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According to Sharia, a Muslim must prepare for resettlement to another world even in earthly life. Special rituals are performed over a Muslim; they are complex in their own way, and therefore they are led by clergy and funeral prayers are read.
According to Muslim law, it is very important to observe funeral rites; this is the duty of every Muslim.
The dying person's eyes are closed and his chin is tied up, his legs and arms are straightened and his face is covered. A weight is placed on the stomach to prevent bloating. In some cases, mahram-suvi or washing of soiled areas of the body is done.
The traditional ritual of ablution is called taharat and is performed immediately after death. If the deceased pilgrim did not walk around the Kaaba, then he is washed with the purest water without any impurities.
An ordinary deceased is washed with water with cedar powder and camphor, lying on a hard surface with his face facing the Qibla. The room is fumigated with incense. Hands and face are washed three times, neck, head and ears are only wetted. The entire ceremony lasts four hours, and a relative takes the main part in it.
Hands, feet, forehead and nostrils are scented with incense. Men do not have the right to wash women and vice versa. Only spouses have this right.
According to Sharia law, it is forbidden to bury the deceased in clothes. Muslim dead are shrouded in a shroud made of white cloth, consisting of three parts.

For men:
Lifafa - a piece of cloth longer than an izar (40 cm on each side, for temporary ties), which is used to cover the body over the izar.
Kamis - a shirt just below the knees.

For women:
Lifafa is a piece of fabric longer than the izar (40 cm on each side, for temporary ties), which is covered over the izar.
Kamis is a shirt, without a collar, just below the knees.
Khimar is a scarf used to cover a woman's head and hair.
Isar is a piece of material that envelops the body from head to toe.
Khirka is a fabric covering the chest, covering the body from the armpits to the hips.

If a boy died before the age of nine, he is wrapped in a shroud. If he is a wealthy person who has no debts, his body is wrapped in three pieces of cloth. The material must be appropriate to the wealth of the deceased.
Muslims attach particular importance to the funeral prayer. It is performed by the imam, the tobut is installed facing the Qibla. The imam stands near the coffin of a deceased Muslim; during prayer, they do not bow like Christians.
If the prayer is not read, the funeral is invalid. Prayer is obligatory over a newborn who has shown signs of life; prayer is not read over a child born dead.
If a Muslim dies, he is buried very quickly with his head towards the Qibla. The body is lowered into the grave feet down; a veil is held over the Muslim woman who is lowered into the grave so that men do not see the woman's shroud. Relatives and friends throw handfuls of earth after the deceased and say: “We belong to God and we return to Him” - words from the Koran. The burial is watered and a prayer is said over it.
The peculiarity of Muslim funerals is that Muslims are not buried in a coffin and that the ground must rise five centimeters above the grave.

FUNERAL RITE

Allah Almighty said in the Koran that “We did not give eternal life to one person.” (Al-Anbiya, 34). "Every soul will taste death." (Al-Anbiya, 35). “But Allah will not delay any soul, as long as the time determined for it (the soul) has come. Allah knows about your deeds and will reward you for them." .("Al-Munafiqun", 11). Special rituals are performed over a Muslim who is already dying. Funeral rites are complex, carried out under the guidance of clergy and accompanied by special funeral prayers. Strict observance of funeral rites is the duty of every Muslim. First of all, dying (whether man or woman, adult or child) must be placed on his back so that the soles of his feet are facing towards Mecca. If this is not possible, then he should be placed on his right or left side facing Mecca. The prayer “Kalimat-shahadat” is read to the dying person so that he can hear. (La ilaha illa-llahu, Muhammadun-Rasulu-llahi)

“There is no god but Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.” Muaz bnu Jabal cites the following hadith: The Prophet said that the one whose last word is the words “Kalimat-shahadat” will definitely go to Paradise. According to the hadith, it is advisable to read Surah Yasin to the dying person. The last duty to a dying person is to give him a sip of cold water, which will ease his thirst. But it is advisable to give the sacred Zam-Zam water or pomegranate juice drop by drop. It is not customary to talk too loudly or cry near a dying person. After the death of a Muslim, the following ritual is performed over him: they tie up their chin, close their eyes, straighten their arms and legs, and cover their face. A heavy object is placed on the deceased's stomach (to prevent bloating). In some cases, “mahram-suvi” is performed - washing the contaminated parts of the body. Then they make ghusul.

WASHING (TAHARAT) AND WASHING (GUSUL) OF THE DECEASED

The ritual of ablution and washing with water is performed on the dead. If a Muslim was dressed in ihram (pilgrim's clothing) and died during the pilgrimage, without having time to walk around the Kaaba, then he is washed and washed with clean water without the admixture of cedar powder and camphor. As a rule, the deceased is washed and washed three times: with water containing cedar powder; water mixed with camphor; clean water.

WASHING PROCEDURE

The deceased is placed on a hard bed so that his face is facing the Qibla. Such a bed is always available at the mosque and in the cemetery. Fumigate the room with incense. Cover the genitals with cloth. Hassal (washing) washes his hands three times, puts on protective gloves, then, pressing on the chest of the deceased, runs his palms down the stomach to release the contents of the intestines, then washes the genitals. In this case, it is forbidden to look at the genitals of the deceased. Hassal changes gloves, wets them and wipes the deceased’s mouth, cleans his nose, and washes his face. Then he washes both hands up to the elbows, starting with the right. This procedure for ablution is the same for both women and men.

WASHING

The face of the deceased and his hands up to the elbows are washed three times. The head, ears and neck are wetted. Wash your feet up to your ankles. Wash the head and beard with soap, preferably warm water containing cedar powder (gulkair). Place the deceased on the left side and wash the right side. Washing procedure: pour water, wipe the body, then pour water again. Only water pours onto the material covering the genitals. These places are not wiped. All this is done three times. The same is done by placing the deceased on his right side. Then again, placing it on the left side, wash it with water three times. It is forbidden to lay your chest down to wash your back. Lifting it slightly behind your back, pour it onto your back. Having laid the deceased down, they run their palms down the chest, pressing so that the remains of feces come out. A general wash of the entire body is performed. If after this there is a release of feces, then washing is no longer performed. (just clean the place). Be sure to wash the deceased once. More than three times is considered excessive. The wet body of the deceased is dried with a towel, the forehead, nostrils, hands, feet of the deceased are smeared with incense (Bowls-anbar, Zam-Zam, Kofur, etc.).

At least 4 people participate in ablution and washing. Hassal and his assistant pouring water over the body may be a close relative. The rest help turn and support the body of the deceased during the washing process. Men do not wash women, and women do not wash men. It is allowed to wash small children of the opposite sex. A wife can wash her husband's body. If the deceased is a man, and among those around there are only women (and vice versa), then only tayammum is performed. Hassal should not talk about the physical disabilities and defects of the deceased. Washing can be done either free of charge or for a fee. The gravedigger and porters may also be paid for their work.

