Janazah Workshop.pdf

Janazah Workshop

Kafan, Ghusl & Takfīn for Women

Introduction ِ ِ ِ ِ ِ ‫م‬ ٍ ‫م‬ ‫ِح َع ِن النما ِر‬ ‫ز‬ ‫ح‬ ‫ز‬ ‫ن‬ ‫م‬ ‫ف‬ ‫ة‬ ‫م‬ ‫ي‬ ‫ق‬ ‫ل‬ ‫ا‬ ‫م‬ ‫و‬ ‫ي‬ ‫م‬ ‫ك‬ ‫ور‬ ‫ُج‬ ‫أ‬ ‫ن‬ ‫و‬ ‫ف‬ ‫و‬ ‫ت‬ ‫ا‬ ‫َّن‬ ‫إ‬ ‫و‬ ‫ت‬ ‫و‬ ‫م‬ ‫ل‬ ‫ا‬ ‫ة‬ ‫ق‬ ‫ائ‬ ‫ذ‬ ‫س‬ ‫ُك ُّل نَ ْف‬ ْ ْ ٰ َ َ ُ َ َ ُ َ ُ ُ ْ َ َ َ َ َْ ْ َ ُ ْ َ َ ْ َ ‫اْلَ ٰيوةُ الدُّنْيَا إِمَّل َمتٰع الْغُُروِر‬ ْ ‫اْلَنمةَ فَ َق ْد فَ َاز َوَما‬ ْ ‫َوأ ُْد ِخ َل‬

‘Every soul will taste death, and you will only be given your full compensation on the Day of Resurrection. So, he who is drawn away from the Fire and admitted to Paradise has attained success. And the life of this world is nothing but the enjoyment of delusion.’ (Sūrat Āl ʿImrān, 3:185)

What is death? – Death is simply a transition from one world to another, as birth is. No one knows when, where or how they will die.

The knowledge of the reality of death helps people prepare themselves for it and accept its inevitability.

– Islam covers every aspect of death, including how it happens and what Muslims should do before, during, and after the death of a fellow Muslim.

The collective responsibility

If these farā’iḍ are not fulfilled, the Muslim community as a whole will be held responsible, and thus sinful. If the deceased has not left behind any money or family to pay for their shrouding and burial expenses, the Muslim community must get together and pay for it.

– It is farḍ ʿala ‘l-kifāyah upon Muslims to carry out the following for their dead: • ghusl (bathing) • takfīn (shrouding)

• tadfīn (burial) • salāt al-janāzah (prayers

Who should bathe the deceased? – The best person to wash the deceased are those who are appointed in waṣīyah. – If not then father, son, grandfather, brothers, etc. according to inheritance law. – Same for females on the female side. – If not, then a nominated person from the Muslim community.

Who should bathe the deceased? – It is preferable for family members to carry out the ghusl. – If they don’t know how to do it, they should be guided, because ghusl is their last service to the mayyit.

General signs of death The difficulties experienced at the time of death are not influenced by the piety (or lack thereof) of the muḥtaḍar: Um alMu’minīn ʿĀ’ishah RD is reported to have said, ‘I do not think bad of the death pangs of anybody after (seeing) the Prophet SAW (and what he suffered at the time of his death).’

– The body becomes cold from the feet upwards, and the feet/legs become loose/floppy – The temples start sagging – Sweat appears on the forehead – The nose bends slightly – The eyes start rolling upwards – Heavy/laborious breathing It is not necessary for all these signs to occur; some people will get all of them, some will get none.

When a person is dying – Lay them on their back with the qiblah on their right side, and head tilted towards the qiblah. – Or with their feet towards the qiblah, head raised slightly upwards using a pillow etc. (but only if you can follow this with ease). If the muḥtaḍar is in hospital, the nurses may be able to turn the bed around towards the qiblah.

When a person is dying

When a person is dying – the following should not be present: – Non-maḥrams or non-Muslims (for privacy) – do not force medical professionals to leave the room The main point is to make sure that the muḥtaḍar is in the presence of good company, i.e. pious believers, because inappropriate surroundings will prevent the angels of mercy from being present.

