World Religions Assignment

Teachings, Expansions, and Divisions of Islam

Part II: Teachings and Practices of

Islam

1

Al-Fathihah, The Opening

• The Koran is the sacred text of Islam, and it is considered the literal word of God. Its name means recitation. It is divided into 114 surahs, or chapters, arranged not in the order they were received, but by length, approximately longest to shortest. The longest is about 300 verses, the shortest has four. The first surah is an exception, and is called al- Fathihah, the Opening. It is part of the daily prayers, and is recited about 17 times during the day:

• • 1. In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the

Merciful. • 2. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds. • 3. The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. • 4. Master of the Day of Judgment. • 5. It is You we worship, and upon You we call for

help. • 6. Guide us to the straight path. • 7. The path of those You have blessed, not of

those against whom there is anger, nor of those who are misguided.

• • This is the first surah that most Muslims learn, as children or

adults.

2

THE SIX ARTICLES OF ISLAMIC FAITH

3

Shirk- Idolatry, or associating anything with

God

God in Islam is a unity—there are no aspects or divisions, no begetting or being begot.

God is eternal, uncreated, all-knowing, all- powerful, and Allah alone created the universe and mankind.

God is also merciful, just, and good—

He is transcendent--above the creation, but also present, or immanent, in the lives of believers.

He is closer to humanity, according to the Koran, “than the jugular vein”. (50:16).

Since this tenet is so important, to deny or compromise it is the greatest sin—It is idolatry. To associate anything or anyone else with God is

Shirk.

Nothing else should be worshipped.

The natural world with its wonders is evidence for the existence of God.

To the right—an ancient idol

4

Prophecy

Muslims believe in prophecy, in people who have received messages sent by God. Many peoples have had prophets sent to them. Among the prophets mentioned in the Koran are Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, King David, Jesus, and of course the Seal, the final prophet, Mohammed.

Jesus will herald the Day of Judgment and in the future even rule the Muslims for a while, but he is merely a man. He was born of the Virgin Mary, but this was a miracle, not the birth of a deity.

God does not beget or begat. Jesus was not crucified, but saved. He will return to Earth at the end of days and live out his lifespan. He will defeat the evil Anti-Christ, killing him with a lance.

It should be noted that some of the people called prophets in Islam, such as David, are not considered prophets by Jews and Christians.

Some important Biblical prophets, such as Isaiah, are not mentioned in the Koran.

By tradition, 124 thousand prophets were sent over the years.

All prophets bring communication from God. Over the years, Muslims believe, many people garbled their prophecies.

Mohammed restored, according to Muslim belief, the proper revelation.

5

Barzakh and the Day of Judgment

Many of the first revelations of the Koran speak of the Day of Judgment and the reality of the Afterlife.

God’s Justice is emphasized, and greed and hypocrisy are criticized, while kindness and generosity is praised.

All will stand alone in front of Allah and be judged by him. We hold a book of our deeds in our hands.

It is said that it is too late to repent when you have your last breath—do it earlier.

Some traditions say Mohammed may intervene for us.

Human souls after they die are placed into “Soul Storage”, or Barzakh. There are no such things as ghosts—these are evil jinns [see below] playing tricks on the living.

6

Day of Judgment

At the Day of Judgment all stand behind their prophet—Moses, Jesus, Mohammed, etc.

For 50,000 years every person who ever lived will be judged. Hell will be in the background as the people stand on a vast plain.

Those who were repentant in life will earn God’s mercy.

The verdict is given, and all cross a bridge called Sirat which crosses over Hell. Some are cut by it, but cross. Others fall into Hell.

Some spend time in the Heights, seeing Hell but not allowed into Heaven , because their good deeds and bad deeds balanced. Eventually they get to Heaven.

Some in Hell are eventually released, once properly punished, but not the absolute worst. Hell, for them is forever.

In Paradise, there are many pleasures. Wine, prohibited on Earth, is permitted, and “pleasure mates”, or houris, cater to us. The blind can see, the lame walk, and all are about 30 years old in good shape.

7

Angels and Jinns

Before creating humans from clay, Allah created creatures of light he called angels, and creatures of fire he called jinns.

Angels act as messengers and assistants of God. In Islam, the most-well known angel is Gabriel, or Jibral, who brought the Koran to Mohammed. Jinn can be good or evil, Muslim—submitting to the will of God—or non- Muslim. Humans and jinn have free will but angels do not.