SAVAN (CAFEN)

Sharia law prohibits burying a deceased person in clothes. It is required to wrap the deceased in a shroud. The kafan is made of white linen or chintz and consists of: for men (three parts):
1. Lifofa - fabric (of any kind and good grade) covering the deceased from head to toe (40 cm of fabric on both sides, so that after wrapping the body you can tie the shroud on both sides); 2. Izor - a piece of fabric for wrapping the lower part of the body; 3. Kamis - an ordinary knee-length shirt, but sewn so that the man’s genitals are covered. For women (five parts): 1. Lifofa—same as for men; 2. Izor - a piece of fabric for wrapping the lower part of the body; 3. Kamis - a shirt without a collar, with a cutout for the head, opens to both shoulders; 4. Khimor - a scarf for covering a woman’s head and hair, 2 m long, 60 cm wide; 5. Pickaxe - a piece of fabric for covering the chest, 1.5 m long, 60 cm wide.

For deceased infants or newborns, only lifofa is sufficient. For boys under 8 or 9 years of age, it is permissible to be wrapped in a shroud, as is customary for an adult or an infant. It is advisable that the shroud be prepared for the deceased husband by the wife, and for the deceased wife by the husband, relatives or children of the deceased. If the latter has no one, the funeral is carried out by neighbors. At-Tabari conveyed the following hadith: “The Prophet said that a neighbor deserves, if he gets sick, that you treat him, if he dies, you bury him, if he becomes poor, you lend him, if you are in need, you protect him, if good comes to him, you congratulate him, if there was trouble, he consoled him. Do not raise your building above his, keep your fire from his, do not irritate him with the smell of your cauldron except by drawing for him from it.” (Jami-ul-Fawaid, 1464). A Muslim can be buried by the community. The entire body is covered with fabric. This is a mandatory condition, if the deceased was an insolvent person, then covering his body with three pieces of cloth is sunnah. If the deceased was a wealthy person and did not leave behind debts, then his body must be covered with three pieces of cloth. The matter must correspond to the material wealth of the person being buried - as a sign of respect for him. The body of the deceased can be covered with used cloth, but it is better if the cloth is new. It is forbidden to cover a man's body with silk.

ENVALUATION (KAFENLEC)

Before wrapping, the beard and hair are not cut or combed, fingernails and toenails are not cut, and gold crowns are not removed. Hair removal and nail trimming are performed during life. The procedure for enveloping for men: before enveloping, a bodice is spread on the bed. It is sprinkled with fragrant herbs and scented with incense such as rose oil. Isor is spread on top of the bodice. Then they lay the deceased, dressed in a kamis. Hands are placed along the body. The deceased is scented with incense. They read prayers and say goodbye to him. The body is wrapped in isor, first the left side, then the right. Lifofa is also wrapped starting from the left side, then knots are tied at the head, at the waist and at the feet. These knots are untied when the body is lowered into the grave.

The order of wrapping women. The procedure for wrapping in this case is identical to that for men, but the difference is that before putting on the kamis, the breasts of the deceased are covered with khirka - a cloth covering the chest from the armpits to the abdomen. The kamis is put on and the hair falls on it. The face is covered with a scarf - khimor, placed under the head. The only difference is this.

FUNERAL STRETCHER (TABUT)

A tabout is a stretcher with a sliding lid, and is usually found at mosques and cemeteries. A blanket is laid on the tabout, on which the deceased is placed, then the lid is closed and covered with cloth.

FUNERAL PRAYER (JANAZA)

Particular importance is attached to the funeral prayer. It is performed by the imam of the mosque or a person replacing him. The tobut is installed perpendicular to the direction of the Qibla. The imam stands closest to the coffin, with the crowd standing in rows behind him. The difference from ordinary prayers is that bows and bows to the ground are not performed here. Funeral prayer consists of 4 takbirs (Allahu Akbar), appeals to the Almighty asking for forgiveness of sins and mercy for the deceased and greetings (right and left). Before starting the prayer, the imam repeats “As-Salat!” three times, that is, “Come to prayer!” Before the prayer, the imam addresses those gathered for prayer and the relatives of the deceased with the question of whether the deceased has debts that were not paid during his lifetime, (or, conversely, does anyone still owe him) or was in an argument with him and asks to forgive him or settle accounts with relatives. Without reading a prayer over the deceased, the funeral is considered invalid. If a child or newborn with vital signs has died (shouted, for example, before dying), then prayer is obligatory. If the child is stillborn, prayer is not advisable. The prayer is usually read after washing and wrapping the deceased in a shroud.

FUNERAL (DAPHNE)

It is recommended to bury the deceased in the nearest cemetery as soon as possible. When the deceased is laid on the ground, his head should be turned towards the Qibla. The body is lowered into the grave with its feet down, and when a woman is lowered into the grave, a blanket is held over her so that men do not look at her shroud, they throw a handful of earth into the grave, saying in Arabic: “Inna lilahi wa inna ilayhi rajiun,” which translates means: “We all belong to God and return to Him” (Surah Al-Baqarah, 156). A grave filled with earth should rise four fingers above ground level. Then the grave is watered with water, a handful of earth is thrown onto it seven times and a prayer is read, translated as: “We created you from it, and we will return you to it, and we will take you out of it another time.” Then one person remains at the grave and reads the talkin - the words of testimony about the Muslim’s faith in Allah, His Prophet, the Holy Scriptures, which are read over the grave of the deceased in order to facilitate his interrogation of the Angels Munkar and Nakir.

GRAVE (KABR)

The grave is constructed in different ways, depending on the terrain in which Muslims live. 1. Lahad - consists of an ivan and a cell inside it. The ivan is dug to a size of 1.5 x 2.5 m with a depth of 1.5 m. At the bottom of the ivan there is a round entrance to the cell (80 cm), large enough to accommodate the body and those participating in the funeral procession. 2. Yoke - consists of an ayvan and an internal shelf. The yoke exceeds the size of the deceased's body by about half a meter on both sides. Shelf (shikka) dug according to the size of the body length or the size of the width of the yoke (width 70 cm, height 70 cm). Sharia requires that the deceased be buried in such a way that there is no smell and predators cannot remove him. For this purpose, the grave is strengthened with baked bricks for the lahad, and with a board for the yoke. It is not customary for Muslims to be buried in a coffin. If a Muslim dies while sailing, Sharia requires, if possible, to delay the funeral and bury him on land. If the land is far away, a Muslim ritual is performed over it (ablution, shrouding, prayer, etc.), then a heavy object is tied to the feet of the deceased’s body and the deceased is lowered into the sea or ocean.

READING THE QURAN DURING A FUNERAL

The funeral rites are associated with the reading of verses from the Koran. According to the covenant of the Prophet, peace be upon Him, Surah Al-Mulk is read, which is accompanied by numerous requests addressed to Allah Almighty to have mercy on the deceased. In prayers, especially after a funeral, the name of the deceased is most often mentioned, and only good things are said about him. Prayers and requests to Allah are necessary, since on the very first day (night) Angels Munkar and Nakir appear in the grave and begin interrogating the deceased, and prayers should help alleviate his situation before the “underground court.”

MUSLIM CEMETERIES

The peculiarity of Muslim cemeteries is that all graves and tombstones face the facades towards Mecca. Muslims passing by the cemetery read a surah from the Koran. Often people who do not know which way to turn when praying determine Qibla by the direction of the graves. The cemetery has special rooms for performing ablutions and washing the dead. Burying a Muslim in a non-Muslim cemetery and a non-Muslim in a Muslim cemetery is strictly prohibited. If the wife of a Muslim, a Christian or a Jew, dies, and she was pregnant, then she is buried in a separate area with her back to Mecca, so that the child in the womb lies facing Mecca. Shariah does not approve of various grave buildings (for example, stones with the image of the deceased), rich family crypts, mausoleums and tombs humiliate poor Muslims or make some people jealous. It is also frowned upon for a grave to serve as a place of prayer. Hence the requirement of Sharia that tombstones should not look like mosques. It is recommended to write the following words on the tombstone:
"Inna lillahi wa inna ilyayhi rajiun"
(Verily we belong to Allah and to Him we will be returned.)