– Men or women with their satr uncovered (this includes the hair for women) – People in the state of janābah (scholars have included women in the state of menstruation or nifās)* – Dogs or pictures of animate beings *Please note that people in these circumstances should not be forced to leave, especially if they are close relatives, as there is ikhtilāf in the matter. And even then, it is a matter of awlawīyah.

When a person is dying – Place scented woodsticks, incense or fragrance in the muḥtaḍar’s room if possible, because the angels like it. – Encourage the muḥtaḍar to use miswāk, because this is what the Prophet SAW did at the time of his death.

When a person is dying

Anything that testifies tawḥīd, e.g. the kalimah ‫ َّل إله إَّل اهلل‬or the shahādah

‫أشهد أن َّل إله إَّل اهلل و أشهد أن حممدا‬ ‫ عبده ورسوله‬etc.

There is a high possibility that the muḥtaḍar will not respond or seem to hear – however, the person giving talqīn should carry on reciting.

– Pray Sūrat Yasīn and Sūrat al-Raʿd, and perform talqīn at the time of sakarāt al-mawt (death pangs) so that the soul leaves the body with ease and in peace. – One person should come forward and read the sūrahs distinctly, but in a low audible voice so as not to trouble the muḥtaḍar. There is no need for everyone to read aloud together or to order the muḥtaḍar to follow.

When a person is dying – Once the muḥtaḍar has prayed the kalimah/shahādah, remain silent. If the muḥtaḍar is unable to speak but confirmed the kalimah/shahādah through an action/gesture, then the confirmation is acceptable. It has also been stated that when it is apparent that the soul is leaving the body, then one should recite the kalimah/ shahādah loudly.

– If the muḥtaḍar prays the kalimah/shahādah, but talks about some worldly matter after it, then talqīn should be done again so that the last words of the muḥtaḍar are the kalimah/shahādah.

When a person is dying

Translation: There is none worthy of worship except for Allah. O Allah, forgive me, have mercy upon me, and join me with the Highest Companion. O Allah, help me with hardships of death and the pangs of death.

– Encourage the muḥtaḍar to recite the following duʿās, as recited by the Prophet SAW in his final moments:

ِ ِ‫أْلِ ْق ِِن ِالمرف‬ ِ ٰ ِ ‫ أل ٰلّه مم‬. ‫اعأع ٰل‬ ِ ٰ ‫َّلَ إ‬ ِ ِ ‫م‬ ‫أع ىِن َع ٰل‬ ِ ‫ي‬ ‫و‬ ‫ِن‬ ‫َح‬ ‫ار‬ ‫و‬ ‫ِل‬ ‫ر‬ ‫ف‬ ‫غ‬ ‫ا‬ ‫م‬ ‫ه‬ ‫ل‬ ‫أل‬ . ‫اهلل‬ ‫َّل‬ ‫ا‬ ‫ه‬ ‫ل‬ ْ ّ ْ َ ْ ْ ْ َ ُ ُ ْ َْ َْ ْ ّ ِ ‫ات الْمو ِت وس َكر‬ ِ ‫َغمر‬ .‫ات الْ َم ْو ِت‬ َ َ َ ْ َ ََ

– Before signs of death become apparent, e.g. in cancer patients, encourage the person to do lots of istighfār.

When a person is dying – Do not urge people to meet the muḥtaḍar before their death because they will then remain immersed in the dunyā. – Help the them remember the Hereafter and its bounties so that they do not remain attached to the world. Even after the muḥtaḍar seems to have passed away, the company around the muḥtaḍar should refrain from talking about worldly matters. They should remain silent or engaged in dhikr.

After the soul has left the body – Remove jewellery, feeding tubes, lines, etc. – If something is difficult to remove, use scissors, etc. – Ask hospital staff to take out lines/cut catheters - for expected deaths in a request beforehand (if they refuse, be prepared to take them out yourself before ghusl). Tip: First aid scissors or pliers are very helpful at this point – keep in equipment box

These things should be removed whilst the person is alive, if it is practical to do so.

After the soul has left the body – Nail polish must be removed (use nail varnish remover) – Remove dental braces and contact lenses if possible – otherwise, leave them in. – Some things (e.g. artificial nails, some types of hair extensions) will also have to be left in, if too difficult to remove. Do not take stitches out if the mayyit has been in an operation.

Be gentle with the body, and treat the deceased as they would be treated if they were alive.

