Malay Muslim Funeral

The Malays think of death as part of a life cycle predestined by God. 1  Malay Muslim funerals follow specific Islamic rites in accordance to  syariah  (religious laws), and are solemn and dignified affairs. The body of the deceased must be treated with honour and reverence, and handled gently with utmost care at all times. The deceased must also be buried as soon as possible, preferably within 24 hours of their death. 2  Anyone attending Muslim funerals is expected to dress appropriately and modestly in white or dark- coloured clothes. For both men and women, their clothing should cover the knees. A headscarf is also encouraged for women. 3

Funeral rituals
The three main processes involved in Muslim funerals are (1) washing and shrouding the body of the deceased; (2) performing the funeral prayer; and (3) the burial process. 4

The washing and shrouding of the deceased’s body is known as the  ghusl  procedure. This is performed by family members or other Muslims of the same gender according to Islamic rites. The body of the deceased is washed with water and the steps are repeated at least three times until the body is clean before being dried. Immediately after this, the shrouding process, known as  kafan , begins. The deceased is wrapped in plain white cloth that has been coated with camphor, powdered sandalwood and non-alcoholic perfume. The  kafan   protects the deceased’s privacy and dignity. 5

Upon completion of  ghusl , a congregation is formed to perform the  jenazah  prayer for the deceased. The prayer is led by an  Imam  facing the  Qiblat   (direction of Mecca), and is usually performed at home or at the mosque. After the prayer, the body is brought to the cemetery in a coffin for burial. The burial process involves gently lowering the body into the ground. This is done without the coffin and with the deceased facing the  Qiblat .  The grave is then fully covered with soil. The completion of the burial process is followed by a  talkin , a funeral sermon, which is read at the grave of the deceased. 6