ABOUT OPENING GRAVES

Sharia prohibits opening the graves of the Prophet, peace be upon him, caliphs, imams, martyrs for the faith, and scientists with religious authority. It is also prohibited to open the burial of a child or insane person whose parents are Muslims. Opening the grave of a Muslim is permitted in the following cases:

1) if the deceased is buried in usurped land, and the owner of the plot is against having a grave there;

2) if the shroud and other funeral accessories are usurped or stolen, etc.;

3) if it is known that the burial was not carried out according to the rules of Sharia (without a shroud, or the body does not lie facing the Kibla;

4) if the Muslim is not buried in a Muslim cemetery or in an area where sewage, garbage, etc. are thrown;

5) if there is a danger that predatory animals could pull out the corpse, or the grave could be flooded, or the deceased had enemies who could violate the body;

6) if after the funeral unburied parts of the body of the deceased are discovered.

MOURNING FOR THE DEAD

Shariah 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 out their hair or cause bodily harm to themselves, and also tear their clothes. The Prophet said that the deceased suffers when his family mourns him. According to Shariah, everyone is required to observe the following: if men, especially young or middle-aged men, cry, those around them should reproach them, and crying children and old people should be gently soothed. Islam strictly prohibits the profession of mourners for the dead, although despite the prohibitions of Islam, in many Muslim countries there are still professional mourners with especially touching voices. They are hired for the duration of funeral rites and memorials for the deceased. Islam does not approve of this and is against professional mourners. The saying of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon Him, says: “My community cannot tolerate four customs of paganism: boasting of good deeds, defamation of the origin of other people, superstition that fertility depends on the stars, and crying for the dead.”

Muslim teaching requires one to endure grief patiently. Patience (sabr) is considered a great virtue. Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon Him, said: “Whoever, for the sake of a dead person, tears his clothes, hits himself in the face or lets out screams, which were the customs of the times of jahiliyya (ignorance before the revelation of Sharia to the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon Him)- not one of us (i.e. not from among the pious)" The fourth caliph, Imam Ali, said: “Patience in faith is the same as the head on the body.” About patience, Allah the Almighty said in the Quran: “Seek the help of Allah in patience and prayer, truly Allah is with those who are patient. Those who suffer any disaster say: “Truly, we are in the power of Allah and to Him we will return! We thank Him for blessings and suffer disasters with reward and punishment.” These are those upon whom Mercy is from their Lord, and they are guided.” (Al-Baqarah, 153,156,157).

ABOUT PREPARATION FOR DEATH

A Muslim must be prepared for death every moment: at night or during the day, in a dream or in reality. To do this you need:
1. Believe in the principle of Monotheism (there is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is His messenger)

2. Observe the five obligatory prayers daily (prayer), as well as perform additional (sunnah, witr, nafil).
3. Read the Koran, reflect on its meaning, act according to it. Read the Koran during the day and in the middle of the night, as well as before obligatory prayers. Read the Qur'an in its entirety at least once or twice every month.

5. Strive to be in the company of righteous Muslims who constantly remember Allah, and benefit from communicating with them to improve one’s own faith and life.

6. To command what is approved and to withhold what is blameworthy, attaching great importance to this.

For this to become a need of the Muslim soul, it is necessary to constantly remember death by:
a) visiting graves for reflection, observation, drawing conclusions;
b) visiting elderly people in their homes, especially relatives. After all, youth is not given forever; it will certainly be followed by helpless old age. Thus, it is necessary to use your youth for good deeds before old age sets in;
c) visiting patients and observing the differences in existing diseases. You should thank Allah for your own health, making as much effort as possible to worship Allah, until, Allah forbid, some illness happens to you.
All this helps the Muslim to constantly renew his repentance (tauba); be satisfied with one's own situation; increase activity in worship.
However, if a Muslim is inattentive in his obedience to Allah and His Prophet peace be upon Him, and is not serious about fulfilling the injunctions of Sharia, this is the result of a careless, lazy and indifferent attitude towards worship.
“Say: “Verily, there is no escape from the death from which you flee. It will certainly befall 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)

In order to organize a Muslim funeral, you need to know all the nuances of funeral traditions prescribed by Islam. Even outwardly, Muslim cemeteries have their own peculiarities - all the tombstones on them face towards Mecca. Those who have converted to Islam prepare for death while still alive: they visit the sick, the elderly, and the graves of the dead. Among followers of Islam, it is not customary to express grief loudly, so they mourn the deceased quietly. It is believed that if a family mourns a deceased person, they bring him torment. According to Sharia law, a devout Muslim is supposed to be buried on the day of death, always before sunset.

Muslim funerals begin with ablution and washing the deceased with water, then he is wrapped in a shroud made of cotton cloth. (Shariah prohibits burying the deceased in clothes). The deceased is taken to the cemetery on a special stretcher. (they are called Tobut). Before the burial, a prayer is read to the Almighty for the forgiveness of sins. This is a very important funeral prayer for Muslims, read by the imam. Muslims are usually buried in the nearest cemetery. Sharia law prohibits the erection of luxurious monuments or the construction of crypts, as this may humiliate the poor dead.

I recently learned that every more or less large city has a separate Muslim cemetery. Of course, I had heard about such things before, but for some reason I imagined a separate plot on an ordinary one, allocated for the burial of the followers of the Prophet Muhammad. As it turned out, Muslim cemeteries are separate territories in which the burial of people of other religions is strictly prohibited, just as it is forbidden to bury Muslims in a non-Muslim cemetery.

The Muslim cemetery is not like others. On its territory you will not find a columbarium with ashes, since in Islam it is akin to burning at the stake of hell. And Muslim monuments and graves, according to Sharia, always face one direction - towards Holy Mecca.

After the death of a Muslim, the body is ordered to be buried as quickly as possible. Taharat and ghusul are special ablution rituals that are performed before a funeral. Muslims are not buried in a coffin, as is customary according to Christian customs. Before burial, the body is wrapped in a shroud. Moreover, when burying a woman, the body is covered with a special cloth, since men should not see her last “outfit”. The deceased is lowered into the grave with his feet down so that his face is turned towards the Holy Place. With traditions, everything is very strict and sometimes even scary. For example, if a pregnant woman who has not accepted Allah but is bearing a child from a Muslim is buried, she is lowered into the grave with her back to Mecca so that the face of the unborn baby is turned towards the Holy Place.

As terrifying as it may sound, a body buried without a coffin can become prey for wild animals. Therefore, cemeteries of followers of Islam are securely fenced and carefully guarded, and each Muslim grave is additionally strengthened with burnt bricks (to block the smell) or a board. We will not see the dead on monuments or images of animals or birds - this is strictly prohibited. It is allowed to indicate the name and surname of the deceased, the dates of his birth and death, as well as the epitaph - necessarily a quote from the Koran.

