
Cremation is considered haram, or forbidden, in Islam. Islamic teachings require that the deceased be cleaned, shrouded, prayed for, buried in the earth, and visited with reverence. Cremation is seen as an act of disrespect and a sin, as Muslims believe that the deceased must be treated with the same respect as the living. This belief is based on the Prophet Mohammed's statement that breaking the bone of a deceased person is akin to breaking it while they are alive. Burning the dead is therefore prohibited, as it is considered mutilation of the corpse.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Cremation allowed? | No, it is forbidden (haram) |
Reasoning | The body should be treated with respect before and after death. Cremation is considered a form of bodily mutilation and therefore an unclean practice. |
Islamic burial | The deceased must be cleaned, shrouded, prayed for, buried in the earth and visited with reverence. |
Exceptions | During times of an epidemic, Muslim authorities may approve cremation to mitigate the spread of disease. |
Cremation of non-Muslims | It is forbidden for a Muslim to cremate a non-Muslim. |
What You'll Learn
Cremation is considered haram in Islam
Cremation is considered "haram", or forbidden, in Islam. Islamic teachings require that the deceased be cleaned, shrouded, prayed for, buried in the earth, and visited with reverence. Any other treatment, including cremation, is considered an act of disrespect and sin.
Muslims believe that the deceased must be treated with the same respect as the living. This belief originates from the Prophet Mohammed’s statement that "breaking the bone of the deceased’s body is like breaking it in life". Burning the dead for cremation, like breaking the bones of the dead or other such mutilation, is therefore prohibited, as is accepting or encouraging such treatment. According to some Muslims, this condemnation should extend to all living creatures, including animals and plant life.
Islamic scholars refer to two Quranic verses, 5:31 and 17:70, to justify the claim that cremation is prohibited by God. Verse 17:70 states:
> We have honoured the children of Adam and carried them on the land and in the sea and We provided them with good things, and We favoured them considerably over many of those We created.
The claim is that, in keeping with the spirit of this verse, it is necessary to treat the human body with the utmost respect, even after death. Cremating the deceased or discarding bodies in other ways is considered sacrilege and abhorrent and, therefore, forbidden according to Islam.
However, it is also believed that Allah can make a cremated body whole again for resurrection, so cremation is not believed to preclude the deceased from reaching heaven or hell. Cremation may also be permitted in times of epidemic, to mitigate the spread of disease.
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The body should be treated with respect before and after death
In Islam, the body is held in high regard and should be treated with respect and honour before and after death. Muslims believe that the deceased must be treated with the same respect as the living. This belief originates from the Prophet Mohammed’s statement that:
> "Breaking the bone of the deceased’s body is like breaking it in life".
Burning the dead for cremation, like breaking the bones of the dead or other such mutilation, is therefore prohibited, as is accepting or encouraging such treatment. According to some Muslims, this condemnation of cremation should extend to all living creatures, including animals and plant life.
Islamic teachings on the dead require that the deceased be cleaned, shrouded, prayed for, buried in the earth, and visited with reverence. Any other treatment, including cremation, is considered an act of disrespect and sin. Cremation is considered "haram", or forbidden, in Islam.
However, it is believed that Allah can make a cremated body whole again for resurrection, so cremation is not thought to prevent the deceased from reaching heaven or hell. This belief is reflected in the Quran:
> "The body, which we occupy during our life on earth, is no more than a shell we occupy for a predetermined term. This shell becomes dead matter after our death. It is thus irrational to think that it is possible to honour dead matter!"
The only exception to the rule against cremation is during times of an epidemic, when Muslim authorities may approve cremation to prevent the spread of disease.
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Cremation is considered a form of bodily mutilation
Cremation is considered a major sin in Islam. It is deemed "haram", meaning forbidden, and is seen as an act of sacrilege and disrespect. Islamic teachings require that the deceased be cleaned, shrouded, prayed for, buried in the earth, and visited with reverence. Any other treatment is considered a sin.
Muslims believe that the deceased must be treated with the same respect as the living. This belief stems from the Prophet Mohammed's statement that to break the bone of the deceased is like breaking the bone of a living person. Burning the dead for cremation, like breaking their bones or other forms of mutilation, is therefore prohibited. According to some Muslims, this condemnation of cremation should extend to all living creatures, including animals and plants.
