Death, Grief, and Loss among Muslims: Multicultural and Spiritual Aspects

The planet is made up of people who hold a variety of religious beliefs. An individual may adopt them either from a family background or out of personal interest as they are exposed to various religious groups throughout their lives. Muslims believe in only one God, whom they refer to as Allah, and in Muhammad, His prophet. With 1.8 billion adherents, it is thought to be the world's second largest religion after Christianity (Ata, 2016). Adam, Moses, Jesus, and Abraham, according to the faith, were God's prophets. Just like any other religion, Muslims have their own aspects of death and dying as well as grief and loss that could be similar or different from other types of religions. However, the death and burial rules differ from one country to another as well as depending on whether the people belong to Shiite or Sunni. This paper discusses Islamic beliefs and assumptions, practices, counseling, and the kind of resources used during death and the life after that.

The Spiritual/Cultural Beliefs and Assumptions about Death and Beyond

The Muslim society believes that an individual has the responsibility to shape their own life as they live in the world (Rubin, & Yasien-Esmael, 2004). The kind of life an individual chooses to live determines whether they will go to heaven or hell after resurrection. The souls of those who die continue to exist until the judgment day when all people will resurrect. Hence, Muslims accept that death comes from God. The religion believes that everyone will die in one way or another. Hence, an individual should be prepared for death at any time, being the reason why they should engage in daily prayers. Death process according to the Islamic faith is the return of the soul to the Creator who is God (Baggerly, & Abugideiri, 2010).

The dying process is a public event that affects the whole community. It is believed that losing an individual is a loss to the entire community. Therefore, the elders and family members recite the Koran, the Muslim scripture, and then pray for the dying person, a process known as Talqeen (Kristiansen, Younis, Hassani, & Sheikh, 2016). In case the family members are absent, then any member of the Muslim religion can get involved in the process. At this time, grief counseling is not accepted as it is seen as a way of intruding to privacy. Muslims prefer to die facing the Muslims’ holy city known as Mecca. They wish to die at home since it is according to the Islamic tradition as friends and relatives visit them to pray for the well-being of the person in the life to come. People will seek forgiveness from each other on anything that they might have wronged one another. The ill person continues with prayers just as is the case with the close family members until the final day of death. Death is therefore not a taboo but a process through which every person in the world will pass through. Traditionally, women and children are not allowed to attend funerals but some Muslim communities allow them to attend (Hedayat, 2006).

Spiritual/Cultural Death Practices

When a Muslim dies, the burial takes place immediately, usually within twenty-four hours. There is usually no viewing or visitation of the family members. The body is washed several times until it is clean and made to face towards Mecca. The hands are then placed on the chest in a form of prayer and the body is covered with simple white pieces of clothes by the family members. The body is then transported to a mosque where the funeral takes place. Those in attendance gather outside the mosque and face towards Mecca as they conduct prayers led by the holy leader known as Imam. After prayers, a silent procession leads towards the burial site where the dead person is laid and every attendee is allowed to throw dirt up to three times. In the Islamic religion, cremation and embalming is not allowed since it is considered as a way of contaminating the body (Haque, 2004).

Muslims believe that close relatives have the ability to communicate with the dead (Ata, 2016). Therefore, a relative during the burial ceremony informs the person that they are dead and gives instructions on what will happen there after. According to the religion, the dead individual is not usually aware about the transition, talking to them informs them about their current state. The deceased is made aware that they are dead, that they are being laid on a grave, and that Nakir and Maunkar angels will come to the grave to ask questions about the person’s religion, their Lord and Prophet (Cheraghi, t al., 2005).

Post-mortem activities are not allowed in the Muslim society since it delays the burial process. Also, the religion believes that the dead person may perceive pain based on Prophet Muhammad’s statements that, breaking a dead person’s bone is similar to breaking that of a living individual. The post-mortem process is allowed only in a case where the law demands. However, members of the family are consulted and their wish is respected (Kristiansen, et al., 2016).