In general, I would highlight three differences between Muslim burials and those generally accepted in Russia:

I don’t want to offend anyone, but whatever the traditions - Muslim, Christian, Jewish or any other - today there are a lot of justifications for a magnificent and even luxurious funeral. And all because we are increasingly inclined to see off our loved ones on their last journey not at the behest of our hearts or our religion, but at the behest of the public. We always look around - what will people say? What will they think?

In conclusion, I’ll tell you an interesting story that a friend from another city told me. A young Muslim, very religious family lived in their house. The child was the same age as my friend’s son, so they sometimes communicated. One day a misfortune happened - my father passed away. The whole courtyard saw how several men (also Muslims) helped take out the body. And one of the neighbors, prejudiced against the “non-native” religion, joked at that moment: now, they say, they will organize drunken funerals. But several days passed after the funeral, and no drinking happened. Later, a friend of mine asked if it was really not customary for them to remember, and received the following answer: “It is not customary to destroy the home of a family that has lost its breadwinner. On the contrary, you need to help the widow and free her from household chores, and remember the deceased with prayers.”
Personally, I thought... What about you?

Death and funeral according to Muslim traditions

The funeral rite and all related rituals are described in great detail in Sharia, which is a set of rules for the behavior and life of a Muslim. That is why all Muslim rituals are the same. They should be carried out under the guidance of knowledgeable people who have received their skills and knowledge from older people.

The ritual of Muslim funerals is very different from the rituals of other religions in its modesty
in this ritual. According to Muslim traditions, funerals must be carried out as soon as possible, preferably within 24 or 48 hours. The most necessary attributes of a Muslim funeral are a kafan (cloth in which the body is wrapped), a tobut (a stretcher on which the deceased is washed and subsequently carried out), a cloth covered over the tobut, a temporary wooden board with a sign for the grave (but if it is planned to establish monument, then you can do without it) and transport for transportation to the cemetery. Shariah laws offer a set of rules related to the relocation of a Muslim to the afterlife, therefore, rituals determined by Shariah are performed over a Muslim who is near death.

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, then it is permissible to turn the dying person on his left or right side so that his face is directed towards the Kaaba (Mecca). After this, they sit down next to the dying person and read “Kalima-i Shahadat” to him. It will probably be necessary to quench the thirst of the dying person, so you need to prepare cold water, and it is best to give the sacred Zam-Zam water or pomegranate juice in small drops. In the last minutes of life, Surah Ya Sin and Surah Thunder are read to the dying person; they will ease the mortal torment.

After death

It is forbidden to talk too loudly or cry around a dying person. When a person has died, first of all, the deceased’s eyes are closed, his jaw is tied with a bandage, all clothes are removed, but hidden places are covered (awrat) and the big toes are tied together. They soften the joints of the arms and legs by squeezing and unclenching them, placing something heavy on the stomach and placing incense nearby. Then a small ablution (small taharat) is performed. It is very important to know that women can only be washed by women, and men only by men. It is permissible for the wife to wash the husband, but the husband should not wash the wife.

Small ablution - small taharat

Before starting the small ablution, the person performing this ritual must cleanse himself and his thoughts and intentions (niyat) must be pure, then he must say: “B-smillah!” - “In the name of Allah!”, and you can begin. Pour clean water into a clean bowl, soak the cloth in this water and wash the deceased with your left hand. After this, you need to take a clean cloth, soak it in clean water and with your right hand wash the face of the deceased with it from top to bottom, from the roots of the hair to the chin. Then wash first your right and then your left hand up to the elbow. The same procedure must be carried out with the legs, start with the right leg and finish with the left leg. You need to move from your fingers to your ankles, and you need to carefully rub between your fingers.

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

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

Ablution - Ghusul

Before the funeral begins (daphne), you need to perform a complete ablution (ghusl, gusul). For this you need: water, a tobuta or a wide bench, buckets, jugs, soap, scissors, cotton wool, incense and a towel. The body is placed on a tobut (or bench) and they begin to pour warm clean water over it (you can add lotus leaves to the water). The nostrils, ears and mouth are covered with cotton wool to prevent water from entering 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 on his right side and the same actions are performed. Then the deceased is raised to a sitting position, resting him on the hand, lightly pressing on the stomach to release it. Everything is washed off thoroughly, 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 washes with clean warm water, in the second ablution, cleansing agents must be present in the water, and in the third ablution, there must be camphor 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 aromatic herbs. Hair is not combed and nails are not cut. Those parts of the body that came into contact with the ground during prostration (forehead, nose, palms, knees and toes) 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

Consists of three parts: izar, kamis and lifafa. Izar is a sheet for covering from head to toe. Kamis is a long sheet that needs to be folded in half and a hole cut out in order to put it over your 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, khimar (orni - veil), kamis, lifafa and sinabanda (khirka) - a piece of fabric to support the chest. It is recommended that the sinaband covers the body from the chest to the hips. In total, a man needs 20 meters and a woman 25 meters of fabric.How to put on a kafan correctly:

For a man:

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

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

4. first fold the left side of the izar, and then the right one on top of it and covering the kamis

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

6. tie the ends of the bodice at the head and legs with strips of material.

For a woman:

1. unfold the lifafa, then the sinaband, the isar on it, and then the qamis, just like for a man

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

3. remove the material with which the awrat was covered

4. Divide the hair into 2 parts and lay it on the chest on top of the kamis.

5. cover your 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 on top of it, the kamis and orni (veil) fall under the izar

7. close the bodice: left and then right side

8. tie the ends of the bodice at the head and legs with strips of material.

Namaz Janaza

After this, prayer - janaza - is read over the wrapped body (janaza). The prayer is read by the imam or a person replacing him. The difference between this prayer and others is the absence of kneeling (Rukna) and prostration (Sajd). Namaz-janaza contains 4 takbirs, a greeting to the right and a greeting to the left, as well as an appeal to Allah asking for His mercy on the deceased and forgiveness of his sins. At the beginning of the prayer, the imam invites everyone with the words: “As-Salat!”, and then asks those gathered and relatives about the deceased’s unpaid debts or debts in relation to him. And if there were any, then he asks for forgiveness or, in the second case, to settle accounts with the relatives of the deceased. The body in the kafan is placed on a tobut. Relatives and friends must carry the deceased at least 40 steps and only then place him in the hearse.

grave

Qabr (grave) – constructed depending on the terrain. 1) Lahad is an ivan and a cell inside. Ivan is made 1.5 x 2.5 m. and a depth of 1.5 m. in the lower part of the ivan they make a round entrance of 80 cm (to the cell).2) Yarma is an ayvan and a shika (inner shelf). The size of the yoke should be 50cm larger than the size of the deceased. at both sides. Shikka is equal to the length of the body or the width of the yoke (height and width are 70 cm each).The grave is strengthened: the yoke is strengthened with boards, and the lahad is strengthened with baked bricks.In a cemetery, a janaza is placed next to the grave in the direction towards Mecca. People who will lower the deceased into the grave should face the same direction.When lowering a dead woman, 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 feet down. The strips of cloth with which the kafan was tied can now be untied. Then everyone throws a handful of earth into the grave, while reciting verse (2:156) from the Koran. According to all the rules, the grave should be 4 fingers higher than the ground. After this, the grave is watered, a handful of earth is thrown 7 times and the Koran is read (verse 20:57).