Shaytan is a jinn, as is the genie in Aladdin’s lamp. Ghosts or poltergeists are actually jinn acting up.

8

Divine decree, predestination, and free will— Al-qadaqa l-qadar

• Both predestination and free will are embraced or implied in the Koran. 2:26 • Qada means to determine, and covers the span of life for the universe and its operation. • Qadr means to measure—God has measured our lives to give us different challenges and

tests—things and stumbling blocks we must react to. Life is a test, not a series of punishments.

• Can we change what will happen to us? Does prayer or actions change things? Islam says yes—Mohammed said fervent supplications to God will change the course of our future in response to prayers—God knows what will happen and will change it.

• God is good, but he does test you. Muslims trust in God:

• Whatever good happens to you is from Allah, but whatever evil happens to you is from your own self. 4:79

• While we often have no control over what happens to us, Islam teaches that we control how we feel and respond. Do we suffer with patience, do we blame God, do we covet?

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The Six Articles of Faith Summarized

• Faith in the absolute unity of God • Belief in Angels • Prophets • Revealed Scriptures • The Final Judgment/ Day of Judgment • Divine Decree and Predestination (Qada and

Qadr)

10

Tafsir—Koranic commentary or interpretation

There is much Koran commentary, called tafsir, or interpretation. The goal of much of this is to clarify the meaning of the words of the Qur’an.

Some Muslims believe that verses of the Koran should only be explained by using other passages of the text. Others argue believers should use reason and rationality to interpret the meaning of the verses. This is called speculative tafsir.

The Persian scholar Abu Hamid al-Ghazali believed that, as rational judgment is a gift from God, people should always use it when considering the meaning of the Qu’ran. Not all agreed—some thought that this was preferring human reason over the words of God.

Ibn Taymiyya (1263-1328) an Arab scholar, argued that using human reason was not necessary because the entire meaning of the Koran could be found within the text.

This approach would become influential to some Islamic reformist movements in the modern era.

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The Sunnah (The Example of the Prophet) and the

Hadith The Sunnah is the tradition or way of life of the prophet Muhammad. Muslims try to follow his example—he is considered the ideal human. How he handled disputes, dealt with his wives, friends and children, the daily business of life, even brushing his teeth –all should be copied. He is the model to follow.

To learn what Mohammed did, people study the Hadith. The Hadith are reports of the actions of Mohammed made by his friends and family, who are known as his companions. Realizing his importance as an example of righteous behavior, they strove to remember his actions and words, and then passed them on.

There is no biography or hadith that may be considered scripture, and some are considered more reliable than others. There is no “Gospel of Mohammed”—but through these we can come to a pretty good biography.

A hadith consists of two parts: the isnad, --the chain of transmission, and the matn, the report itself. The matn relates Muhammad’s words or deeds, and the isnad names those people who transmitted the hadith from the time of the prophet.

The isnad originates with a close companion or family member. One of the most important of these companions was Aisha, who passed on many reports of this life.

Not all hadith are equally valid. They are ranked from solid to weak based on the likelihood of authenticity, for which a complex science has developed.

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Hadith qudsi

Sometimes, it is believed, Mohammed uttered words of God which were not intended to be part of the Koran. They are often succinct and beautiful, and called hadith qudsi.

They focus on God’s love for humanity, God’s mercy, and the closeness of God to creation.

Here are two hadith qudsi:

When God decreed the Creation He pledged Himself by writing in His book which is laid down with Him: My mercy prevails over My wrath.  

God says: “If my Servant intends a good deed and does not do it, I write it down for him as a good deed. Then if he does it, I write it down for him as ten good deeds, or up to seven hundred times that. And if my servant intends an evil deed and does not do it, I do not write it down against him. And if he does it, I write it down for him as [only one] evil deed.

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THE FIVE PILLARS OF ISLAMIC PRACTICE

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Five Pillars of Islam, or Five Pillars of Practice

1. Confession of Faith (Shahada): “There is no God but Allah, and Mohammed is his Prophet”. Must be said with full understanding and acceptance

2. Prayer five times a day (Salat)

3. Generous giving of alms as an offering to Allah and an act of piety (Zakat)

4. Must fast from daybreak to sunset during the whole month of Ramadan (Sawm)

5. If at all possible, must make the pilgrimage, or Hadj, to Mecca

15

Salat

Muslims are required to pray 5 times a day. It must be at the proper time, the Muslim must wash hands, face and feet with water to be ritually pure, must be wearing clean clothes, in a clean place to pray, must be wearing clothes (and women must add a scarf or veil over their heads to remind them that God does not judge us by beauty but sincerity), must face in the direction of Mecca, and must have proper intention.