After the soul has left the body – Straighten the body as much as possible. – Lay the arms straight along the sides of the body. – Tie the large toes of both feet together, or ankles if big ones.

After the soul has left the body Translation: In the name of Allah, and on the religion of the Messenger of Allah (SAW). O Allah, make her matter easy for her, and make easy what is to come after it; make her fortunate with your meeting, and make what she is leaving towards, better than what she is leaving from.

– Close the eyelids as far as possible. When closing the eyelids, recite:

ِ ‫ِس ِم‬ ِ ‫اهلل وع ٰل ِملم ِة رسوِل‬ .‫اهلل‬ ََ ُْ َ ْ َِ ‫اَللّه مم ي ىسر علَي ها أَمرها وس ىهل علَي ها ما ِ عده وأَسعِ ْدها ِل‬ ِ ‫ك‬ ‫ائ‬ ‫ق‬ َ َ ْ َ ُ َ ْ َ َ َ ْ َ ْ َ َ ََْ َ ْ َ ْ َ ُ ِ ‫واجعل ما خرجت إِلَيه خي را‬ ‫م‬ .ُ‫ت َعْنه‬ ‫خ‬ ‫ا‬ ‫ج‬ ‫ِم‬ ‫ر‬ ْ َ ََ ًَْ ْ ْ َ ََ َ ْ َ ْ َ

After the soul has left the body – Close the lips and tie a strip of cloth or bandage from under the chin to the top of the head so that the mouth stays firmly shut. – Leave this on until it is time for ghusl.

After the soul has left the body

Relatives/friends of the deceased may find this insensitive. Another way could be to fill a pillowcase with small bags of lentils, a juice carton or other suitable items and place gently on stomach.

– Place something heavy, e.g. a brick or metal bar, on the stomach to prevent it from bloating. – Cover the mayyit with a cloth. – If possible, it is good to light some incense in the room (or use any other fragrance) to give off a nice smell whilst the body is waiting to be bathed.

After the soul has left the body – It is makrūh to read Qur’ān in the same room as the mayyit at this stage, because the mayyit is still ritually impure; Qur’ān may be read in an adjacent room.

– Women in the state of menstruation or nifās and people in the state of janābah should not be in the same room as the mayyit at this time. As mentioned before this is advisable, and there is no need for harshness in this regard.

The Kafan

Laying out the burial shroud

The kafan – Polycotton or cotton is usually used. 60”/72” width is adequate for adults; the specially made 90” width fabric is best. If only 45” width fabric is available, stitch some more on to the side to extend the width. – Fabric of any colour is permissible, but it is best to use white. – Kafan previously washed/soaked in Zamzam or a worn cloth of a pious person can also be used as a source of blessing.

The kafan – ideally laid out before commencing with the ghusl. – Lay down 3 strips of cloth onto the ghusl platform, as shown below. They should remain protruding, even after the rest of the kafan has been laid out:

Head Centre Feet

The kafan – Lifāfah – Lay the lifāfah on top of the strips - it is rectangular in shape, a minimum of two spans longer than the height of the mayyit: One hand span

One span above head, and one span below feet

The kafan – Izār – Lay the izār on top of the lifāfah - it is rectangular, and as long as the mayyit (head to toe).

Please note that the izār starts from the top of the head, and not from the halfway point; the body image is a transparent 3D graphic.

The kafan – Qamīṣ – The qamīṣ covers the mayyit from the neck until the ankles or below the knees; it is double this length in order to cover the front and the back of the body.

A t-shaped slit must be pre-cut into the top of the qamīṣ, to create a hole that the head and neck of the mayyit can fit through.

The kafan – Qamīṣ – Fold the qamīṣ in half and lay it on top of the izār:

Illustration shows neck to below knees

The kafan – Qamīṣ – For convenience, open the top flap of the qamīṣ and fold/roll it so that it is gathered near the mayyit’s head: :

The kafan – Khimār – The purpose of the khimār is to cover the head and the hair over the chest. – The khimār can be cut into a rectangular shape like a ‘dupatta’ or into a square to make it into a triangular scarf.

Rectangular shaped khimār

The kafan – Khimār – Lay the khimār under the qamīṣ so that most of it is sticking out from under the bottom flap of the qamīṣ.

– If you had rolled up the top flap for convenience then the khimār will be underneath it.