At this point, the Muslim funeral is considered completed; finally, the first ruk of the Cow sura should be read first at the head of the head, and then the last ruk 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 prohibited 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 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 trial. Sharia law does not approve of the establishment of mausoleums or rich crypts at graves, because... this humiliates poor Muslims and sometimes causes envy. It is best to write on the gravestone: “Truly we belong to Allah and to Him we will be returned,” and that is quite enough.

According to Shariah requirements, the grave should not become a place for prayer and therefore should not look like a mosque. Islam does not prohibit crying for the deceased, 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 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 requires the participation of a clergyman. Our article will help you learn more about how Muslims are buried.

Before death

If Christian denominations require a dying person to confess his sins, then a dying Muslim must read the Kalima-i Shahada, a prayer that says: “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 his 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. Relatives are also prohibited from leaving the dying person alone. They should be there to give him a glass of water - this is an important and ancient Muslim tradition.

Preparation for burial

When relatives are sure that death has occurred, they place the deceased on his right side, facing towards Mecca. It is also permissible to place the deceased with his feet towards Mecca and raise his head. Islamic traditions require that the body of the deceased be taken care of and given proper appearance. To do this, you need to stretch your joints, put a weight on your stomach (to prevent bloating), tie your jaw (you don’t want it to open randomly) and lower your 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 required at the funeral of every Muslim. To carry it out, four people of the same sex as the deceased are required - an exception is possible for spouses. The ablution itself is carried out by only one person, who is called a hassal - usually this is either a close relative or a specially hired person. The task of the assistant hassal is to pour water on the deceased (water with cedar powder and clean water is used), while other participants in the procedure support and turn the body over.

Ablution begins with the deceased being placed on a hard bed (the kind you can get in a mosque) facing towards Mecca, and a rag or towel is placed on the hips, thereby covering the genitals. Since ablution cleanses the intestines, the room should be fumigated with incense. Ablution consists of several stages. First, the deceased needs to wash his head and face, followed by his feet up to the ankles. Then the deceased is alternately placed on his side, washing the right and left sides of the body. The procedure ends with washing the back. The deceased cannot be placed on his stomach - to wash his back, his body is raised by the hassal's 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. A man's shroud consists of several items: a lifafa - a fabric that covers the body from head to toe, an izar - a fabric that is used to wrap the lower part of the body, and a kamis - a long shirt that covers the body from the shoulders to the pelvis. A woman's kafan also includes a khimar, a wide scarf to cover the head, and a kirk, a cloth that is placed on the chest. It is customary to sprinkle the Lifafa with incense to cover up any 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 (janaza) is performed. This prayer is different in that it is held 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, participants ask Allah to forgive the sins of the deceased and grant him His mercy. If the janazah was not performed, then from the Islamic point of view the funeral cannot be considered valid.

After performing janaza, the body of the deceased is taken to the cemetery on tobut, where the funeral takes place (daphne). In Islam, graves are used 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 under the reading of verses (Sura Al-Mulk is most often used) and placed in the lahad so that the head looks towards Mecca, after which the lahad is covered with bricks or boards. Islam disapproves of tombstones, so grave monuments are designed extremely modestly; as a rule, only the name of the deceased, his years of life and a surah are indicated on them. All grave monuments must face Mecca. It is noteworthy that women are usually not allowed to attend funerals. The Koran also prohibits burying Muslims in non-Muslim cemeteries, and representatives of other religions in Muslim cemeteries.

Remembrance and condolences

Condolences (tazia) to the family and loved ones 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 family of the deceased were on the road during the funeral, then they are allowed to express condolences with a delay. Mourning for more than three days is also considered impermissible. The exception to this rule is a woman mourning for her husband - she should mourn “four months and ten days.”

Condolences should be expressed in the home of the deceased or in a mosque. It is recommended to use the formula: “May Allah Almighty show you a blessing, elevate you in rank and allow you to endure the loss with fortitude.” The Koran does not object to expressing condolences to people of other faiths 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 - quiet crying is acceptable, 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 prohibits burying Muslims in cemeteries of other religions, and vice versa. The number of active Muslim cemeteries in Moscow includes Danilovskoye Muslim and Kuzminskoye. The oldest Muslim cemetery in the capital was the Tatar cemetery outside the Kaluga Gate, but it has not survived to this day. In the 1980s, Muslim sections were created at the Butovsky, Volkovsky, Domodevsky, Zakharyinsky, Shcherbinsky cemeteries and in a number of other necropolises.

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

When death is inevitable

When a Muslim feels death is approaching, his family members and very close friends should be present. They instill hope and kindness in the dying person, and also read “shagadas,” 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 to Him we return.” Those present must close the deceased’s eyes and lower jaw, covering the body with a clean cloth. They must also say dua (petition) to Allah to ask for forgiveness of the sins of the deceased. Relatives must rush to pay off all the debts of the deceased, even if this means that all their wealth will be exhausted.

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

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

How Muslims are buried - organ donation

Organ donation is acceptable for Muslims. As the teaching of the Koran states, “Whoever comes to the rescue of one person saves the life of all mankind.” If questions arise regarding donation, the deceased's loved ones consult with an imam (religious leader) or a Muslim funeral home.

How Muslims are buried - autopsy

Routine autopsies are unacceptable in Islam as they are seen as desecration of the body of the deceased. In most cases, the family of a deceased person can legally refuse an autopsy.

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 - preparing the body

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

The body is wrapped in 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 down to their toes and cover their heads. If possible, the left hand of the deceased lies on the chest, and the right one covers the left one on top, as in a state of prayer. Pieces of fabric 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.

The body is then moved to the mosque (“Masjid”) for the funeral service. Janazah prayers (funeral services) must be performed by all members of the community. Prayers are read in a special room or in the courtyard of the mosque. Worshipers 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 janaza-namaz, the body of the deceased is carried to the cemetery. Traditionally, only men are present at burials. The grave should be dug perpendicular to the qibla, and the body of the deceased should be placed on the right side, facing the qibla. At the same time, the lines “Bismilllah wa ala millati rasulilllah” are read. A layer of wood and stones is then placed 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 prohibited to install a large monument at the grave.

How Muslims are buried - funeral service

After the funeral and burial, the immediate family of the deceased receives visitors. The first three days are considered mourning and the deceased is remembered. Typically, 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 mahrama"). Only a doctor can serve as an exception in emergency cases.

In Islam, it is acceptable to grieve during death and to cry at funerals. However, strong crying and screaming, tearing clothes, express a lack of faith in Allah, and are therefore prohibited.

Sorrow walks side by side with joy, we always expect good things, but we should 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; to some they may even seem strange.

Getting your 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 established centuries-old tradition. A ritual three-time ablution of the deceased is carried out (exactly what is written below), and the room itself in which these actions are carried out is fumigated with incense. Let's return to ablution. For this we use:

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

There are some difficulties in washing the back, since the deceased cannot be placed chest down. The deceased is lifted to wash him from below, then palms are passed along the chest from top to bottom, pressing with medium force. This is necessary so that all impurities leave the body. Then the deceased is washed entirely and the soiled areas are cleaned, if after the final ablution and pressing on the chest, excrement occurs. It is necessary to emphasize how a Muslim is buried in modern times - today it is enough to wash the body once or twice, but carrying out this procedure more than three times is considered unnecessary. The deceased is wiped with a woven towel, the legs, arms, nostrils and forehead are anointed with incense, such as Zam-Zam or Kofur. Under no circumstances is it permissible to cut the deceased's nails or hair.

