The Creed of Compassion-Islamic Teachings & Answering Doctrinal Misconceptions

Issue No.577- If a person dies on a ship and there is no fear of the decay of the corpse and there is also no problem in keeping it on the ship it should be kept on board and buried in the earth after reaching land. Otherwise, after performing ghusl, camphorating, shrouding and prayer, it should be placed in something that prevents the access of sea animals to it, and its door should be closed tightly and then lowered into the sea. And if that is not possible, a heavy object should be tied to its feet when dropping it into the sea. Furthermore, so far as possible, it should not be lowered into water at a place where the animals may eat it up at once.

Issue No.579- The expenses of reinforcing the grave on land, if necessary, or lowering the body into the sea can be taken from the estate of the deceased (before distribution to heirs and beneficiaries).

Issue No.580- If a non-Muslim woman dies with a dead child in her womb, and the father is a Muslim, she should be lain in the grave on her left side with her back towards the qiblah, so that the face of the child is towards the qiblah. Even if it is a soulless foetus (one that does not move yet), the same instruction should be acted upon, as an obligatory precaution.

Issue No.581- As an obligatory precaution, it is not permissible to bury a Muslim in the graveyard of non-Muslims or to bury a non-Muslim in the graveyard of Muslims. Moreover, it is haram to bury the dead body of a Muslim in a place which is disrespectful, like places where garbage is thrown.

Issue No.582- It is neither permissible to bury a dead body in a usurped place, nor in a place endowed for purposes other than burial (e.g., in a mosque or religious schools). Unless a part of such an endowed place has been excluded from it and allocated for burial.

Issue No.583- There is no problem in burying a dead body in the grave of another dead body provided that it does not lead to exhumation (i.e. the body of the previous dead person being disclosed), and the land is mubāḥ to bury in or endowed for general use [1] [in the case of the land being endowed].

Issue No.584- As an obligatory precaution, anything separated from the dead body, even the hair, nails or teeth, should be buried along with it in a manner that does not lead to exhumation. However, it is not obligatory to bury the nails or teeth cut off or extracted during lifetime but it is better to do so.

Issue No.585- If a person dies in a well and it is not possible to take him out, the well should be sealed, and it should be treated as his grave. If the well has an owner, his consent should be obtained somehow.

Issue No.586- If a child dies in its mother’s womb and its remaining in the womb is dangerous for the mother, it should be brought out in the easiest possible way. Even if it becomes inevitable to cut it into pieces, it is permissible to do so and it is firstly obligatory on her husband if he is skilled in surgery, and if not, on a skilled woman, then a skilled surgeon who is maḥram to the woman and if even this is not possible, a skilled man who is not maḥram should bring out the dead child.

Issue No.589- It is recommended to condole with the near ones of the deceased. In case, however, so much time has passed since the death that condolence is likely to refresh their bereavement, it is better not to condole with them. It is also appropriate that food should be sent for the members of the family of the deceased for 3 days.

Issue No.590- It is also appropriate that one observes patience on the death of relatives, especially on the death of one's child, and, whenever the memory of the departed soul crosses his mind, he should say: Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un and should recite the holy Quran for the sake of the departed and pray for his forgiveness.

Issue No.592- If a man who is mourning the death of his wife or child tears his clothes, or if a woman mourning a dead person scratches her face causing blood to come out or plucks her hair, as an obligatory precaution, he/she should offer the kaffāra for [breaking an] oath which is to set a slave free, or feed ten indigent persons, or provide them with clothes. Even if it does not cause blood to come out, they should follow this ruling.