Triangular shaped khimār

The kafan – Khirqah (sīnā-band) – The sīnā-band can be laid out between the lifāfah and izār, or between the izār and qamīṣ or after you roll out the qamīṣ - it is rectangular in shape, and starts from under the armpits of the mayyit to her navel/thigh. In this illustration, it is over the qamīṣ we will lay it out between the qamīṣ and izār.

The Kafan – summary

The Kafan – summary

Ghusl

Carrying out the funeral bath

Ghusl – Rewards – Bathing the deceased is obligatory on Muslims, so the reward is the same as performing any wājib act. – It is mentioned in Ṭaḥṭāwī that, ‘Whomsoever bathes the deceased will have seventy maghfirah (acts of forgiveness from Allāh) of such quality written for him, that if one of these were distributed amongst the entire creation, it would be sufficient for all of them.’

Ghusl – things you should know – The kafan should be laid out before commencing with the ghusl. – A menstruating woman should avoid giving the actual ghusl, but she may assist by passing water, sheets, etc. It is makrūh for a menstruating woman to carry out the ghusl according to the opinion of Imām Abū Yūsuf RH, however according to Imām Abū Ḥanīfah RH there is no problem with it.

Ghusl – things you should know – A minimal number of individuals should assist with the bathing – eight people should be enough for a grown woman. – Ensure that there is a minimum of six people to carry the body; like unconscious people, deceased people cannot assist by holding on or keeping their limbs together. Tip: keep glucose tablets handy for any ghusl giver who might faint.

Ghusl – things you should know – It is mustaḥab to perform the ghusl in the state of wuḍū. – The following duʿā should be recited whilst bathing the mayyit:

‫َحن‬ ٰ ْ ‫ك يَا َر‬ َ َ‫غُ ْفَران‬

Translation: (We ask) Your forgiveness, O AllMerciful.

– Start washing tasks, etc. with the right hand side of the mayyit.

Ghusl – things you should know – The body may be occasionally tilted from side to side or propped up slightly to allow water drainage if necessary. Use a slightly tilted platform to ensure good drainage; some are made with sieve holes. – Water should not be used to an excess; utilise enough to get the job done and avoid wasting. – The nails of the mayyit should not be clipped, nor should their hair be combed (Hanafi school of thought).

Ghusl – things you should know – Ensure that that the ʿawrah (satr) of the mayyit is covered at all times. It is not permissible for anybody, male or female, to see the ʿawrah of the mayyit. – Do not think of ʿawrah as simply the part of the body between the navel and knees; think of what you would hate to be exposed in front of others.

Ghusl – things you should know – Do not disclose any defects of the mayyit to others. – Treat the mayyit with all due respect and sensitivity. – It is mustaḥab to have a bath after giving ghusl to a mayyit.

Ghusl – Equipment

Lawbān (frankincense) or any other ḥalāl incense Matches/lighter to light incense sticks Khiṭmī/shampoo for hair Sidr (bīr) leaves/soap for body Tip: all-in-one shower gel is better and easier to use

Pliers/first aid scissors Disposable gloves, for istinjā and mayyit’sʿawrah Aprons/overcoats Towels Plasters, bandages, sanitary towels/adult nappies etc. Surgical tape Cotton wool Camphor

Ghusl – Equipment

Ghusl – Equipment – Two thick sheets that will not become transparent when wet, for covering the body. One will be used when performing the ghusl, and one after ghusl to cover the body. Four people will be needed to hold the sheet at all times. – Two bath sheets for transporting the body from the ghusl table to the kafan platform

Ghusl – Method – Fumigate the ghusl platform with incense 3, 5 or 7 times. – Cover the mayyit with a sheet. The people who will come into contact with the body need to put on disposable gloves at this point. – Undress the mayyit; use scissors if needed. Start cutting from the end of the sleeves, going upwards; put one hand underneath the cloth as a guide.

Ghusl – Method – Unplait the hair. If the mayyit has hair extensions, snip off as much as you can without cutting the actual hair. – Remove bandages, patches, catheters, etc. as much as possible. If scissors don’t work, sharp blades may be useful. – If the mayyit has had a surgical operation and is still bleeding, place a dressing on the wound to stop the bleeding.

