layer of wood and stones is laid on top to avoid direct contact of the body with the soil that will fill the grave. The mourners then throw in three handfuls of soil. A small stone or marker is placed in place of the filled grave. It is forbidden to erect a large monument on the grave.

How Muslims are buried - commemoration

After the funeral and burial, the closest family of the deceased receives visitors. The first three days are considered mourning and commemorate the deceased. As a rule, the mourning period can last up to 40 days, depending on the degree of religiosity of the family.

Widows must observe a longer period of mourning, four months and ten days. During this time, they are prohibited from associating with people who could potentially marry them (known as "pa-mahram"). Only a doctor can serve as an exception in emergency cases.

It is acceptable in Islam to mourn at the time of death and to cry at funerals. However, strong crying and screaming, tearing clothes, express a lack of faith in Allah, and therefore are prohibited.

Grief walks alongside joy, we are always waiting for the good, 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 carried out with dignity, according to 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 how a Muslim is buried, then it will not be news to you that the procedure for preparing the body 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 are covered. 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 procession leaving the cemetery (with his prayers, he must “suggest” to the soul of the deceased how to answer the angels). 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 in relation to other people and over one's own body (the act of suicide is violence against one's 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.

Each religion has its own way of saying goodbye to the dead. And all funerals are different: if you figure out how Muslims, Catholics, Christians, Jews, Buddhists are buried, then all the rites are different.

People of different faiths treat the dead in their own way: somewhere they mourn them, and somewhere they see them off with songs, so that the new inhabitant of heaven would be joyful from the transition to another world.

The funeral ceremony itself includes a number of procedures that are carried out before sending the deceased to another world.

Location in the grave.

These include:

• cosmetic procedures;
• funeral prayers;
• embalming;
• resting place (coffin);
• the position of the body in the coffin;
• burial time;
• flowers and wreaths;
• cemetery;
• monuments.

All stages have to be observed by relatives and friends of the deceased in order to see the dear person on their last journey.

In many countries, special services are now organizing funerals, and in rare cases, relatives bury the deceased without involving someone from outside.

Christian funeral

According to the rules of this religion, the funeral takes place on the third day after death. Cosmetic procedures include the complete washing of the deceased and putting on new clothes. The deceased is placed in a coffin and covered with a white shroud. This speaks of purity before God and people. A cross is put on the deceased - most often the one with which they were baptized at birth.

The customs of Orthodoxy say that the deceased should lie at home on the last night before the funeral, surrounded by people close to him, but at present this is a rare case: the deceased is in the morgue until the moment of farewell, and only before the funeral is transferred to the ritual hall.

According to Christian customs, the coffin in which the deceased is buried is made of wood, and the cross is located in the upper part of the coffin, at the level of the face. Most of the cemetery streets are located so that the deceased is placed in the grave according to the rules, that is, with their feet to the east, and the grave cross is placed at the feet of the deceased.

Wreaths from relatives and friends are placed along the fence on the inside, flowers are placed on the grave, with inflorescences to the cross. On the ninth and fortieth day, the deceased is commemorated with pancakes and jelly. The Orthodox faith forbids taking the body of the deceased for examination and removal of organs.

There is a rule according to which a person who commits suicide is not buried in a cemetery, but behind its fence. Nowadays, this rule is not respected in large cities, although in some villages and villages suicides are still buried only outside the churchyard.

Catholic funerals

According to Catholic customs, any cosmetic procedures with the body of the deceased are prohibited, but at present this custom is forgotten, and the body is washed and dressed, like the Orthodox.

You can choose any coffin for the deceased, since there are no special instructions in the Catholic faith for this case, but the body is located in the coffin in the same way as the Orthodox, and the Catholic cross is above the face of the deceased.

The body of the deceased is placed in a coffin, hands are joined on the chest, and a crucifix is ​​put into them. Oddly enough, Catholics do not have a specific day of burial associated with the date of death.

The funeral service of the deceased takes place in the church, after which the funeral procession, together with the priest, goes to the cemetery, where prayers are still read at the moment the coffin is lowered into the grave. Catholics do not have a certain type of monuments, so tombstones are very diverse.

Protestant funerals are almost indistinguishable from Catholic funeral rituals, and these are the two religions that allow the taking of organs from the deceased for research.

Jewish funerals

Perhaps one of the strictest religions regarding the dead. Only relatives can wash the body. At the same time, if the deceased is a man, then only the male part of the family is engaged in the procedure of ablution, if a woman, then the female part.

The body is dressed in white clothes and placed in a coffin, placing a bag with the land of Israel under the head. The Jewish coffin is distinguished by its simplicity, since it does not involve any upholstery and decorations; the only thing that can be seen on the coffin is the star of David.