Prayers are done at dawn every morning, noonish, late afternoon prayer, prayer at sunset, and the final prayer at night. Praying late is better than not praying, but it is said to be marked as tardy.

Once all the preparations are done, the prayer only takes about 5 to 10 minutes to complete, for about 30 minutes a day.

16

The Call to Prayer

Muslims are called to prayer by a loud prayer call—the first prayer caller or muezzin was Bilal, the slave who had been under the rock crying out One, One rather than worship pagan Gods.

He had a beautiful voice.

Indeed the call to prayer can be hauntingly beautiful. While not a Muslim, President Obama spent many of his childhood years in Muslim Indonesia, and often heard the Call to Prayer.

He called it in his autobiography “one of the sweetest sounds you will ever hear.”

Here is an excerpt of the call to prayer:

Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar (2x) Ashadu an la ilaha ill Allah (2x) Ashahadu anna Muhammadar Rasulullah (2x)….

In English :

God is Greater, God is Greater (2x) I declare that there is no God but God (2x) I declare Muhammad is the Messenger of God…   “Allahu Akbar” is actually an incomplete sentence in Arabic—It means God is Greater—than what? The idea is that God is greater than any possible answer you could give—greater than mountains, ice cream, whirlwinds, God is greater than that.

17

Mihrabs, dua, and Congregational Prayer

In addition to the formalized salat prayer, there are also supplications, or dua, by which one asks for help or thanks Allah.

Prayers need not be done in a mosque— they can be done anywhere. Mosques usually have a fountain for ablutions, a niche called a mihrab pointing to Mecca, there are often colorful rugs, and there are usually no seats or pews.

Mosques often have minarets, from which the call to prayer is broadcast.

Since one prays barefoot, a place for shoes also often exists.

On Friday there is a day for congregational prayer, where there is usually a sermon.

This is NOT a day of rest, though Friday is often a day off in Muslim countries. In the West Muslims get a 2 or 3 hour break (hopefully) and then return to work.

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Dhikr Dhikr, or remembrance, is the chanting of certain phrases as a way to fill one’s mind with Allah and put oneself in the mind set of being Muslim. Muslims often wear rosary beads to help them count these phrases. Sufis are said to have perfected these.

Among the phrases used are “Alhumdulillah”—Praise be to God,

Glory be to God and praise belongs to him.

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Zakat--Charity

Muslims are required to give up one- fortieth of their wealth each year to charity. This is religiously obligated— they can give more. The term Zakat mean purify—by giving up wealth, we let go of some of our greed.

Very poor people need not pay, but if you have assets of about 1000 dollars, you will have to give 2.5 percent of your wealth—not income, wealth-- to charity. You must be an adult and sane, and have paid your expenses and debt.

Zakat is given to the poor, needy, to people drowning in debt, to free slaves, etc.

20

Ramadan

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, and the month in which the Koran was first revealed to Mohammed.

There are many restrictions—from dawn to sundown, all Muslims fast—no food, no drink, no sex.

Exceptions are made for the sick, pregnant, travelers, children, insane etc.

Muslims also try to avoid arguing and negative thoughts during the hours of the fast.

Lost days for those who broke or missed a fast day are to be made up later.

Many find this a period of joy and religious meaning. There is usually an evening meal when the fast ends, the Iftar, which is shared with family and friends.

Mohammed would break the fast with dates, so that is the preferred method of breaking the fast.

There are often special treats for Ramadan. Many try to recite the entire Quran during the month.

Late in the month is the Night of Power, the anniversary of the original revelation.

At the end is the Holiday of Eid Al-Fitr.

21

The Hajj

At least once in a lifetime, those who are physically and financially able to travel to Mecca go. It is described as an event of unparalleled spiritual significance, and those who have been on it experience intense feelings of connection to God and humanity during the Hajj. Muslims who have been on the journey use the title hajj or hajja (for women) before their names.

The hajj occurs during the second week of the month Dhu al-Hajj, the final month of the Islamic calendar. While you may accept money given as a gift to go on the Hajj, you may not borrow to go on the Hajj.

Millions go to Mecca for the Hajj, and in recent years there have been terrible tragedies caused by mistakes in crowd control.

