BURIAL AT SEA FOR MUSLIMS ONLY IF THEY DIE ON A SHIP
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“Muslim burial traditions also allow for burial at sea, according to Siala, if a person should die on a ship, according to The Muslim Council of Britain. The same procedures for washing and shrouding the body should be followed, with a weight then tied around the body before it is thrown into the water.”
Islamic Burial Rites
According to Islamic teachings, the highest honor to be bestowed on the dead is giving the deceased a swift burial, preferably before sunset. But there are also many more parts to the traditional burial ritual for Muslims. When a Muslim dies, family members or those present should close the eyes of the deceased, bind the lower jaw to the head so that it does not sag, and cover the body completely with a clean sheet, according to an illustrated guide written by Mohamed Ebrahim Siala of the Islamic Assembly of North America in Ann Arbor, Mich. At this time, the family also should make Dua’ (supplicate) to Allah to forgive the deceased. Siala writes that excessive displays of grief are prohibited by the Quran. While crying over the dead is allowed in Islam, wailing, shrieking, beating the chest, tearing hair or clothes and breaking things are all things traditionally believed to cause the deceased pain and best avoided. The Muslim Council of Britain lists five main stages for the preparation of a Muslim’s body for burial: body-washing or ghusl, wrapping (kafan), the funeral Prayer (Salaat al-Janaazah), the funeral and the burial.
Body Washing
The rituals call for the body to be washed by a member of the same sex, except in cases of children or husbands and wives, with the body first being placed on a table or something similar. The body is then washed three times, twice with soap and water and once with water and scented oil. If the body is not clean after three washes, the washer can continue until the body is clean, but the final number of washings must always be an odd number. After the body is dried with a cloth or towel, perfume is applied to the head, forehead, nose, hands, knees, eyes and armpits, with perfumed cotton covering the body’s front and rear openings. If the deceased was killed as a martyr, this washing step is not performed; martyrs are buried in the clothes they died in.
Wrapping
A clean piece of cloth, preferably white, should be used to cover the whole body, with some perfume added to the cloth. Silk is prohibited for men, with three pieces of cloth used for men and five for women. Each piece of cloth must cover the entire body. These sheets should be fastened with four pieces of cloth or tie ropes: one above the head, another under the feet, and two around the body, according to Siala’s guide.
Funeral Prayer
After the body is wrapped, it is then taken to the site of the funeral prayers. The prayers most often take place outdoors, in a courtyard or public square. With the community gathered, the imam stands in front of the body, facing away from the worshippers. The funeral prayer is similar to Islam’s five daily prayers, with a few variations, such as no bowing or prostration, and the entire prayer is said silently except for a few words.
Burial
As Siala explains, Muslim burial should be done as soon as possible after death, except for several exceptions, including prohibitions against burial at night, during sunrise before the sun has fully risen and at the sun’s zenith in the sky. However, in cases of urgent need, burial is allowed during these otherwise prohibited times. While all members of the community attend the funeral prayers, only men of the community accompany the body to the grave site.
It is preferred for a Muslim to be buried where he or she died, and not be transported to another location or country. Such moves could cause delays or require embalming of the body. The grave should be located in a cemetery set aside for Muslims and dug deep enough to hide the entire body. The body is laid to rest on its right side facing Mecca without a coffin, if permitted by local law.
At the grave site, it is also discouraged for people to erect tombstones or elaborate markers or put flowers or other mementos on the grave. Muslim burial traditions also allow for burial at sea, according to Siala, if a person should die on a ship, according to The Muslim Council of Britain. The same procedures for washing and shrouding the body should be followed, with a weight then tied around the body before it is thrown into the water.
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