Death And Dying The Final Journey An Islamic Perspective

1
Death And Dying The Final Journey An Islamic
Perspective

• Imam Ashfaq Patel
• Imam Of Central Mosque Blackpool
• Muslim Chaplain at Blackpool, fylde and Wyre
  Hospitals

2

• EVERY SOUL SHALL HAVE THE TASTE OF DEATH!
• (Quraan 2957).
• Death is the most certain aspect of life.
  According to the statistics, 6178 people die in
  the world every hour. These are people of all
  ages, dying of all causes. Some of these deaths
  will make headlines. The great majority will die
  quietly. Yet everyone will enter his grave the
  same way. Alone. At the time appointed by God.
  Science and technology can neither prevent nor
  predict death. It is solely in the hands of the
  Creator

3
When Death Is Inevitable

• Allow Family to be besides Muhatadar(Dying)
• Family will request privacy
• They may request praying facilities
• If no Family Available
• Inform local Muslim Community ASAP
• Good to have contact details
• Preferably contact the Imam
• Assist as much as possible

4
Signs Of Death

• The Signs of Death are
• The legs become slack and limp
• Breathing becomes heavy, quick and erratic
• The nose bends slightly
• The temples sag
• The Muhtadhar
• This is the person on whom the signs of Maut are
  clearly seen
• It is desirable to recite Surah Yaseen or any
  part of the Quraan.
• It is makrooh (undesirable) to recite the Quraan
  near the deceased persons body during the period
  between death and ghusl. However it is permitted
  to recite by sitting away from the deceased or
  after putting a clean cloth over the deceased.
  (Shami 800/1).

5
Maut (Death)

• The Talqeen
• The Talqeen is to remind the dying person of the
  two shahadahs
• Ash hadu Alla ilaha ilal-lahu wa ashhadu anna
  Muhammadan Abduhu wa rasuluh
• I testify there is non worthy of worship but
  Allah I testify that Muhammed (pbuh) is the
  messenger of Allah

• The Muhtadhar must not be asked or ordered to
  read the Kalimah, but must be helped to recall it

6
Just after death has been determined

• Close the eyes of the deceased.
• Umme Salma reported that "When her husband died
  The Prophet (P.B.U.H) closed his eyes" (Muslim).

7
Just after death has been determined (continued)

• The lower jaw should be bound to the head so that
  it does not sag.
• The legs should be straightened and the two large
  toes tied together.
• The body should be covered with a clean sheet.
• Aisha reported that "Muslims covered the body
  of The Prophet (P.B.U.H.) when he died" (Bukhari
  Muslim).
• Dua (Supplication) should be made to Allah for
  his forgiveness.

8
Just after death has been determined (continued)

• Hasten to prepare the body for washing, shrouding
  and burial.
• The Prophet (P.B.U.H) said " You should hasten
  with his burial" (Bukhari Muslim).
• This can be done by
• Informing the local Muslim Burial Committee
  (Local Mosque)
• Informing the Coroner if a suspected death.
• Preparing the Death certificate ASAP
• Aiding towards an early release of the deceased

9
Performing Ghusl

• Once Body is released for Burial
• Take the deceased to the appropriate place for
  the final Ritual wash (Ghusl)
• Male to Male-Female to Female
• After the bath the deceased is purified.
• The Quran can now be recited by the side of the
  deceased.

10
Ghusl

• Who should give Ghusl ?

• Young children are not allowed to give Ghusl.

• Very young children may be given Ghusl by either
  male or female.

• It is acceptable for someone to charge for giving
  Ghusl, although they will not get any thawaab for
  it.

11
Shrouding the Deceased

• Male
• Qamees Small sheet, from head to feet
• Izaar (undergarment) from head to feet
• Lifafafa Main sheet approximately one arm longer
  than the height of the deceased in which he can
  be wrapped

12
Female shroud

• Female
• One large sheet (Lifafa), approximately one arm
  longer than the height of the deceased in which
  she can be wrapped.
• (Sinaband) sheet, from chest to below the knees
  and can be tied.
• Trouser (Izaar), small sheet, from head to feet.
• Dress (Qamees) sheet, from neck to feet.
• Head scarf (Orni) sheet, three arms length.

13
(No Transcript)
14
Takfeen (Shrouding)

• Shroud is of simple cloth
• 3 sheets for male, 5 for females
• Fragrance applied to the 7 points of prostration
• Body is now ready for Prayer Burial

15
(No Transcript)
16
Janaza (Funeral prayer Service)

• The Funeral prayer is a means of seeking
  forgiveness for the deceased.
• It is incumbent on the community to perform the
  funeral prayer for the deceased.
• If a group from the community performs the
  service the obligation is uplifted from the whole
  community
• If not, the whole community is sinful

17
Janazah and burialFuneral Prayer ( Service)
18
Disposing of the Dead How?
19
Types Of Graves

• Islam has a unique style of building graves and
  cemeteries that is characterized by humility,
  simplicity and economy in costs and that avoids
  glorifying the dead with elaborate monuments.
• It is of great importance that a special cemetery
  be devoted exclusively for the use of Muslims.
  The deceased should be buried in the locality in
  which he lived. It is undesirable to take the
  body to the persons own country or to another
  city.
• In Muslim cemeteries, there are two types of
  graves
• Al-Shaqq is to make a deep vertical hole in the
  ground.
• Al-Lahed is to make a deep vertical hole in the
  ground, then in the bottom make a side horizontal
  hole big enough to cover the whole body.

20
(No Transcript)
21
Tadfeen - Burial

• Haste in Burial
• Attendance of Females
• Coffins

It is better to ask before hand if your
attendance is welcome
Types of Graves
The Graveyard
Laid to Rest
Prayer
22
(No Transcript)
23
Layton Cemetery(Muslim Section)
24
Layton Cemetery (continued)
25
Mourning Period

• The Mourning period for a Muslim deceased is
• 3 days for families, friends and community
• A woman whose Husband has died will mourn for 4
  months and 10 days
• After these periods the bereaved Family should be
  allowed to carry on as usual.

26
Questions
27
More Information

• http//www.gardens-of-peace.org.uk/what_to_do_p1.h
  tm
• http//www.gardens-of-peace.org.uk/index.htm