Islam & Funeral rites (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE Religious Studies): Revision Note

Islamic views about the purpose of life

• Muslims believe they are created to worship Allah, as the Qur’an teaches:

• Muslims have a responsibility to care for creation, as humans are Allah’s khalifah, or stewards on Earth

• Life is also a test of character, where humans must choose good over evil, showing qualities such as kindness, honesty and justice

• After death, there will be a resurrection and an afterlife, known as akhirah

• Therefore, all human life has a purpose

  • Each person is responsible for their actions on this earth, and where a person will go in the afterlife is determined by the choices they make in this life

• Muslims believe in a Day of Judgement (Qiyamah), when all people are held accountable.

  • The Qur’an teaches that souls are judged fairly and sent to Paradise (Jannah) or Hell (Jahannam) based on their deeds

• This strong belief in akhirah gives life purpose and accountability, encouraging moral behaviour and perseverance:

• Thus, this life is seen as a preparation for the next life

  • As humans, we have been given free will, so we are able to make choices about what to believe and how to treat others

  • Our choices during this mortal life are a test, and we will be judged according to how we have lived and found accountable for our actions

• All Muslims believe that Allah is omnipotent, omniscient and merciful, guiding all aspects of existence

• Everything happens by Allah’s will (Qadar), including life, death and daily events

• Even though humans have free will, many Muslims believe that Allah already knows and allows all of the potential choices they may make

End-of-life rituals and customs in Islam

• When someone is dying, the family gathers around them to pray

• Upon hearing of a death, Muslims say the following words from the Qur’an:

• A ritual washing is carried out by close members of the family of the same gender as the deceased

  • The body is washed an odd number of times (at least three times)

  • The head faces the direction of the qibla

  • This symbolises spiritual purification in preparation for burial

• After washing, the body is wrapped in plain white cloths to symbolise purity and equality before Allah (similar to the Ihram during Hajj)

• The funeral is carried out as soon as possible so that the body is buried within 24 hours if possible (especially in hot countries)

  • Funeral rites vary between different Muslim communities, according to the rules and culture of the country

  • Traditionally, only men attend the funeral

  • A funeral prayer called Salat al-Janazah is said 

• Yawm al-din, or cremation, is forbidden

  • Instead, the body is laid in a grave facing Mecca, and the grave is filled with handfuls of earth

  • This is because of the belief that Allah will raise the bodies of the faithful from their graves on the Day of Judgement

• There is a mourning period for the family of the deceased

Differences within Islam regarding mourning periods

• All Muslims agree on the importance of a period of mourning after death, out of respect for the person who has died

• The mourning period differs from one Muslim tradition to another

• Sunni Muslims may mourn for no more than three days

  • This is a quiet time for close family members

  • They may receive visitors and pray for the deceased during this time

  • Excessive displays of grief (such as loud crying or wailing) are discouraged

  • Widows must observe a longer mourning period of four months and ten days as the Qur’an instructs (Qur’an 2:234)

    • During this time, they stay at home and avoid remarriage or new relationships, and a widow is not left alone during the mourning period

• Shi’a Muslims may allow a longer mourning period of up to 40 days after a death

  • This may be more expressive and involve public displays of grief, such as crying loudly and chest beating

  • Visiting graves regularly and holding commemorative gatherings is more common in the Shi’a tradition