The idea that the dead must be treated as the living leads to the belief that a cremated deceased person experiences a level of disrespect that is inconsistent with the honour bestowed by Allah. However, it is also believed that Allah can make a cremated body whole again for resurrection, so cremation is not thought to prevent the deceased from reaching heaven or hell.
The only exception to this rule is during times of an epidemic, when Muslim authorities may approve cremation to prevent the spread of disease.
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The deceased should be buried as quickly as possible
Cremation is considered a sin in Islam. Islamic teachings on the dead require that the deceased be cleaned, shrouded, prayed for, buried in the earth, and visited with reverence. Any other treatment, including cremation, is considered an act of disrespect and sin.
Islamic funeral customs dictate that burial takes place as quickly as possible after death. There is no viewing, wake, or visitation. The body is washed and covered with a sheet by family members, with the hands placed as if in prayer. The body is then transported to a mosque for the funeral. The funeral is typically held outside the mosque in a prayer room, community square, or courtyard, where members of the community may gather.
The burial should take place within 24 hours of death, according to Sharia law. This is to help alleviate the pain and minimize the grief process for the family, as well as to protect the living from unsanitary conditions. The body is washed and shrouded in a simple white cloth, with the mouth and eyes closed and the body faced towards Mecca. This ritual purification process is called ghusl al-mayyit in Arabic. The body is washed with warm water at least three times, following a specific cleansing order.
After the body has been prepared, it is taken to the mosque for the funeral service. The service is overseen by an Islamic prayer leader, an imam, who leads the funeral prayers. Attendees form at least three lines: men, then children, and women in the back. The funeral prayers, or Salat al-Janazah, are recited to seek forgiveness for the deceased with the hope that Allah will excuse their sins and invite them to Jannah (paradise).
After the funeral prayers, the body is taken to the burial site in a silent procession. Traditionally, only men attend the burial, but some Muslim communities allow women and children to be present. Another important Islamic burial rite is for each person at the burial to throw three handfuls of dirt into the grave. The grave should be perpendicular to the direction of Mecca, so the body, placed in the grave without a coffin, lies on its right side, facing the holy city.
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Cremation may be allowed during times of an epidemic
In Islam, cremation is considered "haram", meaning forbidden. Islamic teachings require that the deceased be cleaned, shrouded, prayed for, buried in the earth, and visited with reverence. Any other treatment, including cremation, is considered an act of disrespect and a sin. Burning the dead is seen as a form of mutilation and is forbidden by Allah.
However, there is one situation in which cremation may be permitted in Islam: during an epidemic or disease outbreak. If large numbers of people are killed by a disease that could spread through burial, burning the bodies may be allowed. This is based on the belief that the dead must be treated with the same respect as the living. Before cremation can be carried out, the potential spread of disease through burial must be proven, and express permission must be granted by Muslim authorities.
Islamic funeral rites are subject to regional interpretation and variation in custom. In all cases, Sharia (Islamic religious law) calls for the burial of the body as soon as possible. The deceased is bathed and shrouded in a simple white cloth, with the head facing Mecca. The body is then buried without a casket. However, in the case of an epidemic, cremation may be permitted as an alternative to burial.
It is important to note that the decision to allow cremation during an epidemic is not taken lightly and requires the approval of Muslim authorities. The priority is always to treat the deceased with the utmost respect and dignity, regardless of the method of disposal.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, cremation is considered a sin in Islam. It is forbidden or "haram" and is considered an act of disrespect.
Cremation is considered a sin because Muslims believe that the deceased must be treated with the same respect as the living. Burning the dead is therefore prohibited, as it is considered a form of bodily mutilation.
Muslims are forbidden from participating in cremation in any way, including witnessing or approving of it. However, cremation may be allowed during an epidemic to prevent the spread of disease.
Islamic teachings require that the deceased be cleaned, shrouded, prayed for, buried in the earth, and visited with reverence. The body should be buried as quickly as possible, preferably within 24 hours of death.