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Why Muslim women can't go to funerals. How Muslims are buried and remembered

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 rest of it 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 towards 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 the sura 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 allowed 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 should 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 (what exactly 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:

Water with cedar powder.
Camphor solution.
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 should 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 the 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.

Before death

Preparation for burial

Funeral prayer and burial

Remembrance and condolences

Muslim cemeteries in Moscow

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Muslims are strictly regulated by religion, and the funeral rite is one of the key points on which the future path of a Muslim depends: there is life after death, and what it will be like depends on the funeral. But there are more than one and a half billion followers of Islam in the world and they live in different parts of the world, so the traditions of Tatar funerals will be slightly different from the funeral traditions of Dagestanis or Pakistanis - the culture of the country still leaves its mark.

If a Muslim is dying

For everyone who professes Islam, preparation for the afterlife begins in this world. So, according to Tatar traditions, older people prepare in advance for this moment: they purchase a shroud, towels and many things for sadaka - distribution at a funeral: these can be shirts, scarves, towels, etc.

When a person is dying, you need to put him facing the qibla, that is, towards the Kaaba, and on his right side. At the same time, it is important that the last words of a person are the words of the prayer “Kalimat-Shahdaat”. If the dying person is unable to speak, he needs to read the kalimah and remain silent: the main thing is that these are the last words heard. You can ease the pain of death with the help of Surah Thunder (or Ya Sin). You should not bring family members near a person.

After the Muslim has left, his limbs are straightened and his jaw is tied up. Something heavy is placed on the stomach. According to the tradition of Tatar funerals, the head is often covered with an old towel. The deceased is turned towards the qibla, all clothes are removed, a prayer (dua) is read, placed on a bed or any elevation and covered with a light blanket. Muslim funeral rules suggest that the deceased will be taken on his final journey on the very day of death. If the departure occurred at night, the burial must be done immediately the next day.

An infidel cannot be buried in a Muslim cemetery, even if all his relatives are adherents of Islam.

Responsibilities of Muslims towards the deceased

All that needs to be done for the deceased is to wash him, dress him, read the funeral prayer and bury him. All this must be done quickly. All this is the collective responsibility of all who practice Islam in this locality. This whole ritual is called janaza.

Washing the body of a deceased Muslim is called ghusl. Regarding this ritual, the rules of Muslim funerals are strict: men cannot perform ghusl on a woman, and women must not wash a man. Often an outsider is invited to bathe - not a friend or relative; a husband can perform ghusl on his wife and vice versa. They do not bathe martyrs or if there was not a single person of the same gender as the deceased. All stages of bathing are accompanied by prayer. In this case, you can perform tayammum: washing with dust, sand or earth.

Also, an important duty of Muslims to the deceased is the choice of a monument and fence; read more about decorating graves.

Takfin is the act of wrapping a deceased Muslim in a shroud or kafan. A woman is wrapped in five white blankets, a man in three, a small child in one. The head is left open.

Another important point, without which seeing off a Muslim on his final journey is impossible, is janaza prayer.

Funeral prayer is a collective prayer and those who say it must have the same faith, their prayer must be sincere. If a lot of people are reading the Janaza prayer, it is better if they line up in three rows. For a man this prayer is performed opposite his head, while for women it is performed opposite his torso. Women are allowed to perform Janaza prayer. If a friend or relative was unable to read the funeral prayer over a deceased relative during the janaza itself, this can be done at the grave, only within a month (no later). It is best to read it in a cemetery, and the main one should be an imam or amir. The naib or most educated Muslim in that locality is also suitable. Janazah is read over all the dead who professed Islam, even over small children, with the only exception being martyrs.

Funeral

The burial itself is called daphne. The grave is dug to such a depth that animals cannot dig it up, 70-80 cm wide and as long as the height of the deceased with his hand raised. The stretcher with the deceased is accompanied by men. They always bury without a coffin, turning the deceased towards the qibla, and then it is advisable to read prayers, for example tasbit or taskin.

According to Muslim traditions, funerals should not be accompanied by loud lamentations and loud crying; in addition, one should not cry for the deceased already on the fourth day after his death.

As for condolences, there is an opinion that they cannot be expressed if more than half a week has passed since death. This is not entirely true; you can express them to a Muslim’s relatives when it is appropriate.

Funeral services are organized three days, a week, forty days and a year after death. A monument to a Muslim should not be too large or expensive, and according to the Tatar funeral tradition, one or two trees grow on the graves.

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

Water with cedar powder.
Camphor solution.
Cool water.

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 they ask the question of 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

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?

Kaftan for burial

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 - “isor” - is wrapped around the lower part of the body. Finally, the shirt itself - “kamis” - should be of such length that the genitals are covered. The photos presented in the article allow you to understand how Muslims are buried.

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

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

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 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

In a state of stress from the loss of a loved one, it is not so easy for representatives of Muslim culture in Chelyabinsk to organize a funeral in accordance with Sharia law. You need to buy everything you need, spend time searching for ritual supplies, organize the entire ceremony down to the smallest detail, complete the necessary documentation - and all this in the shortest possible time.

Ritual service "Requiem" has extensive experience in providing funeral services and sufficient competence to carry out muslim funeral. We are ready to provide full support funeral rites, to protect you from unnecessary trauma during preparations that are not always understandable to representatives of a different culture.

