When attending an Islamic funeral, you might have a tonne of questions regarding what is usually done during the funeral, especially when you are unfamiliar with its customs.
For example, there are etiquette in the Islamic funeral which should be noted, such as the dress code (both men and women should be modest in their attire).
We got curious and decided to talk to a friend of ours, Haji Hamdan, a recently retired Imam who has handled funeral arrangements for 24 years.
Here are 9 questions that we have answered for you
- What do you do when visiting someone on their deathbed?
It is best to comfort and pray besides those who are near death, and to remind them of Allah’s mercy and forgiveness. Muslims are encouraged to help and teach the person who is near death to recite verses from the Qurán.
It is also encouraged to help position the person’s body to face the direction of the Kiblat (City of Mekkah).
2. How many days does an Islamic funeral take?
Burial often happen within 24 hours and the deceased should be buried as soon as possible: there is no viewing, wake, or visitation in the Islamic funeral. Local mosques may be contacted to assist with the Jenazah preparation.
3. What is forbidden in the preparation of an Islamic funeral?
Cremation of the deceased is prohibited as Muslims believe there will be a physical resurrection on the day of judgement.
Even autopsy and embalming are highly discouraged as it delays the burial process and complicates the bathing of the deceased.
4. Who should bathe the deceased?
Penggapai are usually the ones who bathe the deceased because they are trained to clean the body before the burial. But, it is encouraged for family members of the same gender to help the Penggapai during the cleaning process, giving the family an opportunity to care for their loved ones one final time.
5. Who are the people that usually attend a funeral?
An Islamic funeral is considered a community event; those who are acquainted with the said person will attend the funeral. Also, one crucial stage of an Islamic funeral is a mass prayer to bless the deceased, led by an appointed Imam. Therefore, it is encouraged to invite religious members of the community to join a mass prayer in order for the deceased to receive their blessings.
6. Can a non-Muslim attend an Islamic funeral?
It is common for a non-Muslim to attend an Islamic funeral to pay their respects and to pray for the deceased in their own way. An Islamic funeral is not just regarded as a loss of a family, but a loss to the whole community as well.
7. What is not allowed during an Islamic funeral?
Taking pictures and videos during the funeral is not allowed as it shows disrespect to the family. It is also not expected for food and drinks to be served during the funeral, as there will be a follow-up event called “Tahlil” that occurs after the burial in the afternoon or evening.
8. Why are loud weeping and moaning discouraged?
Islamic teaching does not encourage excessive mourning toward the loss of a loved one. It is believed that moans, shouts, weeps, wails, or screams of the family members will torment the deceased even after burial.
9. What can we do for those who are in grief?
It is always good to give condolences to those grieving and comfort those who are in hardships from losing their loved ones. In fact, it is believed that those who help or attend a funeral will receive mountains of good deeds on the day of judgement.
In conclusion
There are more intricacies to take note of but we hope this article will be helpful as a guide if you ever attend an Islamic Funeral.
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Written by:
Izaaz Syazwi — Part of Memori’s Digital Marketing team. Experienced in marketing. Copywriting and content creation. Izaaz’s favourite philosopher is Socrates.