At the Hadj, the pilgrims all are equal in dress, and no distinctions are made. All are equal in the context of submission to Allah.

All indications of social status are removed. The men dress in a simple two-piece white costume called ihram. Women dress in the costume of their country, but modestly, simply, without makeup or jewelry. All of this is ensure their minds are solely on God.

Only Muslims may go on Hajj, or enter the cities of Mecca and Medina.

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Tawaf

The Hajj was performed by pagan Arabs, and many of the customs date back to the pre-Islamic past. Mohammed Islamicized many of these, and set the sequence of the hajj before his deaths. Many of the rituals recall events from his life, or that of Abraham and his family, thus connecting the worshipper to the earliest days of monotheism.

The focus of the Hajj is the Kaaba. It is a cube 30 by 30 feet, covered by a black cloth. By tradition, it was built by Abraham and Ishmael, and dedicated to Allah’s worship, though over the centuries it became a sanctuary for pagan gods. In one corner is the Black Rock.

On entering Mecca, and on two other occasions during the Hajj, pilgrims circumambulate the Kaaba, in imitation of the angels circling Allah’s throne. This is called the tawaf.

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Stoning the Devil

After praying where Abraham stood while dedicating the Kaaba, pilgrims drink from the Well of Zam Zam.

This commemorates the tale of Hagar and Ishmael. They were saved by a well that miraculously appeared.

Muslims believe that it was the Well of Zam Zam.

Seven circuits on a long covered walkway are made to remember Hagar’s frantic search for aid.

All of the above are also part of the smaller pilgrimage and may be performed many times.

When these are completed, Abraham’s great act of piety and faith is recalled while standing in the sweltering Plain of Abraham from noon to Sundown.

The next day, the pilgrims throw stones at stone pillars, representing Shaytan. This is called “stoning the Devil”.

Using Halal regulations animals are sacrificed. The meat feeds the pilgrims, and the rest is canned and used to feed the poor.

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The End of the Hajj

The end of the Hajj is celebrated around the Islamic world as the Eid ul Adha.

Many Muslims will sacrifice and distribute the meat to the poor and needy.

The men at Mecca then shave their heads to signify their rebirth into true faith.

After a few days of additional trips to the Ka’ba and other religious rituals, there is one final pass around the Ka’ba.

Many then go to Medina, taking in the sites, and then go to Jerusalem to see the Masjid Al Asqa, which stands approximately on the site of the Temple.

Many find this the greatest experience of their life—all are equal, and many feel wonderful spiritually.

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Malcolm X

Malcolm X was a member of an American religious movement called the Nation of Islam—often called the Black Muslims. Despite the name, they have many doctrines at odds with Islam and Muslims do not consider them true Muslims.

They are thus forbidden from going on the Hajj.

Nonetheless, he received permission to go on the Hajj, and the ihram and its equality of all before Allah greatly impressed him.

Whites, blacks, browns, yellows—all were equal at the Hajj.

He became a full Muslim.

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MUSLIM HOLIDAYS

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Eid al-Adha

• Because of the lunar nature of the Islamic calendar, holidays tend to move around the year.

• Thus, unlike Christmas, with its strong connection to winter, or Passover and Easter which in addition to their religious significance are spring- time holidays,

• Islamic holidays have no relation to the seasons of the calendar. They tend to celebrate important events in Muslim practice.

• The most important holiday of the year is the Id al-Adha, the Feast of Sacrifice.

• It commemorates Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son at God’s command. It takes place at the end of the hajj season, and hajjis and non- hajjis alike slaughter an animal to mark the holiday and the substitution of the ram.

• Offices and shops in Islamic countries close for two days, and people spend time with families and friends.

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Eid al-Fitr The Feast of Fast-Breaking occurs at the end of Ramadan, and there are often special foods depending on the region (and time of year). There are often congregational prayers, friend/family visits, public festivals and carnivals. Elegant clothing is worn, and children given gifts. Some have called it “Muslim Christmas”.

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Mawlid al-Nabi In many parts of the world, the Prophets Birthday is celebrated with Qur’an recitation on Mawlid al-Nabi. In some areas, such as Saudi Arabia, these celebrations are discouraged—it is feared it raises Muhammad's status too high.

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Shi’a holidays The Shi’a have several additional holidays, such as commemorating during the month of Muharram the martyrdom of Husayn, often with a passion play called Taziya.