Any Muslim cemetery has a room for ablutions, and not only the relatives of the deceased can perform the ritual, but also, if they wish, the cemetery workers can take over this procedure.

Laws and regulations

According to Sharia law, burying a Muslim in a non-Islamic cemetery, and vice versa, burying a person of another faith in a Muslim cemetery is strictly prohibited. When people wonder how to properly bury a Muslim, when burying the deceased, they pay attention to the location of the grave and 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, keep in mind that another very important aspect of the procedure is that representatives of this religion are interred 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 prepared for the deceased with a hole in the side, which is similar in appearance to a shelf - this is where the deceased is placed. This prevents water from getting on the body when watering flowers. Therefore, in Islamic cemeteries you 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 slightly 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 dragging him out. By the way, this is precisely why a Muslim grave is strengthened with bricks and boards.

Certain prayers are read over a 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 hands it over to the angel of heaven, 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 must take place in decent conditions, which is why sometimes (not always) Muslims are usually buried sitting.

Kaftan for burial

How is a Muslim buried according to all the rules? There is one more feature. It is customary to wrap the deceased in a white shroud or caftan, which is considered grave clothing and consists of pieces of fabric 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. In this case, the caftan is allowed to be prepared during the person’s lifetime. The knots on the shroud are tied at the head, waist and feet, and they are untied immediately before burying the body. A men's 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” – is wrapped 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 funeral costume, a Muslim woman is buried in a caftan, consisting of the parts described above, as well as a scarf (“pick”) covering the head and hair, and “khimora” - a piece of takni covering the 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 death of the deceased. Only men are present at the funeral, but in some Muslim countries women are also allowed to attend the procession; both sexes must have their heads covered. It is not customary to give speeches at a funeral, only the mullah reads prayers, remaining at the grave for about another hour (and earlier - until sunrise) after the burial procedure and the procession leaving the cemetery (with his prayers he must “tell” the soul of the deceased how to properly answer the angels). As in Christianity, in Islam there are the third, seventh (not ninth) and fortieth days from the moment of death, which are memorable. In addition, the relatives and acquaintances of the deceased gather every Thursday from the seventh to the fortieth day and remember him with tea, halva and sugar, with a mullah sitting 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 a child's funeral

They buy pigeons in advance, the number of which should be equal to 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. The favorite toys of an untimely departed child are placed in a child’s grave.

The most serious 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 towards other people and against one’s own body (the act of suicide is violence against one’s flesh), punishing this with the road to hell. After all, by committing an act of suicide, a person resists 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 if entering 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

Although Islam condemns unlawful killing, burial rites are carried out as usual. The question of how Muslim suicides are buried, and how this 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 a grave sin and doomed his soul to torment. However, 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 funeral prayers over suicides; mullahs read the prayer and carry out the burial procedure according to the usual pattern. To save the soul of a suicide, his relatives can perform good deeds, give alms on behalf of the buried sinner, live modestly, decorously and strictly follow the laws of Sharia.

Each religion says goodbye to the dead in its own way. And all funerals are different: if you look at how Muslims, Catholics, Christians, Jews, and Buddhists are buried, then all the rituals 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 will be happy about the transition to another world.

The funeral rite 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);
• position of the body in the coffin;
• time of burial;
• flowers and wreaths;
• cemetery;
• monuments.

All stages must be followed by the relatives and friends of the deceased in order to see off their loved one on their last journey.

In many countries, special services are now involved in organizing funerals, and in rare cases, the deceased is buried by relatives without the involvement of someone from the outside.

Christian funeral

According to the rules of this religion, funerals take place on the third day after death. Cosmetic procedures include complete washing of the deceased and dressing in 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 nowadays this is a rare case: the deceased is in the morgue until the farewell, and only before the funeral service 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 face level. Most cemetery streets are located so that the deceased is placed in the grave according to the rules, that is, with his feet facing east, and the tombstone cross is placed at the feet of the deceased.

Wreaths from relatives and friends are placed along the inner side of the fence, flowers are placed on the grave, with inflorescences towards the cross. On the ninth and fortieth day, the deceased is remembered with pancakes and jelly. The Orthodox faith prohibits 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 buried not in a cemetery, but behind its fence. Nowadays, this rule is not observed in big cities, although in some towns and villages suicides are still buried only outside the churchyard.

Catholic funeral

According to Catholic customs, any cosmetic procedures with the body of the deceased are prohibited, but now this custom has been 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 for the Orthodox, and the Catholic cross is located 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 ​​placed in them. Oddly enough, Catholics do not have a specific funeral day associated with the date of death.

The funeral service for 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 specific type of monument, so tombstones are very diverse.

Protestant funerals are almost no different from Catholic funeral rituals, and these are the two religions that allow the removal of organs from the deceased for research.

Jewish funeral

Perhaps one of the strictest religions regarding the dead. Only relatives can wash the body. Moreover, if the deceased is a man, then only the male part of the family is involved in the ablution procedure; if it is a woman, then the female part.

The body is dressed in white cloth and placed in a coffin, with a bag of Israeli soil placed under the head. The Jewish coffin is distinguished by its simplicity, since it does not involve any upholstery or decoration; the only thing that can be seen on the coffin is the Star of David.

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

The body is not buried in the synagogue, and Kaddish is recited only in the cemetery. The funeral of the deceased takes place within 24 hours after death, the only exception being 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 accepted by the Jews. In the house where the deceased lies, you cannot eat, drink, or smoke. The water that was in the house of the deceased at the time of death is poured out completely and from all vessels. The mirrors are covered. It is not customary to visit the graves of other relatives in the cemetery, and all periods of mourning for the deceased must be observed.

There is another custom that concerns burying a coffin. The shovel, which is used when burying a grave, is passed from one person to another only when stuck into the ground; the hands of different people cannot be on the handle at the same time. Funerals are not held 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 nations that sees the proper 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 the fire. After the funeral, a few days later, the son returns to the funeral site, collects the ashes and remaining bones in an urn and takes it to the Ganges River.

This river is considered sacred among 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 in which a coffin is not used. Only in cities they use a coffin made of soft wood, and it is never nailed down, as in other religions.

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

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

Muslims are buried within 24 hours after death; you can postpone the funeral a little to wait for distant relatives, but this is not encouraged.

If in many religions the last night is spent with the deceased by relatives, then Muslims say goodbye to the deceased even before his ablution and vestment. The last night is spent surrounded by strangers who bring rosaries with them and recite prayers.

Muslims are buried standing, 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 through the doors of the house feet first, and only in the yard they are turned around and carried to the cemetery head first. Before entering the churchyard, the stretcher with the deceased is placed on a special dais, and only men read a prayer for the deceased.

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

A 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 as in Orthodoxy, funeral dinners are held after the funeral, only they are held somewhat more often - on the third, seventh and fortieth days after the burial. But for the wake 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 see a single photograph on the monuments in this part of the graveyard, since they are prohibited. Also, you will not meet women at Muslim funerals, since burial is carried out exclusively by men, and women visit the grave the day after the funeral.

Unlike the Orthodox faith, you cannot sob or lament loudly at a Muslim’s grave; they also remain silent at funerals, although quiet conversations may be allowed.

After the grave is closed, everyone who attended the funeral immediately leaves the graveyard, leaving only one person who must read Talkin.

