What is a Muslim funeral like?

Answer 1

Usually it begins with the cleaning of the body by loved ones which is simply a bathing of the body. There are many prayers said during this ritual, and even designated mourners who cry during the bathing of the body. There are many rules, such as once you have bathed the body, you are not allowed to touch it again with your "unclean" hands. However, in the U.S. many times the bathers wear gloves through part of the cleaning, and remove for last part so as not to "touch with unclean hands". The body is wrapped in several layers of white clothing/wraps, etc. They pray over the body while in state ( in U.S. at the funeral home) and stay all night. The body is buried next day in dirt, not a casket. In the U.S. most cemetery owners require an outer burial container (usually for Muslims a two-piece concrete type "coffin.it is much like a wooden box, with lid and all.Then they bury them at a grave normally they bury them in the country that they were born in; although because burial needs to be within 24 hours of death mostly Muslims are buried in the country where they died. They should be buried on their side facing Mecca.

Answer 2

When a Muslim is near death, those around him or her are called upon to give comfort, and reminders of God's mercy and forgiveness. They may recite verses from the Qur'an, give physical comfort, and encourage the dying one to recite words of remembrance and prayer. It is recommended, if at all possible, for a Muslim's last words to be the declaration of faith: "I bear witness that there is no god but Allah." Upon death, those with the deceased are encouraged to remain calm, pray for the departed, and begin preparations for burial. The eyes of the deceased should be closed, and the body covered temporarily with a clean sheet. It is forbidden for those in mourning to excessively wail, scream, or thrash about. Grief is normal when one has lost a loved one, and it is natural and permitted to cry. When the Prophet Muhammad's own son died, he said: "The eyes shed tears and the heart is grieved, but we will not say anything except which pleases our Lord." One should strive to be patient, and remember that Allah is the One who gives life and takes it away, at a time appointed by Him. It is not for us to question His wisdom. Muslims strive to bury the deceased as soon as possible after death, avoiding the need for embalming or otherwise disturbing the body of the deceased. An autopsy may be performed, if necessary, but should be done with the utmost respect for the dead. In preparation for burial, the family or other members of the community will wash and shroud the body. (If the deceased was killed as a martyr, this step is not performed; martyrs are buried in the clothes they died in.) The deceased will be washed respectfully, with clean and scented water, in a manner similar to how Muslims make ablutions for prayer. The body will then be wrapped in sheets of clean, white cloth (called the kafan). The deceased is then transported to the site of the funeral prayers (salat-l-janazah). These prayers are commonly held outdoors, in a courtyard or public square, not inside the mosque. The community gathers, and the imam (prayer leader) stands in front of the deceased, facing away from the worshippers. The funeral prayer is similar in structure to the five daily prayers, with a few variations. (For example, there is no bowing or prostration, and the entire prayer is said silently but for a few words.) The deceased is then taken to the cemetery for burial (al-dafin). While all members of the community attend the funeral prayers, only the men of the community accompany the body to the gravesite. It is preferred for a Muslim to be buried where he or she died, and not be transported to another location or country (which may cause delays or require embalming the body). If available, a cemetery (or section of one) set aside for Muslims is preferred. The deceased is laid in the grave (without a coffin if permitted by local law) on his or her right side, facing Mecca. At the gravesite, it is discouraged for people to erect tombstones, elaborate markers, or put flowers or other momentos. Rather, one should humbly remember Allah and His mercy, and pray for the deceased. Loved ones and relatives are to observe a 3-day mourning period. Mourning is observed in Islam by increased devotion, receiving visitors and condolences, and avoiding decorative clothing and jewelry. Widows observe an extended mourning period (iddah), 4 months and 10 days long, in accordance with the Qur'an 2:234. During this time, she is not to remarry, move from her home, or wear decorative clothing or jewelry. When one dies, everything in this earthly life is left behind, and there are no more opportunities to perform acts of righteousness and faith. The Prophet Muhammad once said that there are three things, however, which may continue to benefit a person after death: charity given during life which continues to help others, knowledge from which people continue to benefit, and a righteous child who prays for him or her. http://www.missionislam.com/knowledge/janazahstepbystep.htm

Answer 3

The body is prepared for burial by Muslims, preferably close relatives. The people preparing the body should be of the same gender. The body is washed and perfumed, and wrapped tightly in clean cloth. It's preferred that the cloth is white and of an inexpensive fabric. A funeral prayer is offered, ideally in the home of the deceased or relatives, or possibly in a mosque. You can read about the funeral prayer here: http://abdurrahman.org/finaljourney/salatjanazasabiq.html The body is placed in a deep grave; the deceased is placed on his or her right side, facing in the direction of Makkah. After offering optional supplicatons at the grave site, the mourners leave. Muslims mourn officially for three days. Often they take the days off work, although this is not recommmended by Islamic law. In the evenings, the family accepts visitors, who offer condolences and supplications for the deceased and the mourners. If the deceased is a married man, his widow mourns for four months, during which time she should live in his house and is entitled to support by his other heirs. This waiting period gives her an opportunity to prepare for her future life. After this waiting period, she is free to leave and to remarry. Most often she either continues to live with his family, or returns to her own family. If the widow is pregnant, she remains with her husband's family until the baby is born, and up to two years more, if she is breast-feeding the baby.