The body on the night before the funeral is in the house, surrounded by family, while leaving the deceased alone in the room cannot be even for a minute. Someone must be with him at all times. The coffin is closed even in the house, as it is considered blasphemy for strangers to see the defenseless deceased.

The body is not buried in the synagogue, and Kaddish is read only in the cemetery. The funeral of the deceased takes place within a day after death, the only exception is the days of holidays, on which it is not customary to bury. You rarely see flowers on the graves of Jews, and the monument itself must contain inscriptions in Hebrew.

There are a number of other rules that are adopted by the Jews. In the house where the deceased lies, you can not eat, drink, smoke. The water that was at the time of death in the house of the deceased is poured out all and from all vessels. Mirrors are covered. It is not customary to visit the graves of other relatives at the cemetery, and all terms of mourning for the deceased must be observed.

There is another custom that concerns the burial of a coffin. The shovel, which is used when burying a grave, is passed from one person to another only when it is stuck in the ground; the hands of different people cannot be on the handle at the same time. A commemoration is not carried out according to Jewish canons, and when leaving the cemetery, everyone who attended the funeral must wash their hands, but it is forbidden to wipe them.

Hindu funeral

The population of India is one of the few nationalities that sees the correct burial of their dead only in fire. The deceased is dressed in beautiful clothes and carried to the funeral pyre.

The eldest son of the deceased must mourn him and light a fire. After the funeral, a few days later, the son returns to the place of burial, collects the ashes and the remaining bones in an urn, and carries them to the Ganges River.

This river is considered sacred by the inhabitants of India, it is in it that the ashes of most of the rich people of this country are buried.

Muslim funeral

Muslim funerals are perhaps the only funerals that do not use a coffin. It is only in cities that a coffin made of soft wood is used, and it is never nailed down, as in other religions.

How are Muslims buried according to Sharia law? It all starts with washing - this should be done by special people who know all the rules. These rules are passed down from generation to generation, and women prepare women for the afterlife, and men, respectively, men.

A deceased Muslim should not lie on a soft bed, so the entire soft bed is removed and the body is placed with its head towards Mecca. If closed eyes are considered the basic rules of other religions, then the deceased Muslim is tied up with a chin so that his mouth does not open, and something iron is placed on him against bloating.

Muslims are buried within a day after death, you can slightly reschedule the funeral, to wait for distant relatives, but this is not welcome.

If in many religions relatives spend the last night with the deceased, then Muslims say goodbye to the deceased even before his washing and vestments. The last night is spent surrounded by strangers who bring rosaries and read prayers.

Muslims are buried standing up, and the grave is dug to the height of the deceased. Just like the deceased, the grave is not left alone. If people cannot stand next to an empty grave, then shovels or crowbars should be left in it.

As in other religions, the deceased is carried feet first through the doors of the house, and only in the courtyard they turn around and carry them head first to the cemetery. Before entering the churchyard, the stretcher with the deceased is placed on a special platform, and only men read a prayer for the deceased.

The deceased on three towels is lowered into the grave by 3 relatives who are inside the grave during this process. Then these people rise from the pit, wrapped in those panels on which the deceased was lowered.

Mullah reads a surah from the Koran over a covered grave. Dead flowers and wreaths should not be left on the grave of a Muslim. Just like in Orthodoxy, memorial dinners are held after the funeral, only they are arranged more often - on the third, seventh and fortieth days after the burial. But for the commemoration, they do not prepare special dishes, but put food on the table that is served on any day.

Muslims are buried only in the Muslim part of the cemetery or in a special cemetery for adherents of this faith, and you will not find a single photograph on the monuments in this part of the churchyard, since they are prohibited. Also, you will not meet women at Muslim funerals, since only men are engaged in burial, and women visit the grave the day after the funeral.

Unlike the Orthodox faith, one cannot sob or lament loudly at the grave of a Muslim; they also remain silent at the commemoration, although quiet conversations may be allowed.

After the grave is closed, everyone who attended the funeral immediately leaves the churchyard, leaving only one person to be read by Talkin.

On the graves, according to Muslim canons, they do not put large monuments. The monument should contain only the necessary information about the deceased - the dates of birth and death, and the name of the deceased. At present, pompous monuments and monuments are being erected in many Muslim cemeteries, but there are not even photographs on them.

There is also such a set of Muslim customs - everyone who knows the deceased himself or his family must support his relatives with a speech. But you can’t do it too late, an exception is made for Muslims who were on the road or in another place and did not know about the death of a person.

Burial high in the mountains

The most difficult thing is to bury the deceased where there is no way to dig a grave, or rather high in the mountains. It is impossible to make a hole on solid rocks, and for this reason many Tibetan Buddhists are buried far from the settlements.

The lama reads a prayer over the deceased, after which the deceased is cut into pieces with a special knife and scattered over the mountain slope.

Birds that feed on carrion eat all the meat from the bones. Buddhists believe that everything should be subject to the cycle in nature, that is, even the body of the deceased should serve as food for other creatures inhabiting the planet.