According to Muslim canons, large monuments are not placed on graves. The monument should contain only the necessary information about the deceased - dates of birth and death, and the name of the deceased. Currently, pompous monuments are installed in many Muslim cemeteries, but there are no photographs even on them.

Among the set of Muslim customs, there is also one - everyone who knows the deceased or his family must support the relatives with a speech. But this cannot be done too late; an exception is made for Muslims who were on the road or in another place and did not know about the person’s death.

Funeral high in the mountains

The most difficult thing is to bury the deceased where it is impossible 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 settlements.

The lama reads a prayer over the deceased, after which the deceased is cut into pieces with a special knife and scattered along 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 of nature, that is, even the body of the deceased should serve as food for other creatures inhabiting the planet.

Funeral at sea

Not all countries have the area on which cemeteries can be established. This is especially true for island countries. Therefore, residents of such states bury their loved ones at sea or cremate them.

Columbariums are also not found in all countries, but only in highly developed countries. But even if there is space to install an urn, many island residents spray the ashes of the deceased into the sea.

Not only about religion

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

Some military personnel are given the honor of being buried with full military honors. To organize the funeral procession, an honor guard is appointed, which carries a 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 plays the national anthem as the coffin is lowered into the grave. When the entire procession moves to the grave, the guard carries the orders and medals of the deceased behind the coffin, and the coffin itself is carried in a special car or gun carriage.

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

When burying a sailor, a dagger and scabbard are placed on the lid of the coffin in a crossed state, and only then the grave is buried.

Muslim funerals are strictly regulated by religion. The Koran says that there is life after death. The burial ritual is one of the most important moments in the life of every Muslim, on which his future path will depend. It is known that there are currently more than 1.5 billion adherents of Islam in the world, but since they live in different countries, Tatar funerals will be somewhat different from the burial rites of Chechens or Dagestanis.

For all faithful followers of Islam, preparation for the afterlife begins in this world. Thus, following their national traditions, elderly Tatars prepare in advance for this day by purchasing a kafan, or kefen, towels and various things for sadak, that is, for distribution at a funeral: such things can be scarves, shirts, towels and other household items, and also money.

Funerals of Muslims must be carried out according to the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad. The dead are never cremated. According to Islam, this is compared to a terrible punishment equal to burning in hell. In addition, Sharia law strictly prohibits burying a Muslim follower in a cemetery for other religious faiths, and non-Muslims cannot be buried in a Muslim cemetery. A true believer must be buried on the day of death before sunset. You can do this the next day before sunset, but only if he died during the night.

Muslims do not bring artificial flowers and wreaths to funerals, but real flowers are also undesirable. This is due to the fact that the Prophet advised to avoid unnecessary spending on the dead, since money is more needed by the living. He said that you need to take care of people while they are alive, and flowers should also be brought to living people. The dead have no use for flowers.

Sequencing

A person who professes Islam begins to prepare for the transition to another world, being on the threshold of death: he prays and reads the Koran. While the dying person is still alive, they place him on his back so that his legs are pointing towards Mecca and begin to read a prayer in a loud voice so that the dying person can hear clearly. Customs require that shortly before death any Muslim believer is given some cold water to drink.

Relatives, neighbors or invited people go to dig a grave, which cannot be left empty, so either a person remains near it or any metal object is placed in it. Those who participated in the digging receive sadaq: as a rule, these are handkerchiefs or money.

All this time the women are preparing for the funeral: they sew the shroud by hand, without knots, simply sewing the fabric together with large stitches. After the men return from the cemetery, the washing of the body begins.

Full body washing, or ghusl, according to the requirements of the Koran, is performed by a woman if the deceased is female, and by a man if male. Then the body is wrapped in a shroud (kafan), and at least four people must take part in this process. Martyrs are not washed. If there are no people of the same gender as the deceased, then bathing is also not performed. However, in such a situation it is possible to perform tayammum, that is, one can perform ablution with sand or earth.

The body of the deceased is placed on a solid platform called tanashir and facing Mecca.

The deceased is given a bandage on his jaw so that it does not sag, his eyes are closed, his arms and legs are straightened, and something heavy is placed on his stomach so that it does not swell. Women's hair is divided into two parts and laid out across the chest. According to the tradition of Tatar funerals, the head is often covered with an old towel. Also cover all glass surfaces.

Then the body is transferred to the tobut, or funeral stretcher, and the funeral prayer begins to be recited, while remaining calm and refraining from loud sobs, since it is believed that the deceased will suffer if noisily mourned.

According to Muslim customs, it is forbidden to pray for someone who killed his mother or father, but you can do this for a suicide. If several people died at once, you can read one common prayer. If men are absent and a woman reads a prayer, then the latter is recognized as valid.

Washing traditions

The Muslim ritual of washing is carried out as follows:

1. The deceased is laid on a hard surface facing Mecca, and the entire place where the bathing will take place is scented with herbs or essential oils. The genital organs of the body are covered with cloth.
2. The hassal, or the person who will perform the washing, washes his hands three times, puts on gloves and presses on the belly of the deceased, squeezing out its contents. Then he washes his genitals without looking at them. Then the hassal takes off his gloves, puts on new ones, dips them in water and wipes the deceased’s mouth, cleans his nose and washes his face.
3. After this, he washes both hands up to the elbows, starting with the right hand. The body is placed on the left side, and the right side is washed, while each arm up to the elbow and the face are washed three times. The head and beard are washed with warm soapy water and cedar powder, or gulkair.
4. The laws of Islam dictate the same procedure for bathing the body for men and women: the genitals are not touched with hands, water is simply poured onto the fabric with which they are covered. All actions are carried out three times. Then the body is turned over on the other side and everything is repeated. However, turning the body face down to wash the back is not permitted.
5. Aromatic oils are applied to the nostrils, forehead, hands and feet. It is prohibited to cut the hair or nails of the deceased.

According to Islamic law, you cannot bury a person wearing clothes. His body must be wrapped in a shroud, or kafan, preferably made of white material. This procedure is called Takfin. As reported in a hadith from Aisha, it is advisable to wrap a deceased man in three white blankets, each of which should cover his entire body. A woman is wrapped in 5 sheets: one to wrap her head, the second to cover her body below the navel, the third to cover her body above the navel, and the remaining two to wrap her entire body.

To wrap newborn children or dead babies, one piece of cloth should be enough. For male children under 9 years of age, it is permissible to be wrapped in a shroud in the same way as for an adult or baby. Tatar funerals require that the kafan be made for the deceased spouse by the wife, and for the wife by the husband, children or other relatives. In a situation where the deceased was alone, the funeral ceremony should be carried out by the closest neighbors.

If the deceased was poor, then wrapping his body with three blankets will be considered sunnah. If the deceased was not poor and did not leave debts behind, then his body is covered with three sheets without fail. At the same time, the fabric of the shroud must correspond to the material condition of the deceased - in this way respect for him is expressed. Although the body is allowed to be wrapped in fabric that has already been used, it is better if the fabric is new.

Silk cloth is prohibited from wrapping a man's body.

