Death in Islam - Definition, Etymology, and Significance

Death in Islam - Definition, Etymology, and Significance

Arabic: موت (Maut); وفاة (Wafāt)
Turkish: Ölüm; Vefat

Definition and Qur’anic Teachings

In Islam, ‘death’ is regarded as a crucial transition from this life to the next. The Qur’an emphasizes that the moment of death is predetermined for every living creature and cannot be postponed or advanced by anyone. This concept underscores the belief in God’s ultimate control over life and death.

Qur’anic References:

• Sūrah Al-Nahl (16:63): “If God were to punish men for their wrong-doing, He would not leave on the earth a single living creature; but He respites them until a stated time; and when their time comes they cannot delay it an hour, nor can they hasten it.”
• Sūrah Āl ‘Imrān (3:182): “Every soul must taste death, and ye shall only be paid your hire on the day of resurrection.”
• Sūrah Qāf (50:17): “The agony of death shall come in truth; that is what thou didst shun.”

Hadith and Traditions

In Hadith literature, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) emphasized the sanctity of life and warned against wishing for death:

• Tradition on Wishing for Death: “Wish not for death, not even if thou art a doer of good works, for peradventure thou mayest increase them with an increase of life. Nor even if thou art a sinner, for with increase of life thou mayest obtain God’s pardon.”
• Meeting with God: “Whosoever loves to meet God, God will love to meet him, and whoever dislikes to meet God, God will dislike to meet him.”

The Process of Death and Afterlife

The Prophet Muhammad’s (peace be upon him) teachings detail the process a Muslim soul undergoes after death. Al-Barāʾ ibn ʿĀẕib narrates this process extensively in Hadith, including the role of the Angel of Death (Malaku’l-Maut) and the questioning by the angels Munkar and Nakir.

1. The Good Soul:

   • Descent of Angels: Angels with beautiful faces and heavenly shrouds receive the soul.
   • Ascension: The soul is taken through the heavens and recorded in ‘Illiyun.
   • Reunification with Body: The soul is returned to the body, and the angels question it about its faith.
   • Peace in the Grave: The person is shown their place in Paradise and receives comfort in the grave.

2. The Evil Soul:

   • Descent of Dreadful Angels: Dark-faced angels come with sackcloth.
   • Harsh Extraction of Soul: The soul is forcibly removed and rises to the lowest heaven, where it is denied entry.
   • Recorded in ‘Sijjin’: The soul is cast down and returned to the body for punishment and questioning.
   • Suffering in the Grave: The grave is tight, and the person faces punishment until the Day of Judgement.

Islamic Burial Practices

Death in Islam initiates a series of ceremonial practices, detailed extensively in “Jāfir Shārīf’s account in Herklots’ Qānūn-i-Islām”:

1. Will and Final Preparations: The dying person makes a will in the presence of witnesses.
2. Recitation of Sūrah Yā Sīn: This is done loudly to ease the departing soul.
3. Shahādah (Creed): Recited by those present, hoping to be remembered and repeated by the dying person.
4. Burial Rites:
   • Washing the Body (Ghusl): Performed by relatives or community washers.
   • Shrouding (Kafan): Cloth wrapping in specific layers, differing for men and women.
   • Immediate Burial: Emphasized to quickly return the body to earth.

Etiquette and Cultural Practices

Certain cultural practices also accompany Islamic burial rites, like the tying of toes and the recitation of specific invocations, although they may vary by region.

Suggested Books for Further Study

1. “The Islamic View of Major Occurrences in Life and Death” by Madelain Farah
2. “Death and the Afterlife in Islam” by Jane Idelman Smith and Yvonne Yazbeck Haddad
3. “The Eternal Life: Traditions and Beliefs in Islam” by Christopher Allen

Key Takeaways

• The moment of death is predetermined and inescapable.
• Islamic teachings provide comfort and guidance for the dying and the bereaved.
• Ceremonial practices emphasize cleanliness, prompt burial, and remembrance of God.
• The concept of death in Islam offers insights into the afterlife and beliefs about resurrection and judgement.

Conclusion

Understanding death from an Islamic perspective reveals the depth of theological, philosophical, and practical components that outline both the inevitability and the sacred processes involved. These beliefs and practices reflect a comprehensive approach to life’s final stage, embedding faith and community rituals deeply into the passage from this life to the hereafter.