Spiritual/Cultural View of Grief and Counseling

During the funeral, people are allowed to express grief but within acceptable standards to avoid destruction of the process. Crying out loudly, extreme emotions such as thrashing out, ripping clothes, and causing self-injury is not permitted during the burial process. Also, pictures and video recording during the funeral service is forbidden. It is after the burial that mourners can gather inside the home of the bereaved to mourn and express their emotions. At this time, condolences to the family are allowed as people support them during the time of grief. People stay with the affected family members, socialize, and share a meal together in order to console the family of the deceased. The first forty days are set for mourning, where community members bring food and offer to help the affected family. However, the period can take lesser or more days. Widows can take a longer period of mourning, normally four months and ten days and are prohibited from interacting with potential marriage partners who are known as ‘na-mahram’. Individuals are also encouraged to remember the loved ones and recall all the good things they did during their life time (Haque, 2004).

Muslims believe that every life experience whether death, joy, sadness, loss of life or a loved one, and suffering come from Allah. He hence gives people the strength to survive and a source of comfort. Therefore, individuals are advised to accept loss and grief as they practice patience and accept Allah’s will. Those who teach themselves to accept every situation receive a reward from God (Rubin, et al., 2004). However, people are allowed to grieve for their loved ones since it is a common way of reacting to shock, loss, guilt and disbelief.

The Islamic religion provides Muslims with a standard code of behavior, social values, and ethics that help them to deal with different situations in life including death. There exists Islamic counseling where the Imam provides advice in accordance with the Quran teachings and principles. However, Muslims in most cases prefer that the affected individuals stay at home, mourn, and receive visitors. It is believed that if an individual has a strong religious belief and puts their trust in God, they face minimal stress and gain the strength to face challenges. The counseling activity in the Muslim community is not for specific people who are believed to be psychological professionals. Every person has the responsibility to provide support and advice to other people who are facing difficulties and challenges in life especially in the time of loss and grief.

During counseling sessions, individuals are advised to turn to Allah, seek forgiveness, and strengthen their relationship with God. Mainly, Muslims believe in spiritual healing where the primary source is to pray for healing. It is believed that God sends illnesses and is the one who relieves it. Therefore, a person who follows the traditions of Prophet Muhammad and the literal teachings of the Quran receives healing from Allah (Ata, 2016).

The Religious/Spiritual/Cultural Community Resources

Muslims are taught through the Quran to take care of one another and practice the act of being hospitable. Hence, members of the community provide support to the family members of the bereaved and bring food as well as any other resources that may be helpful during the time of grieve. Every Muslim is entitled with the responsibility to take care of those in need of help at a certain time. However, the fellow Muslims including the Imam usually visit the family to provide support through prayers, counseling, and material where necessary (Kristiansen, et al., 2016).

Traditional healing

In the Islamic religion, traditional healing is not highly appreciated. However, it can be utilized in cases perceived to be extreme. For instance, male healers are used to protect an individual from negative energy known as the Dervish by providing amulets that are worn in the body. Also, there are those healers who utilize the religious rituals by using Islamic scripture in order to protect a person against evil spirits. Although there exist these kinds of healers, Muslims mostly believe in being prayerful and remaining strong in faith (Hedayat, 2006).

Conclusion

Different religions have varying perceptions when it comes to loss and grief. Each of them follows certain set of values that are generally acceptable codes of behavior. In the case of the Islamic religion as seen above, people believe in the existence of Allah and his prophets and strictly follow rules and regulations in the holy book of Quran. Therefore, even in the difficult conditions of death and grief, prayer and faith forms the basis of an individual’s behavior and way of living.

Muslims believe that each condition an individual passes through in life is God’s will and should hence accept, thank God, and pray to overcome any challenges in life. In the same case, everyone is responsible of taking care of their brothers and sisters from both the Islamic religion and any other religious group. Therefore, being a Muslim calls for commitment, care, and having a strong faith in God. Also, taking care of the ill, comforting and grieving with the family of the bereaved is necessary. Everybody in a certain time in life faces death either that of a loved one, a neighbor, or losing one’s life. Hence, showing support to others is necessary and prepares one for the life after resurrection. Good deeds according to the Muslims would be rewarded in heaven.















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