Eid ul Ghadir commemorates Muhammed’s announcement that Ali would be his immediate successor.

Sunni believe that this event never happened.

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SHARIA, HALAL, SUFI MYSTICISM

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Sharia-Islamic Law

God, Muslims believe, established a wide-ranging set of guidelines for human beings to follow. These guidelines, usually translated as “law”, are the sharia. This translates as road or way in English.

The Sharia encompasses a much broader range of law and legal activity than what is normally associated with law in the Western world. The sharia regulates almost every aspect of daily life for believers. This includes religious practices, marriage and divorce, inheritance, commerce, and crime.

God makes law. Humans can interpret but not make new laws.

The primary source of sharia is , of course, the Koran. The Sunnah, the example of the prophet, is used to help interpret or fill in areas where the Koran is silent. His mediation is recorded in many hadith.

Sunni argue that it is appropriate to use human reason for analogous system where there is no Qur’an or Sunnah—This is called the qiyas. The consensus of the Muslim community is also recognized by the Sunni— because Mohammed reportedly said, “my community will never agree upon an error.”

Shi’a do not recognize consensus, but recognize imams as a very important source of law, as they are considered infallible.

There are four major schools of interpretation.

Ulama are Islamic scholars. Qadis are judges. Muftis are experts in Islamic law who are qualified to give nonbinding legal opinions, or fatwas. 33

Sharia punishments

Some of the punishments in the Sharia are rather harsh by Western standards—such as cutting hands of repeat thieves off—and they are rarely used—but there are a few countries where they are.

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Sufiism

Sharia is sometimes called the outer way to God, because it regulates a person’s outer existence. There is also an inner way to God, a mystical tradition , called Sufiism.

Like mystics in most religions, Sufis wish to draw close to and personally experience God. They base their quest on the Koran and the Sunnah.

Sufism arose probably as a response to the materialism and excesses of the Umayyad. Many were ascetics. The name probably comes from the simple wool shirts many wore—suf is Arabic for wool, and is also close to the word for purity.

An early Sufi was Rabi’a, a woman, who often seemed almost giddy with her love of God. In one tale, she walks through Basra with a pitcher of water and a flaming torch. When asked why, she explained she wished to set paradise ablaze and put out the fires of hell so people would love God solely for the sake of God.

Sufis often wrote poems about the intense love of God.

Sufis often search for the inner, or hidden meaning, of the Quran. They emphasize God’s love for creation and God’s closeness to humanity. They often emphasize the hadith qudsi.

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The Whirling Dervishes

Sufi emphasize the Night Journey and the Miraj, the ascent to heaven. Because Muhammad met God during this trip, Sufi’s consider him the first Sufi, and the source of the special spiritual knowledge they seek.

Because Mohammed ascended to heaven from Jerusalem, the city is important, and the Dome of the Rock was built in 691 over the spot he is believed to have ascended from.

It is important to have guidance along the path to God. Hence, the master-disciple relationship is very important to Sufis. The Shaykh, or master, directs the training of the novices. Most trace a lineage back to Ali and Mohammed, who is supposed to have passed his religious knowledge to his companions.

Each group emphasizes different meditation techniques and spiritual practices. The most well known in the West are the Mevlevi, or Whirling Dervishes as they are often called. They, like all Sufi groups, emphasize the dhikr as a means of meditation. Mevlevi dhikr involve controlled whirling, as a way of recollecting God and forgetting oneself.

Many Muslims will venerate saint’s graves, and many shayks are considered saints. This veneration is discouraged in some parts of the Muslim world.

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Halal Food

All actions are classified by their merit or sinfulness. According to Sharia, everything is allowed except what is expressly forbidden. If permitted, it is halal, if forbidden, it is haram. There are also things permissible, but not encouraged, and things disliked, but not sinful.

Halal food rules:

1. Anything which is not forbidden is eatable.

2. Animals must be ritually slaughtered by the Muslim (zabihah) or Jewish kosher standard.

3. No pork, bacon, etc.

4. No animals with fangs

5. Seafood is generally allowed

6. Intoxicants are forbidden

7. Ingredients derived from animals must be zabiha or kosher.

8. Blood and carrion are forbidden.

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Zabihah

Zabihah meats are slaughtered according to Islamic rites.

The process is similar to kosher slaughtering.

The bird or animal must be one which is Halal, such as a cow or goat.

The throat of the animal should be slit by a very sharp knife. The slaughterer should be a Muslim, and as the animal is slaughtered, Allah or a prayer containing Allah should be said by the slaughterer.

