Fiqh
How Muslims bury their dead
A king and a pauper are wrapped in the same white cloth.
4 min, Intro, Draft written with AI help: awaiting scholar review
Part 1 of 3
Someone has died. Muslims who hear the news say: "To God we belong, and to Him we return." The eyes are closed, the body covered, and preparations begin quickly. The Prophet told his followers to hurry with the funeral.
Qur'an 2:156
ٱلَّذِينَ إِذَآ أَصَٰبَتۡهُم مُّصِيبَةࣰ قَالُوٓاْ إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّآ إِلَيۡهِ رَٰجِعُونَ ١٥٦
156 Those who, when afflicted by a calamity, say, “We belong to Allah, and to Him we will return.”
Lesson
To God we belong, and to Him we return.
Part 2 of 3
Family or community members of the same sex wash the body gently, in a set order, like wudu'. It is wrapped in plain white cloth: in the Hanafi school, three sheets for a man and five for a woman. No coffin is needed.
Lesson
A king and a pauper wear the same shroud.
Part 3 of 3
Then the community prays. The funeral prayer (janazah) is said standing, with four takbirs and no bowing or prostration. The body is buried in the earth, on its right side, facing Makkah. Mourning is three days. A widow observes four months and ten days.
Qur'an 2:234
وَٱلَّذِينَ يُتَوَفَّوۡنَ مِنكُمۡ وَيَذَرُونَ أَزۡوَٰجࣱا يَتَرَبَّصۡنَ بِأَنفُسِهِنَّ أَرۡبَعَةَ أَشۡهُرࣲ وَعَشۡرࣱاۖ فَإِذَا بَلَغۡنَ أَجَلَهُنَّ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيۡكُمۡ فِيمَا فَعَلۡنَ فِيٓ أَنفُسِهِنَّ بِٱلۡمَعۡرُوفِۗ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُونَ خَبِيرࣰ ٢٣٤
234 Those among you who pass away leaving behind widows, the widows should wait for four months and ten days [before remarrying]. When they have completed their waiting period, there is no sin on you concerning what they do for themselves in a reasonable manner. And Allah is All-Aware of what you do.
Lesson
The funeral prayer has no bowing. Only standing and praying for the dead.
Reflect, just for you
Seen by lamplight. It gives more each time.
A king and a pauper are wrapped in the same white cloth.