The wrapping order is as follows:

1. According to the rules that accompany funerals in Islam, hair and beard are not cut or combed before takfin, fingernails and toenails are not cut, and gold crowns are never removed. All these procedures must be carried out while the person is still alive.
2. The procedure for wrapping for men is as follows: the first cloth, lifofah, sprinkled with aromatic herbs and sprinkled with aromatic oils, such as rose oil, is laid on a hard surface. The next cloth, isor, is spread on top of the bodice. The body is placed on it, wrapped in a third cloth, kamis. The hands of the deceased are stretched along the body and rubbed with incense. After this, prayers are read, and then the deceased is said goodbye. The Izor fabric is wrapped around the body in the following sequence: first the left side, then the right. The Lifof cloth is first wrapped on the left side, after which knots are tied at the legs, head and waist. These knots will be untied when the body begins to be lowered into the cab.
3. The procedure for wrapping women is similar to that for men, the only difference is that before wrapping in kamis, the chest of the deceased woman is covered with another cloth, khirka, which should cover the chest from the level of the armpits to the abdomen. And a scarf, a himor, is placed on the woman’s face, tucked under her head. After the woman is covered with the kamis, her hair is placed on it.

Prayer at a funeral

Islam attaches great importance to prayer during funerals according to Muslim traditions. A funeral bier with an extendable top, called a tobut, is placed perpendicular to the location of Mecca.

The prayer is read by the imam or a person replacing him, while he is located closest to the tobut, and everyone else gathered is located behind him.

Unlike daily prayers, in this case there are no bows, either from the waist or from the ground. Janazah, as the funeral prayer is called, is an appeal to the Almighty with a request to forgive the deceased and have mercy. The imam asks the relatives of the deceased whether he owes anyone, and whether there is anyone who quarreled with him and has not forgiven him. He asks all these people not to hold a grudge against the buried person and to forgive him.

If a prayer is not read over the body of the deceased, the funeral will not be recognized as valid. Janazah should also be read over a child or newborn who has had time to cry. If the newborn is already stillborn, then it is not recommended to read a prayer over him. Janazah is read over all the dead who professed Islam, even over small children, with the only exception being martyrs.

Burial procedure

According to Islamic law, it is required to bury the deceased very quickly, preferably on the same day, in the closest cemetery. Moreover, the body should be lowered downwards, and then you need to lay it on the right side so that its face looks in the direction of Mecca. When they throw earth into the grave, they pronounce words in Arabic, the translation of which is: “we all belong to the Almighty and we return to the Almighty.”

The grave, covered with earth, should rise above ground level by about 4 fingers. Water is poured onto the formed grave and handfuls of earth are thrown 7 times, and then a prayer is read in Arabic, the meaning of which is: “We created you from the earth, we will return you to the earth, and we will bring you out of it next time.” After this, only one person remains at the grave, who reads the tasbit or taskin, containing words about faith. They should make it easier for the deceased to meet the angels.

Kabr (grave)

Qabr, as a Muslim burial is called, can be excavated in different ways depending on the region, the topography of the cemetery and the composition of the soil in it. But you must comply with 2 requirements:

1. The deceased must be well protected from wild animals.
2. The burial must prevent the penetration and spread of odor.

Therefore, a hole must be dug to such a depth that animals and birds cannot dig it out, from 60 to 80 cm wide, and as long as the height of the deceased with an outstretched arm. The minimum depth of the hole is 150 cm, and the maximum (sunnah) is 225 cm. In general, a kabr is a depression in the ground, in which a special side niche is allocated for the body. It is dug on the side on which Mecca is located, and is made so high and wide that one can fit in it while sitting. Since it is prescribed in the sunnah (as written by Bushra al-Karim) that a niche in the kabra allows the deceased to be laid in a position approximately similar to the one in which he was during the bow during life, some people have the belief that Muslims are buried sitting.

The body is placed in a niche prepared and reinforced with bricks, facing Mecca, the ceiling is covered with slabs and the cabr is covered with earth.

If a believer dies while traveling on a ship, Sharia law requires that the funeral be postponed so that the deceased, brought to land, can undergo the ritual of burial on land. However, if the land is too far away, a complete Muslim ritual is performed over the deceased on the spot, with ablution, wrapping and prayer. After which something heavy is tied to his feet, and the body is given over to the water.

The burial place of Muslim believers differs from other cemeteries in that everything there is arranged in accordance with the words and commandments of the Prophet Muhammad, who advised visiting cemeteries so as not to forget about the end of the world:

1. The tombstones and qabras are oriented in the direction of Mecca.
2. All the deceased lie facing towards Mecca.
3. Anyone coming to the cemetery should not light or place candles, bring wreaths, bouquets, or drink alcohol.
4. A Muslim's grave should be modest, without excesses, so as not to humiliate the poor and not cause envy.
5. The gravestone indicates the name of the person buried, the date of death, general information about him and quotes from the Koran, but there should not be his photographs or other images.
6. Every Muslim cemetery has special places for washing the dead.
7. Sitting on the graves of Muslim believers is prohibited.
8. It is not recommended to install monuments on graves, but it is allowed to put a slab so that everyone understands that this is a grave and you cannot walk on it.
9. The use of kabra as a place of prayer is discouraged.
10. It is not permitted to bury infidels in a Muslim cemetery, even if all their relatives profess Islam.
11. A Muslim believer passing by a cemetery, as a rule, recites a sura from the Koran, and the way the graves are located tells him where to turn his face.

Mourning the deceased

Muslim funerals should not be accompanied by loud sobs and hysterical lamentations; in addition, one should not mourn the deceased already on the fourth day after his death. As such, the Shariah does not prohibit mourning the deceased, but doing it too loudly is strictly prohibited. It is unacceptable for relatives of the deceased to scratch their faces and bodies, pull out hair, tear clothes, or inflict any kind of injury on themselves. Muhammad said that the deceased was feeling bad and was suffering while they were mourning him.

Islamic laws require that crying men, especially young or middle-aged men, be reproached by those around them, and if children or old people cry, they should be tenderly consoled.

Sharia law prohibits the profession of mourners, but in some Islamic countries there are still professional mourners who are characterized by subtle, touching voices. These women are hired by people who do not observe the laws of their religion for the duration of funeral rituals and wakes.

Memorial days

Tazia, that is, condolences to the relatives of the deceased, is usually expressed during the first 3 days after death, after which it is no longer desirable. It is strictly forbidden to stay overnight in the house of the deceased if tazia is being held there. Condolences are not expressed twice. Mandatory reading of the Koran and distribution of sadaqa are provided.

Muslims hold funerals:

• on the day of the funeral;
• on the third day;
• on the seventh day;
• on the fortieth day;
• on the anniversary of death.

A wake is then held each year on the day of death. All relatives are invited to them, even if they live very far away, and one can refuse the invitation only in exceptional situations. As a rule, everyone invited comes.

In the house of the deceased, a table is set for those who come to say goodbye. The relatives and friends of the deceased themselves do not take part in preparing the funeral meal. Friends and neighbors bring and prepare everything necessary, since the relatives of the deceased are too depressed by the grief that has befallen them.

There is no alcohol at the Muslim funeral meal; tea and sweets are served on the table, and then pilaf is served. No special dishes are prepared for the funeral; everything is laid out on the table the same as every day. Sweets are a must as they symbolize a sweet afterlife for Muslims.

The funeral meal takes place in complete silence.

Men and women participate in the funeral meal only separately, and they must be in different rooms. When there is only one room, and it is impossible to divide it, then only men participate in the funeral meal. After it, everyone silently gets up and goes to the cemetery to the grave of the deceased.