Muslim Rituals for When a Woman Dies
Muslims believe that death is when their body goes to the earth, where it came from, and the soul goes to God to be judged. The Quran advises them to get prepared for this moment during their lifetime by doing good things for those around them.
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Pre-Burial Rituals
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Death rituals observed for Muslim men are almost the same as for women. On their death bed, whether men or women, Muslims are prompted by those around them to say a prayer which supposedly allows people's soul to enter Paradise after dying. Usually the body should be buried in the next 24 hours, as Islamic faith forbids embalming or cremation.
Burial Preparations
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Before the burial, the body has to be washed and shrouded. Dead women's bodies are washed only by their husbands or the women from the family. The body should be washed three, five or any odd number of times with simple soap, and the last washing water should contain perfumes. Women's hair is washed, braids undone, and arranged under their head. Their bodies are then wrapped in five pieces of cloth knotted at the foot and the head.
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Burial Rituals
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Only men are allowed to assist the service at the burial place. A woman's body can be buried either by her husband, her sons, or other male members of her family. When praying, the Imam stands at the middle of a female body. The body is laid in the grave on its right side and facing Mecca. Each of those present throws three handfuls of soil, then the body is covered with sand. To mark the graves, Muslims use simple marks or stones.
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References
- Photo Credit Muslim moscue image by Dmitriy Lesnyak from Fotolia.com
