Death and funerals in Islam
Muslims believe that when you die, you are actually leaving this world to go and live somewhere else eternally. This is similar to Christianity and the belief of heaven.
When a Muslim is close to death, his friends and family give him/her comfort and remind them that they are going to live on forever. They recite verses from the Qur'an, and many Muslims try to make their last words "I bear witness that there is no God but Allah".
When the person eventually dies, the eyes must be closed, and the body must be shrouded in white. The Islamic tradition does not permit the dead person's loved ones to "overreact" about them dying. They must stay quiet, and are only allowed to cry. They must not scream or get angry. They must remember that Allah decides when people live or die, and we shouldn't question him.
Before the funeral, the body has to be washed and prepared. After they have carefully washed the body, they will cover it with the kafan, which is a white cloth. Then at the funeral, the family members and friends will pray for the body and hope that it find a good place in the next world. Muslims prefer to have the body buried without a coffin, but in some places that is not allowed. They do also not encourage tombstones or markings. Muslims believe that people should pray for the dead and remember Allah's mercy. Also when the body is buried, whether it be in a coffin or not, it must be facing towards Mecca.
When a Muslim is close to death, his friends and family give him/her comfort and remind them that they are going to live on forever. They recite verses from the Qur'an, and many Muslims try to make their last words "I bear witness that there is no God but Allah".
When the person eventually dies, the eyes must be closed, and the body must be shrouded in white. The Islamic tradition does not permit the dead person's loved ones to "overreact" about them dying. They must stay quiet, and are only allowed to cry. They must not scream or get angry. They must remember that Allah decides when people live or die, and we shouldn't question him.
Before the funeral, the body has to be washed and prepared. After they have carefully washed the body, they will cover it with the kafan, which is a white cloth. Then at the funeral, the family members and friends will pray for the body and hope that it find a good place in the next world. Muslims prefer to have the body buried without a coffin, but in some places that is not allowed. They do also not encourage tombstones or markings. Muslims believe that people should pray for the dead and remember Allah's mercy. Also when the body is buried, whether it be in a coffin or not, it must be facing towards Mecca.