Zabihah is very similar to Kosher slaughtering, and the question arises as to whether Muslims can eat kosher meat. Many Muslims believe that kosher meat is halal, but not all agree.

To the right: Several halal certification symbols.

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More Haram Items

Intoxicants—No wine, whiskey, no alcohol. No mind altering drugs—buying or transporting them is also haram.

Gambling is also prohibited as a trick from Shaytan. Games of skill are allowed.

Music is partially allowed.

Mohammad forbade public dancing, solo performances of women singers, flutes and stringed pieces, as they could make people forget God.

Drums are halal, and group singing.

Music should not be suggestive, immoral, or lewd (Thus, much Western rock, pop, and other genres are probably haram).

Animals should be taken proper care of.

Muslims are forbidden to engage in interest- based borrowing or lending.

Interest brings hardship on a borrower and gives the lender easy gains that are not earned.

Written contracts are the rule, as is honesty in all financial and business transactions.

Stock trading is allowed if a company does not deal in forbidden substances.

Muslims may partner with non-Muslims.

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LIFE CYCLE EVENTS

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Aqiqah: Welcoming Baby!

This ceremony is held 7 days after birth.

When the child is born, the call to prayer is read into its ear, then he is fed some mashed date, and a supplication for good fortune is made.

A name is chosen—Muhammad is by far the most common name for men.

Circumcision usually occurs within the first few days after birth—it is more a hygiene action or custom than religious obligation.

Female circumcision is not required in Islam. However, it is a pre-Islamic tribal custom in much of North and East Africa, and many, including many Muslims, find it barbaric and are trying to abolish the practice.

The Aqiqah ceremony occurs 7 days after birth. A sheep or goat is ritually sacrificed and the meat is cooked and served to guests, while some go to the poor. The baby’s hair is shaved off, and its weight in silver is given to charity. Then the baby gets gifts of money, toys, clothes, etc…

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Khatmi-Quran

There is usually a celebration to mark a child’s completion of their first full reading of the Koranic text in Arabic. This is usually completed between the ages of four and 7. A dinner and presentation by the child who is honored is the method of celebrating this in much of the Muslim world. The name means “Sealing of the Koran”.

In Southeast Asia—mainly Malaysia and Indonesia—the ceremony is called the Ameen Ceremony.

Some Muslim cultures have some kind of ceremony commemorating the passage of a male into adolescence, but there is no official Muslim ceremony.

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Marriage and Family

Marriage and family are cornerstones of Muslim life. Celibacy is not encouraged, and there are no monasteries or convents in Islam.

It is a civil contract. There is no dating in the traditional sense—people are put together through relatives or matchmakers, or through contact at social functions or in school.

However, two unmarried people are not to be alone together—they can only meet in chaperoned circumstances. Men seeking a wife have a wali, or advocate, usually a male relative. His job is to give the bad news that the woman is not interested in him.

There is a contract, which among other things designates the gift the groom and his family will give the bride. This is called the mahr.

Men may marry up to four wives, but only if he can support them and treat them equally. Some countries, such as Tunisia, have banned plural marriage entirely.

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Divorce Unilateral divorce occurs by the man writing or saying, I…divorce….. But in most countries the process is much more complicated. There are several grounds, and the marriage contract may put in, for example, divorce is permitted if the husband marries another wife.

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Funerals and Burial

Death, according to Islam, is merely a doorway into the next stage of life, our time in the grave until Judgment Day. The traditional condolence is:

To God we belong and to Him we return.

Sincere crying and sorrow are allowed for mourners, loud wailing and the tearing of clothes is forbidden.

The body is usually brought to the mosque for the special funeral prayer, the Janazah. Unlike most prayers, there is no prayer call, no bowing or prostrating. The ritual is performed standing up. The words recited silently ask God to forgive the deceased and all who have died.

The body is to be buried as soon as possible. The body is washed with water and wrapped in white sheets, and is carefully raised over the shoulders. At the grave, verses of the Qur‘an are read as the body is laid to rest. Steel coffins are forbidden, wooden coffins are allowed, but it is best that there be none so the earth can reclaim our physical bodies as quickly as possible.

Gifts of food are brought to the mourners, and there are several days of visiting.

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The Grave

Tombstones that rise above the ground are forbidden, though many Muslims disregard this rule.

Occasionally, a tree is planted over the grave.

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