Ghusl – Method – Massage the stomach lightly, so that internal bodily waste is discharged. – Perform istinjā on the mayyit (in the usual manner), using gloves. Carrying out istinjā once will suffice, as long as the area is cleaned.

Remember to remove the gloves you have been using for istinjā, and use a new pair for the rest of the body.

The hands are not washed, since it is you that is performing the wuḍū (in wuḍū, the reason we wash our hands first is because they need to be clean in order to purify the other parts of the body). Note that strictly speaking, only the farḍ acts of wuḍū are necessary. However, if the mayyit was in the state of ḥayḍ, nifās or janābah, cleaning the inside of mouth and nostrils as far as possible will be also be necessary (as in farḍ ghusl).

Ghusl – Method Carry out the wuḍū of the mayyit: – Clean the inside of mouth and then the nostrils with wet cotton wool (mustaḥab). – Place dry cotton wool in all the openings of the face (mouth, nose and ears) to prevent water entering inside during the rest of the ghusl. – Wash the face, arms up to the elbows (right, then left), perform masḥ and wash the feet (right, then left). – It is sufficient to wash all parts once, although three times is better.

Ghusl – Method – Mix the khiṭmī/shampoo with water and wash the mayyit’s hair. There is no need to scrub, just make sure the water reaches everywhere. – Mix the sidr leaves/soap/shower gel with water. Tilt the mayyit’s body onto its left side. – Pour the mixture over the right side of the body and make sure that it reaches everywhere from the head to the feet, and downwards to the left side of the body.

Ghusl – Method – Pour clean water over the body in the same manner two more times (to make a total of three wash-downs). – Do the same for the left hand side.

– Lift the torso of the mayyit and (holding the body) massage the abdomen gently so that any remaining bodily waste is released. – If any waste is expelled, simply wash it off with water; there is no need to repeat wuḍū or ghusl in any case.

Ghusl – Method – Mix camphor with water, and after tilting the body on its left side only, pour this mixture all over the body from top to toe, excluding head. – Lift the sheet covering slightly, slip towels underneath and use them to dry the body – Remove the wet sheet from above the towels, and replace with a dry one. – The towels can now be removed.

Ghusl – Method – Remove cotton wool from nose and ears if no liquid is seeping out. – If the mayyit was in menstruation and the bleeding is persistent, place a sanitary towel on the body and leave it on under the kafan. – The same applies to bleeding wounds; the bandage/s should be left on under the kafan You may use sanitary towels in place of bandages, as they are more absorbent and prevent leakage. Adult nappies may also be used.

Takfīn

Shrouding the body after ghusl

Takfīn (method of shrouding) – Fumigate the kafan with incense 3, 5 or 7 times. – Move the body from the ghusl table to the kafan table, bearing in mind that the ʿawrah of the mayyit should be safe-guarded using the dry sheet at all times:

• Lift the body on to its side and push the edges of the two bath sheets in:

Takfīn (method of shrouding) • Lift the other side of the body and pull the edges of the sheets out:

• Take the ends of the sheets and lift the body from the ghusl table and place it on the kafan. • Remove the towels/sheet by tilting the body and pushing/pulling.

Takfīn (method of shrouding) – Roll the top flap of the qamīṣ over the mayyit’s body. – Dampen camphor and apply on the places of sajdah (i.e. forehead, nose, palms, knees, and feet). – Apply only ʿitr to the head (not forehead), and to the head only.

– Divide the hair into two parts and place upon the mayyit’s chest, on top of the qamīṣ.

Takfīn (method of shrouding) – Cover the mayyit’s head with the khimār and tuck it in so it stays tight; the forehead should be visible. – Fold the left side of qamīṣ tightly over the mayyit’s body and tuck it in, then fold the right side over the left side. – Fold the left side of the khirqah over the mayyit’s body, and then the right side. – Fold the left side of the izār over the mayyit, then the right side. – Repeat the above with the lifāfah.

Takfīn (method of shrouding) – Make sure everything is wrapped tightly so that the kafan does not open up.

– Tie the centre and ends of the wrapped body with the 3 strips of cloth, so that the kafan does not open up whilst the body is being transported and lowered into the grave: The end strips should be tied above the head, and after the feet, and not around the ankles or the middle of the head etc.

