Enslaved People and Islamic Funerals

hush harbors

unmarked graves, unceremoniously with no mourners allowed on non-crop producing land

“going home”

free from the agony humiliation of everyday life and something to look forward to when the deceased go on

religious ceremonies and funerals

enslaved people communities were able to gather for these two things

the burial

the interment of remains

the 2nd burial

the memorial celebration after the interment

point for enslaved people funerals

a celebration served to honor the body of someone who had not been honored in life and funerals became a critical part of the community

key concepts for African-American funerals

attention to detail and communication

removal process for African-American folk

Demonstrating concern & care for the deceased during the transfer corresponds to EVERY AND ALL transfers that you do

allah

proper name for God in Islam

first muslim mosque

North Dakota

oldest muslim mosque

mother mosque of america, cedar rapids, iowa

koran of qur’an

islamic bible

mosque

Place of worship in the Islamic faith; designed for prayers and worship without instruments or seating

notification of death

funeral director is not expected to notify the iman/mosque at time of death

imam

spiritual leader of mosque

shahada

there is no god but allah

preparations of remains

embalming and cremation are prohibited

ceremonial washing

ghusl, privacy is extremely important and is done 3 times

bismillah

in the name of allah

kafan

burial garments/clothes or winding sheets

men wrapped in…

3 sheets, 4 ropes

women wrapped in…

5 sheets, 4 ropes

qiblah

direction of mecca

muslim viewing time

1 hour

janazah

funeral service/funeral prayer and is a communal responsibility

qiblah

women positioned with midpoint, men positioned with head

salatul janazah

ritual prayer over muslim’s body

2 parts of prayer said aloud

allahu akbar, assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah

seating positions

facing mecca, men in front row, children in second row, women in third row

fatihah

first section of quran

two types of graves: al-shaq / al-lahed

deep vertical hole in ground / make a deep vertical hole in the ground, then in the bottom make a side horizontal hole big enough to cover the whole body

position of body in order to face mecca in US…

east/northeast