AVIATION EMERGENCY RESPONSE: Asia Pacific 2004

1
AVIATION EMERGENCY RESPONSE Asia Pacific 2004

• ASSOCIATION OF ASIA PACIFIC AIRLINES
• 20-22 July 2004
• Mutiara Hotel, Kuala Lumpur

2
MOURNING AND FUNERAL RITES IN ISLAM

• By
• Datuk Dr. Syed Othman Alhabshi
• President CEO
• UNITAR

3
AGENDA

• The fundamentals of Islam
• Life and death in Islam
• Mourning
• Funeral rites
• Possible issues

4
FUNDAMENTALS OF ISLAM

• Islam means
• Complete submission to the will of God
• Peace
• Blissful
• Harmony

5
FUNDAMENTALS OF ISLAM (Contd)

• Islam is against aggression, oppression,
  injustices and harmful acts.
• Islam demands the protection of the religion,
  life, intellect, progeny and wealth
• Islam upholds individual freedom and embraces
  diversity
• Society is given preference over individuals

6
FUNDAMENTALS OF ISLAM (Contd)

• Islam is a complete way of life. This implies
  that Islam lays down principles and procedures
  not only in rituals but also in day to day
  activities in a mans life. The best way to do so
  is by listing what is forbidden only. Whatever is
  not forbidden therefore becomes lawful.

7
LIFE AND DEATH IN ISLAM

• Earthly life ends with death
• Death occurs when the spirit leaves the body
• The body would disintegrate while the spirit
  remains alive in the next world

8
MOURNING

• Mourning is not encouraged in Islam
• The dead are to be remembered in our daily
  prayers
• We are to remember them by making supplication
  (prayers) for them so that they will have a
  blissful life in the next world

9
MOURNING (Contd)

• Muslim men only should send the dead to the
  grave. Women are not allowed to do so.
• When a man dies and leaves a wife, the wife is
  supposed to remain in the house for 4 months and
  ten days, except when necessary. She should avoid
  being with any men that is not her family member

10
FUNERAL RITES

• When a Muslim (male or female) dies, it is
  incumbent upon the community to perform the
  funeral rites immediately. The sooner the better.
  It is not encouraged to transport the body from
  one place to another, what more from one country
  to another. If a man dies on a ship, he should be
  buried in the sea.

11
FUNERAL RITES (Contd)

• The funeral rites consist of four actions
• The body needs to be washed (bathed)
• The body needs to be clothed from head to toe
• Special funeral prayer to be performed
• Should be buried

12
POSSIBLE ISSUES

• Death occurs in a place where there are no
  Muslims Should be brought to the nearest place
  where the Muslim funeral rites can be performed.
  He may be buried anywhere. Indeed it is better
  that he be buried wherever he died rather than
  transporting the body to the hometown or village.

13
POSSIBLE ISSUES (Contd)

• The body is completely burnt but identifiable. If
  all the rites can be performed, it should.
  However, a charred body may disintegrate when
  washed, then just wrap it up, and perform the
  prayers and burial.

14
POSSIBLE ISSUES (Contd)

• If the body is divided into small pieces Just
  collect whatever is possible and perform the
  rites.
• If the bodies of mixed passengers are divided
  into small pieces and some are identifiable while
  some are not Collect the identifiable parts only
  and perform the rituals.

15
POSSIBLE ISSUES (Contd)

• If the bodies of mixed passengers are divided
  into small pieces and not identifiable They
  could be washed together, packed and buried
  together. For the Muslims, the prayers can be
  done in absentia (sembahyang ghaib), i.e. the
  body need not be present to be prayed upon. This
  could be done before burial.

16
CONCLUSION

• In principle, there is NO mourning in Islam. One
  naturally feels sad at the loss of loved ones.
  But if possible, one should not even cry aloud.
  Such action is a sign of not readily accepting
  what is fated and destined. What is from God will
  surely return to Him. He can give and take at His
  Will since we all belong to Him.

17
CONCLUSION (Contd)

• There are four funeral rites in Islam
• Washing
• Covering with cloth or any other material
  commonly worn by man
• Saying of prayers on the dead body
• Burial
• The four rites must be done in that order.

18
CONCLUSION (Contd)

• When the body is not in the normal condition to
  perform the four rites, some rites may be skipped
  but others should be performed. For example, we
  may not be able to wash the body, but we can
  cover it, pray on it and bury it.

19
CONCLUSION (Contd)

• When the body parts belong to mixed passengers
  and not physically identifiable, they may be
  washed, put in one bag and buried in one place.
  However, the prayers for Muslims may be done as
  though the body is not present preferably before
  the burial. Whichever religious rite to perform
  first can be decided by the community, depending
  on the situation.

20
THANK YOU