Takfīn (method of shrouding) – Lift the mayyit into the coffin This may be done by lifting the body from table to table (using the towel method) or from table to floor. – If the body will be buried with the coffin, cushions may be placed along the left hand side, so that it is tilted towards the right (this will make it easier at the time of tadfīn).

Takfīn (method of shrouding) – The mayyit is now ready to be taken home. – Once the mayyit is in the home, the top string should be untied and the kafan pulled back until the face is visible for people to see. – At this point, it is permissible (and not makrūh) for menstruating women and women in nifās to sit in the same room as the mayyit. They may also kiss the forehead of the mayyit, like everyone else.

Takfīn (method of shrouding) – Remember to recover the face and tie the top string before the mayyit is taken away from the house, as nonmaḥrams may be involved in the transportation of the body to the graveyard. – The rules of hijāb that apply in life, apply in death also. Therefore, a non-maḥram male is not allowed to view a deceased female and neither should a female view a non-maḥram male.

Miscellanea

Miscellaneous rules and issues – When a woman passes away, her husband cannot touch or kiss her or carry out her ghusl; however, he is allowed to see her face and touch her from above the kafan. – At the mayyit’s house, communal duʿā should not be done, as the actual Ṣalāt al-Janāzah is the main duʿā. Tilāwah, durūd etc. is okay. – The mayyit should be sent away for burial as soon as possible. In England, a time is usually set for the janāzah.

Miscellaneous rules and issues – A female mayyit’s maḥrams will place her in her grave, turn her body towards the qiblah, and untie the three strings. – A small branch may be planted by the grave. Flowers should not be left at the graveside or especially planted, due to the fact that this is the custom of non-Muslims. – A simple stone or marker is allowed for identification purposes.

Miscellaneous rules and issues – If the law requires the mayyit to undergo a post mortem, the family should appoint a doctor to attend the post mortem to ensure that the body is not exploited. The mayyit’s family are well within their legal rights in employing a doctor on their behalf.

– Ghusl will be carried out on suicide cases, and salāt aljanāzah will be also performed.

Value of patience – On the authority of Abu Hurayrah RD: The Prophet SAW said, ‘Allāh said: ‘When I take the soul of a believer’s loved one, and he exercises patience with the hope of receiving reward, then I have nothing in return for him except for Jannah.’ (Bukhāri)

End. ِ ‫فَأَ ْكثِروا ِمن ِذ ْك ِر ه ِاذِم اللم مذ‬ ‫ فَِإنمهُ ََلْ يَأْ ِت َعلَ الْ َق ِْْب يَ ْوٌم إِمَّل تَ َكلم َم‬،‫ات الْ َم ْو ِت‬ َ ْ ُ ِ ِ ِ ِ ِ َ َ َ َ ‫ت‬ ‫ي‬ ِ ‫ا‬ ‫ن‬ ‫أ‬ ‫و‬ ، ‫اب‬ ‫ُّر‬ ‫الت‬ ‫ت‬ ‫ي‬ ِ ‫ا‬ ‫ن‬ ‫أ‬ ‫و‬ ، ‫ة‬ ‫د‬ ‫ح‬ ‫و‬ ‫ل‬ ‫ا‬ ‫ت‬ ‫ي‬ ِ ‫ا‬ ‫ن‬ ‫أ‬ ‫و‬ ، ‫ة‬ ِ ‫ر‬ ‫غ‬ ‫ل‬ ‫ا‬ ‫ت‬ ‫ي‬ ِ ‫ا‬ ‫ن‬ ‫أ‬ : ‫ول‬ ‫ق‬ ‫ي‬ ‫ف‬ ‫يه‬ ْ ْ ُ ُ ْ َ َ َ َ ُ ْ َ َ َ َ ْ َ ُ ْ َ َ َ َ ُْ ُ ْ َ َ ُ َ َ ‫ف‬ ِ ‫الد‬ .‫ُّود‬ ‘Remember the Destroyer of Pleasures, for not a day passes upon the grave except that it says “I am the House of Remoteness. I am the House of Loneliness. I am the House of Soil. I am the House of Worms.”’ (Tirmidhī)

Jazakallah for listening attentively. Content taken from draft publication Ghusl and Takfīn for Women to be published soon by Al Waraq Publications (tinyurl.com/alwaraq)