Organization of a funeral according to Muslim customs

As written in the Koran, respectful and full of faith burial makes it possible for a true believer to find peace in another world. And it doesn’t always turn out that the relatives of the deceased have an idea about organizing Muslim funerals traditions- ritual system Muslim funeral has its own specifics, and an individual interpretation of the sacred text is unacceptable (and often impossible, due to its complexity). Then it's better to trust funeral rite and all its preparatory stages to the ritual service, whose representatives have a deep understanding of Sharia law and have everything necessary to carry out the ceremony according to Muslim customs.

In the orthodox version organization of Muslim funerals implies the following actions:

ablution and washing body of the deceased- taharat and gusul;
placing him in a shroud;
burial And parting- daffr;
wake.

Let's consider all stages of the ceremony Muslim funeral

According to Muslim customs, there is a strict principle of ablution and washing body of the deceased- they always start with taharat, then perform ghusul.

The entire ceremony is led by a hassal - a knowledgeable person, an expert Muslim funeral traditions. This could be a mullah or an elder revered by the community. This role in the modern cultural situation can be taken on by a representative funeral service. As a rule, the steward is assisted by several assistants (from 4 people), including a relative of the deceased. Persons of different sexes are not allowed to participate in the washing process (except for married couples and minors - up to 5 years).

Muslim funeral it is prescribed to lay the body on its back with the feet facing Mecca, in which there is the sacred Kaaba. A ribbon is pulled under the chin and tied, and a weight is applied to the abdominal area.

Shrouding

Carrying out Muslim funeral traditions excludes burials e bodies in ordinary clothes. The body is dressed in a kafan, which has three components - a bodice that completely covers the body, an isor that covers the legs, and a kamis - an elongated robe.

First, the body is dressed in a kamis, placed on a laid out bodice, the legs are covered with isor and the upper part of the body is wrapped in a bodice, tying the cloth in the area of the head, torso and feet. For women, a pick is tied to the chest under the kamis - a piece of fabric about 150 cm long; the hair is covered with a scarf and secured with a knot. During burial, the knots of the lifofa are untied.

Parting

Muslim funeral ritual laws require that the deceased be buried as quickly as possible. Before burials It is forbidden to leave the body - someone must always be nearby and pray. The position of the deceased is on his back with his feet towards Mecca or on his right side with his head towards the qiblah.

Islam does not approve of such paraphernalia as tombstones, wreaths and any other grave decorations. In Muslim cemetery the graves are marked by mounds of earth four fingers high.

Wake

When the farewell ceremonies ended and funeral, among Muslims It is customary to honor the memory of all the deceased relatives of the deceased. At the beginning wake organized after the funeral, then on days 3, 9, 40 and a year after death. Muslim customs do not require the preparation of special funeral dishes, but it is customary to celebrate the beginning of the feast with tea and sweets. Everything usually takes place in silence so that the guests do not annoy the hosts.

Muslim funeral procedure

Islam prescribes general rules, however, there are variations in the interpretation of this ritual in various Asian countries - customs have formed that have survived the influence of ancient pagan times. Ritual service "Requiem" adheres to Sharia law for the organization Muslim funeral However, he always listens to the wishes of the relatives of the deceased. As the orthodox set of rules says, cremation during Muslim funeral is excluded, although if there is no choice and the burning of a corpse is necessary and justified, this is quite acceptable.

In place burials The body is brought on a stretcher, the lid of which slides apart - it is customary to hide the face of the deceased from idle spectators. The bottom of the stretcher is lined with a blanket, the lid is covered with a sheet of fabric.

Muslim funeral suggest the presence of two types of grave: lahad and yoke. The first type resembles a family crypt, created according to European tradition - a depression in the ground, which is a cell with a circular entrance, where everyone who came to say goodbye can fit. Lahad involves placing the body supine with the feet facing Mecca or on the right side facing the Kaaba.

The yoke resembles an earthen depression with a shelf. The body is lowered there with the feet down, and the head should look towards the East. The entire burial procedure is accompanied by the reading of prayers by imams; these are four main funeral prayers.

The newly created grave at cemetery They spray it with water, then those present take turns sprinkle it with seven handfuls of earth. After the ceremony is completed, one person remains at the grave, and he reads a special prayer - talkin, a testament to the orthodoxy of the deceased in front of the angels of death, who will soon take him away.

Is it permissible to use a coffin during a Muslim funeral?

Sometimes representatives of Islam deny the very possibility of using a coffin, but clergy give the opportunity to the relatives of the deceased to decide for themselves how appropriate it is to use the coffin in each specific case.

Ceremony Muslim funeral does not require the use of a coffin when the body is brought on a special stretcher - a tobuta. In this case, the face of the deceased is hidden behind a sliding lid, and the body itself is betrayed burial in a shroud. But today it is possible to search for other alternatives. The popularity and demand for cremation requires the purchase of a coffin.

In Islam it is not approved to put the body on fire, but imams today do not condemn those who decide to choose this method burials. In particular, cremation It is quite acceptable if funds are limited and it is impossible to purchase a place in a Muslim cemetery. Then it is better to purchase an open coffin - this will embody the willingness of the deceased to turn his gaze to Allah.

Muslim code of conduct for funerals

The main thing to remember is - muslim funeral order everyone present to be more focused. You cannot speak loudly, express emotions violently, much less argue or quarrel. By all their behavior, those present must show Allah their submission to His will and worthy behavior.

Stormy exclamations, strong crying - this is defiant behavior that distracts those present from funeral prayers accompanying a funeral, unless it is a newborn being buried.

Muslim funeral it is assumed that after the creation of a grave, everyone, excluding the reader of the talkin, immediately leaves the cemetery. As a rule, relatives call everyone to the wake. Refusal is not approved, however, praising the owners and generally being eloquent is not recommended. Calm, restrained behavior is encouraged.