Answer 4

http:/islam.about.com/cs/elderly/a/funerals.htm islam in Australia - Abdullah Saeed recited shahada so the last thing a person says is the declaration of faith. After death, body is washed usually by the husband of wife of other family member of the same sex. then wrapped inn 3-5 pieces of cloth n buried within a day or so. being buried sooner rather than later is important (expected within 24 hours). but due to legal requirements, may not happen in Australia so they follow what is legal. In the circumstance of a postmortem it is needed to be explained to the family because the dead is treated with the utmost respect but they follow the Australian laws and regulations. expected to be buried in the same place or town of death. cremation is prohibited. in some Muslim societies, coffins are not used because the area is dry and hot and if one is, its simple and inexpensive. tombstones and grave stones are not recommended. before leaving the graveyard, those present lead by an imam will supplicate to God asking for forgiveness for the deceased and have mer4cy in him/her. the funeral should be simple and inexpensive with the underlying idea that the family and ready in grief should not be further burdened. member of the Muslim community, friends and relatives visit the family of the deceased to offer condolences for 3 days following the death http://www.staffspasttrack.org.uk/exhibit/ilm/Mourining%20and%20Remembrance/Types%20of%20funerals/Islamic%20Funerals.htm The deceased is placed with their head facing the Muslim holy city of Makkah. The body is wrapped in a shroud The salat for the dead, 'salat ul janaza', is then performed. This takes the form of the usual Muslim daily salat prayers with some special additions which specifically relate to death. The ceremony usually takes place in the family home and is led either by someone the deceased chose before their death, a close relative or the family imam.. Muslims are buried with their face turned to the right, facing Makkah. Members of the funeral party throw a little earth onto the grave while reciting "We created you from it, and return you into it, and from it we will raise you a second time", surah 20:55 from the Qur'an. Graves are raised above ground level and ostentation is discouraged.

http://www.helium.com/items/1517445-islamic-funerals

Answer 5

Description of the funeral prayer

Praise be to Allaah.

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and his companions (may Allaah be pleased with them) explained how the funeral prayer is to be done. It is done as follows:

You say the first Takbeer ("Allaahu akbar"), then you seek refuge with Allaah from the accursed Shaytaan, then you say Bismillah ir-Rahmaan ir-Raheem and recite al-Faatihah followed by a short soorah or some aayahs. Then you say Takbeer and send blessings upon the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) as one does at the end of the prayer. Then you say a third Takbeer and make du'AA' for the deceased. The best is to say:

"Allaahumma ighfir lihaayina WA mayitina WA shaahidina WA ghaa'ibina WA sagheerina WA kabeerina WA dhakarina WA unthaana. Allaahumma man ahyaytahu minna fa ahyihi 'ala'l-Islam WA man tawaffaytahu minna fa tawiffahu 'ala'l-eemaan. Allaahumma ighfir lahu warhamhu WA 'aafihi WA a'fu 'anhu, WA akrim nuzulahu WA wassi' madkhalahu waghsilhu bi'l-maa' WA'l-thalj WA'l-barad, WA naqqihi min al-khataaya kama yunaqqa' al-thawb al-abyad min al-danas. Allaahumma abdilhu daaran khayra min daarihi WA ahlan khayra min ahlihi. Allaahumma adkhilhu al-jannah WA a'idhhu min 'adhaab il-qabri WA min 'adhaab il-naar WA afsah lahu fi qabrihi WA nawwir lahu fihi. Allaahumma laa tahrimna ajrahu WA la tadillanaa ba'dahu

(O Allaah, forgive our living and our dead, those who are present among us and those who are absent, our young and our old, our males and our females. O Allaah, whoever You keep alive, keep him alive in Islam, and whoever You cause to die, cause him to die with faith. O Allaah, forgive him and have mercy on him, keep him safe and sound and forgive him, honour the place where he settles and make his entrance wide; wash him with water and snow and hail, and cleanse him of sin as a white garment is cleansed of dirt. O Allaah, give him a house better than his house and a family better than his family. O Allaah, admit him to Paradise and protect him from the torment of the grave and the torment of Hell-fire; make his grave spacious and fill it with light. O Allaah, do not deprive us of the reward and do not cause us to go astray after this)."

All of this was narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). If you make du'AA' with other words, this is OK, for example, you could say, "Allaahumma in kaana muhsinan fa zid fi ihsaanihi WA in kaana musee'an fa tajaawaz 'an sayi'aatihi. Allaahumma ighfir lahu WA thabbit-hu bi'l-qawl il-thaabit (O Allaah, if he was a doer of good, then increase his good deeds, and if he was a wrongdoer, then overlook his bad deeds. O Allaah, forgive him and give him the strength to say the right thing)." Then you say a fourth Takbeer and pause for a little while, then you say one Tasleem to the right, saying "Assalaamu 'alaykum WA rahmat-Allaah."

Answer 6

what happens in a pakastani funeral in the UK

Answer 7

The Muslims offer funeral prayer near the graveyard where the body is to be buried.

Answer 8

Pray hard.