The Qur'an tells Muslims very clearly, Every soul shall taste death. Islam has very clear instructions on what the dying person has to do, the people who are with the dying/dead person and for those who are responsible for burying the deceased. Here is an overview of the funeral ceremony according to the teachings of the Qur'an and the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
The family, relative, friends, local community of the dying person will often be around the person to pay their last respects and bring comfort to him/her. Verses from the Qur'an are read and the dying person is often encouraged to read the 'Shahada'. The Shahada is the declaration of faith and in English means, I bear witness that there is no god but and Muhammad (peace be upon him) is His messenger.
If the person dies loved ones do weep but are not to wail, scream, shout and hurt themselves. Patience is encouraged. Muslims believe that death is a natural part of life and everyone is going to die one day so we should prepare for it by doing as many good deeds as we can.
The deceased's eyes are closed and if needed the body will be covered with a clean sheet temporarily. An autopsy can be performed if required and the only real conciliation is that the deceased should be shown respect.
Those around the deceased are encouraged to pray for the deceased and make Du'a (supplication). Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: You should hasten with his burial and so Muslims often try and get the person buried as soon as possible so that the body of the deceased is undisturbed.
The body will be washed in a process known as Ghusul. After a Muslim dies the family or other Muslims wash the body of the deceased according to Islam. More then one person can perform this rite.
The people who wash the body should be trustworthy, adult Muslims who have knowledge about the Islamic way of washing the deceased's body and know what to do. If the deceased is a male then the people washing him should be male and if the deceased is female then by females only. For a young child either men or women can perform the washing.
The body of the deceased should be washed in a place that is clean and private. Clean water and soap should be on hand. The private parts of the deceased are covered with a piece of cloth.
First the washer should raise the head of the body gently and put the body in a partially seated position. A clean cloth is twisted around the hand of the washer and using this he cleans away all the impurities from the deceased's body. The abdomen and stomach area are pressed lightly to get rid of excess impurities.
The washer can wear gloves or use a cloth around their hand and wash the private areas of the body to get rid of all impurities. After doing this the cloth/gloves are disposed.
Before and whilst washing the body 'Bismillah' is said. Muslims often say this before starting to do anything and it means, 'in the name of Allah.' The people washing the body then make niyyat (intention) that they are going to wash on behalf of the deceased. Starting on the right hand side ablution is performed in the same manner as Muslims do before prayers. Only bits that are left out are inserting water in the mouth and nostrils. Teeth and nostrils can instead be cleaned with moist cloth or cotton wool. If the deceased male has a beard it is washed by stroking wet fingers through it.
Great care is taken that the people washing the body do not look at the private parts of the deceased. It gives dignity and respect to the deceased. The front side of the body is washed first and then same steps are taken to wash the back. Washing is repeated 3-5 times or more.
After the body is washed the next step is the Kafan (shrouding the dead Muslim). The deceased's body is wrapped in a simple cloth that is often a simple, inexpensive white cloth. It is not encouraged to be extravagant in Islam. The female's shroud will be slightly larger then the males.
After washing and shrouding is complete the next step is the funeral prayers. It is called Salatul Janazah. It is encouraged that the body should not be kept for too long unnecessarily but instead should be buried.
The prayers for the deceased are not often conducted inside the mosque but outside. They are lead by the Imam and in some ways are similar to the five daily prayers read by Muslims with slight differences.
The deceased is taken to the cemetery to be buried (dafan in Arabic). Muslim men accompany the body to the cemetery. Tombstones or other elaborate monuments are not encouraged. Instead people remember Allah and ask for forgiveness for the deceased and for themselves.
Loved ones spend a number of days observing a mourning period. Relatives, friends, family and other Muslims will visit to pay their respect and offer condolences.
The death of a Muslim brings together the whole community so that they not only remember that this life is not permanent but also help one another. Muslims believe everything good you do in this life is what will help you in the next.