Burial at sea

Not all countries have such an area on which cemeteries can be arranged. This is especially true for island countries. Therefore, residents of such states bury their loved ones at sea or are cremated.

Columbariums are also not found in all countries, but only in highly developed countries. But even if there is room for an urn, many islanders spray the ashes of the deceased into the sea.

Not only about religion

In addition to funerals for any faith, there are also funerals for military personnel and sailors, which also take place according to special canons.

Some military personnel are honored to be buried with full military honors. To organize the funeral procession, an honor guard is appointed, which carries the flag without a cover, with a mourning ribbon.

The coffin is covered with a flag, and a military band participates in the funeral procession, which, at the moment the coffin is lowered into the grave, plays the national anthem. When the whole procession moves to the grave, the guard carries the orders and medals of the deceased behind the coffin, and the coffin itself is transported in a special car or gun carriage.

After all the speeches have been delivered, a triple volley of blank cartridges is fired over the grave.

At the funeral of a sailor, a dagger and scabbard are laid on the coffin lid in a crossed state, and only then the grave is buried.

Grief walks alongside joy, we are always waiting for the good, 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 carried out 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, that is, 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 against 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, moisture 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 to be such that if a person of average height, descending into the grave, raises his hands up, 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 makrooh, 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.

The question is, of course, a difficult one. Islam dictates certain burial laws to its followers. This is the so-called In this article I will tell you how the burial ritual of a Muslim takes place.

How a Muslim is buried: what to do before death

Shariah prescribes and predetermines the whole life of the adherents of Islam from birth to death. So, while the dying person is still alive, he is placed on his back in such a way that his legs "look" towards Mecca. Then a very loud reading of the prayer begins. This is necessary so that the dying person can hear it. Before death, any Muslim should be given a sip of cold water. Crying in front of him is strictly forbidden!

What to do after death

When a Muslim has died, it is necessary to tie his chin, close his eyes, straighten his arms and legs and cover his face. Something heavy should be placed on his stomach.

How a Muslim is buried: ablution

Before the burial itself, it is necessary to carry out the procedure for washing the body. As a rule, the funeral of a Muslim takes place only after a three-fold ritual ablution, in which at least four people of the same gender as the deceased himself participate.

The first time is washed with water with cedar powder dissolved in it, the second time camphor is dissolved in it, and the third washing is carried out simply with pure water.

How a Muslim is buried: burial

Sharia law prohibits the burial of Muslims in clothes. This is done in one shroud. The material from which it is made must correspond to the material condition of the deceased. It is forbidden to cut the hair and nails of the deceased! His body must be scented with all sorts of oils. Then prayers are read over him, after which he is wrapped in a shroud, making knots at the head, at the waist and at the feet.

The knots made are untied just before the body is lowered into the grave. The deceased, wrapped in a shroud, is placed on a stretcher and thus taken to the cemetery. The body must be lowered with the legs down. After that, a handful of earth is thrown into the pit and water is poured. The fact is that Islam does not allow burying the dead in coffins. The exceptions are cases where the deceased was dismembered, or the body has already decomposed.

It is curious that the grave can be dug absolutely arbitrarily. It all depends on the local burial is accompanied by the reading of a prayer by all those present. They mention the name of the deceased. Sharia does not approve of the tombstone, on which there is an image of a deceased person.

On what day are Muslims buried?

It is advisable to carry out the burial on the same day that the person died. This happens if death caught him during the day. In this case, the bathing procedure takes place before sunset. Afterwards, the burial takes place.

Why are Muslims buried sitting?

This is due to certain ideas of Muslims about They believe that the physical body of the soul remains in it until it is transferred by the Angel of death to the Angel of Paradise, which will prepare it for eternal life. But before that, the soul of the deceased must answer a few questions. In order for this to happen in conditions of decency, a Muslim is arranged with such a grave in which he sits, and does not lie.

Islam is one of the most widespread religions in Moscow, second only to Orthodoxy in terms of the number of believers. The religious and cultural traditions of this religion are diverse, so even devout Muslims sometimes do not know some of their nuances. Thus, a funeral, in accordance with the traditions of Islam, is a complex set of rituals that require the participation of a clergyman. Our article will help you learn more about how Muslims are buried.

Before death

If Christian denominations require the dying to confess their sins, then the dying Muslim needs to read the Kalima-i Shahada, a prayer that reads: "I testify that there is no Deity but Allah, and I also testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah." If the dying person cannot pronounce the Shahada himself, then relatives should quietly whisper it. It is believed that if the last words of the deceased were Shahada, then the Almighty will show mercy to him. Also, relatives are forbidden to leave the dying alone. They must be there to serve him a glass of water - this is an important and ancient Muslim tradition.

