How do they bury Muslims?

We happened to encounter such a ritual only once, during the trip. And, frankly, the Muslim funeral shocked us. Unaccustomed it was a sight. Nothing to do with our Christian rules and customs. It was even a little scary. Let's try to weave together what we saw and what our guide and local resident told us. It was he who told us the details of how the Muslims are buried.

To begin with, graves are necessarily directed to Mecca. Everyone must read a prayer (sura). In each cemetery there are rooms for washing and washing the deceased. The burial of a Muslim is not prohibited on the Muslim pogost, and vice versa. If a woman who did not accept faith but has a child from a Muslim died, she is buried with her back to Mecca, so that the child is facing Mecca. Gravestones in the form of mausoleums and crypts are not welcome, because excessive chic and wealth can cause envy and lead to temptation.

Sharia is strictly forbidden loud lamentations of the deceased, who will suffer in this case. A crying man is reproached, women and children gently calm down. Grief must be endured patiently, then Allah will help and support.

The funeral is held by Muslims only once. Opening of graves and reburial are prohibited. However, there are still exceptional cases. For example, when a body is buried in a foreign land (more correctly, usurped), if the rules were violated in the process, if the cemetery is not Muslim, if there is a danger of abuse over the body, if after the funeral the body parts of the deceased are found.

A little more detail about how the Muslims are buried. Delay this process is not accepted. A grave is buried at the nearest Muslim cemetery. The dead are laid with their heads in the direction of Kybyla, dropping the body with their feet down. If this is a woman, then at the lowering stretch the veil (men should not see the shroud). A handful of earth thrown into the grave is accompanied by words meaning in translation: "We all belong to God, we return to him." The grave should be raised by 4 fingers, watered and 7 times sprinkled with a handful of earth. At this time a prayer is read . Prayers and scriptures continue to read the person left by the grave even after everyone has left.

How the Muslims are buried, and the size of the grave largely depends on the terrain. Lahad includes aivan 1.5 by 2.5 m (depth about one and a half meters) and a cell inside with a round entrance (diameter of 80 cm) made in advance. Yarma (more than 50 cm body on both sides) should consist of an inner shelf and aivan. And the shelf (shikka) corresponds to the length of the body. Predators should not smell and unearth the body, so Cabra strengthen. Muslims are not buried in a coffin, as is customary for Orthodox Christians. If there is no possibility to bury the body on land, a bathing ceremony is performed over the deceased, it is wrapped, prayers are read, the stone is tied to the feet and immersed in water, choosing a deep place.

If the Orthodox people are sent on the last journey shaved and well-groomed, then Muslims do not cut a beard, hair, or nails. This can be done only during life.

Before embarking on the wrapping of the man, spread the so-called lyopho on the bed, sprinkling it with pleasantly smelling herbs. Then the isor is rolled out, on which the deceased is laid, clothed already in the Kamis. Hands are not crossed on the chest, but fit along the body. The deceased is rubbed with incense. At this time there is a reading of prayers and farewell. Then the body is enveloped by the isor (first the left side, and then the right one) and the lyphophone (wrapped up, like the isor). At the feet, belt and head knots are tied. Untying them when the body is lowered into the grave.

So it is with women. Only before dressing the kamees, the breast of the deceased is covered from the abdomen to the underarms with the harsh. The hair falls on the kamis, the face is covered with chimoras placed under the head.

If death is not sudden, then a clearly established ritual is performed in the presence of a clergyman, with the reading of certain prayers. To the burial, Muslims are taken very seriously, so the exact observance of all the subtleties is necessary. This is a sacred duty. Dying, no matter what age and sex, they lay on their side, turning his face to Mecca. There is a reading of the prayer "Kalimat-shahadat", then he is given a sip of liquid, a few drops of sacred water or pomegranate juice. Crying and talking loudly at this time is prohibited. After death, the chin is tied, the eyes are closed, the legs and hands are straightened, the face is covered, and a stone (or something heavy) is placed on the abdomen to avoid swelling. In some cases, "mahram-suvi" is performed - washing of contaminated parts of the body.

Before commemorating it is obligatory to read the funeral prayer, called "Janaz". She reads to her imam, who is nearest to the deceased. The one who says the prayer asks for favor to the departed, about forgiveness, greeting and mercy. They do not make bows at prayer. Then the audience is asked if something should be dead, or whether someone should. The funeral without reading this prayer is invalid.

Then the very burial itself follows.

It is difficult to describe feelings and emotions when we saw how the Muslims are buried. Something fascinating, solemnly mystical was in this rite. And still inspiring respect for another's religion. Uncommonly solemn and beautiful, despite the understanding that for the loved ones gone - this is a great sorrow.