Islam & Funeral rites (Cambridge International IGCSE Religious Studies)

Islamic views about the purpose of life

• Muslims believe they are created to worship Allah, as the Qur’an teaches:

blockquote “I did not create mankind except to worship Me” (Qur’an 51:56)

• Muslims have a responsibility to care for creation, as humans are Allah’s khalifah, or stewards on Earth

• Life is also a test of character, where humans must choose good over evil, showing qualities such as kindness, honesty and justice

• After death, there will be a resurrection and an afterlife, known as akhirah

• Therefore, all human life has a purpose

  • Each person is responsible for their actions on this earth, and where a person will go in the afterlife is determined by the choices they make in this life

• Muslims believe in a Day of Judgement (Qiyamah), when all people are held accountable.

  • The Qur’an teaches that souls are judged fairly and sent to Paradise (Jannah) or Hell (Jahannam) based on their deeds

• This strong belief in akhirah gives life purpose and accountability, encouraging moral behaviour and perseverance:

blockquote “Whoever does righteousness — it is for his soul; and whoever does evil [does so] against it.” (Qur’an 41:46)

• Thus, this life is seen as a preparation for the next life

  • As humans, we have been given free will, so we are able to make choices about what to believe and how to treat others
  • Our choices during this mortal life are a test, and we will be judged according to how we have lived and found accountable for our actions

• All Muslims believe that Allah is omnipotent, omniscient and merciful, guiding all aspects of existence

• Everything happens by Allah’s will (Qadar), including life, death and daily events

• Even though humans have free will, many Muslims believe that Allah already knows and allows all of the potential choices they may make

End-of-life rituals and customs in Islam

• When someone is dying, the family gathers around them to pray
• Upon hearing of a death, Muslims say the following words from the Qur’an:

blockquote “To Allah we belong, and to Him is our return*.*” (Qur’an 2:156)

• A ritual washing is carried out by close members of the family of the same gender as the deceased

  • The body is washed an odd number of times (at least three times)
  • The head faces the direction of the qibla
  • This symbolises spiritual purification in preparation for burial

• After washing, the body is wrapped in plain white cloths to symbolise purity and equality before Allah (similar to the Ihram during Hajj)

• The funeral is carried out as soon as possible so that the body is buried within 24 hours if possible (especially in hot countries)

  • Funeral rites vary between different Muslim communities, according to the rules and culture of the country
  • Traditionally, only men attend the funeral
  • A funeral prayer called Salat al-Janazah is said

• Yawm al-din, or cremation, is forbidden

  • Instead, the body is laid in a grave facing Mecca, and the grave is filled with handfuls of earth
  • This is because of the belief that Allah will raise the bodies of the faithful from their graves on the Day of Judgement

• There is a mourning period for the family of the deceased

Differences within Islam regarding mourning periods

• All Muslims agree on the importance of a period of mourning after death, out of respect for the person who has died

• The mourning period differs from one Muslim tradition to another

• Sunni Muslims may mourn for no more than three days

  • This is a quiet time for close family members

  • They may receive visitors and pray for the deceased during this time

  • Excessive displays of grief (such as loud crying or wailing) are discouraged

  • Widows must observe a longer mourning period of four months and ten days as the Qur’an instructs (Qur’an 2:234)

    • During this time, they stay at home and avoid remarriage or new relationships, and a widow is not left alone during the mourning period

• Shi’a Muslims may allow a longer mourning period of up to 40 days after a death

  • This may be more expressive and involve public displays of grief, such as crying loudly and chest beating
  • Visiting graves regularly and holding commemorative gatherings is more common in the Shi’a tradition

Worked Example Give two features of traditional Muslim funeral rites

[2 marks]

Final answer: Answer:

The body is washed and wrapped in a simple white shroud [1 mark]

The funeral prayer (Salat al-Janazah) is performed by the community [1 mark]

Exam Hint Funeral rites in Islam reflect the belief in the akhirah, or the afterlife. Remind yourself of this belief in greater detail by revising the notes in The Six Articles of Faith in the Islamic Beliefs & Scriptures section.