Preparation for burial

When relatives are sure that death has come, they put the deceased on his right side facing Mecca. It is also allowed to position the deceased with their feet towards Mecca and raise his head. Islamic traditions prescribe to take care of the body of the deceased and give it a proper look. To do this, it is necessary to stretch the joints, put a weight on the stomach (in order to prevent swelling), tie up the jaw (it is undesirable that it opens arbitrarily) and lower the eyelids. When the fact of death is established, the relatives of the deceased should offer a prayer to Allah for the forgiveness of the sins of the deceased and the consecration of his grave.

Ablution is a complex ritual procedure necessary for the funeral of every Muslim. It requires four people of the same gender as the deceased - an exception is possible for spouses. The ablution itself is carried out by only one person, who is called a gassal - usually this is either a close relative or a specially hired person. The task of the gassal assistant is to pour water on the deceased (water with cedar powder and pure water is used), while the other participants in the procedure support and turn the body over.

Ablution begins with the fact that the deceased is placed on a hard bed (this can be taken in the mosque) facing Mecca, and a rag or towel is placed on the hips, thereby covering the genitals. Since the bowels are cleansed during ablution, the room should be fumigated with incense. Ablution consists of several stages. First, the deceased must wash his head and face, followed by washing the feet to the ankles. Then the deceased is alternately laid on his side, washing the right and left sides of the body. The procedure ends with a washing of the back. The deceased must not be placed on his stomach - to wash his back, his body is lifted by Ghassala assistants. Washing the deceased more than three times is considered unnecessary.

After the deceased has been washed, he is dressed in a special shroud called a kafan. The male shroud consists of several items: a lifafa, a fabric that covers the body from head to toe, an izara, a fabric that wraps the lower part of the body, and a kamis, a long shirt that covers the body from the shoulders to the pelvis. The women's kafan also includes a khimar - a wide scarf to cover the head, and a pick - a cloth that is placed on the chest. It is customary to sprinkle Lifafu with incense to kill the possible smell of decomposition.

Funeral prayer and burial

It is customary to bury the deceased on the day of death. After the deceased has been washed and dressed, he is placed on a tobut (special funeral stretcher). The body on the tobut is referred to the place where the funeral prayer (janazah) is performed. This prayer is different in that it is carried out outside the walls of the mosque, all its participants pray standing, and the body of the deceased is placed in front of the imam so that his face is turned towards Mecca. As part of the prayer, the participants ask Allah to forgive the sins of the deceased and grant him His mercy. If the janazah was not performed, then from the point of view of Islam, the funeral cannot be considered valid.

After performing the janazah, the body of the deceased on the tobut is taken to the cemetery, where the funeral (daphn) is performed. Islam uses graves that differ from those accepted in Christianity and Judaism - in Muslim graves, special niches are made, called lahad. The body of the deceased is immersed in the grave while reading the verses (Sura Al-Mulk is most often used) and placed in the lyakhad so that the head looks towards Mecca, after which the lyakhad is covered with bricks or boards. Islam disapproves of tombstones, so tombstones are decorated extremely modestly, as a rule, only the name of the deceased, his years of life and the sura are indicated on them. All grave monuments should face Mecca. It is noteworthy that women are usually not allowed to attend funerals. The Koran also forbids burying Muslims in non-Muslim cemeteries, and representatives of other religions in Muslim ones.

Commemoration and condolences

Condolences (taziya) to the family and relatives of the deceased are also regulated. They should be expressed within three days after death, and this should be done only once. If friends, neighbors or close families of the deceased were on the way during the funeral, then they are allowed to express condolences belatedly. Wearing mourning for more than three days is also considered unacceptable. An exception to this rule is a woman who is mourning for her husband - she should mourn "four months and ten days."

Expressing condolences should be in the house of the deceased or in the mosque. It is recommended to use the formula: “May Allah Almighty do you a favor, may he exalt you with a degree and allow you to endure the loss with firmness.” The Qur'an does not object to the expression of condolences to non-believers and their families, but in this case the formula is different. It is customary to commemorate the dead on the third, seventh and fortieth day after death. The Koran considers it a sin to express one's grief too emotionally - let's say a quiet cry, but not screams and lamentations.

Muslim cemeteries in Moscow

There are several Muslim cemeteries in Moscow, as well as Muslim plots in non-Muslim cemeteries. Such a division is prescribed by the Koran, which forbids the burial of Muslims in the cemeteries of the Gentiles, and vice versa. The active Muslim cemeteries in Moscow include Danilovskoye Muslim and Kuzminskoye. The oldest Muslim cemetery in the capital was the Tatar cemetery outside the Kaluga Gates, but it has not survived to this day. In the 1980s, Muslim sections were created at Butovsky, Volkovsky, Domodevsky, Zakharyinsky, Shcherbinsky cemeteries and in a number of other necropolises.

You might be interested: