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Muslim and other alternative funerals

A practical guide to alternative funerals by Kate Gordon, published by Constable and Company Ltd (1999, ISBN 0 09 478770 0, 197 pages, £6.99). Reviewed by Nicholas Albery.

This book about alternative funerals is like a shorter version of The New Natural Death Handbook.

'No planning consent was required for "private non-commercial burial of the householder, those resident with her at the time of their deaths and her relatives only" '

However this new book is, I have to say, less accurate on the legal side. Kate Gordon writes, for instance, concerning private land burial that "in legal terms up to two graves have not been deemed" to constitute a change of use of the land, whereas in fact on various occasions larger numbers of burials have been deemed not to require planning permission. To take one example, no planning consent was required for "private non-commercial burial of the householder, those resident with her at the time of their deaths and her relatives only" - for burial in a 300 square metre garden near Harrogate.

Kate Gordon writes also that you can only be buried on private land "providing that it is far enough away from a water supply" whereas in fact the distances proposed by the Environment Agency are recommendations rather then legal requirements.

Where this book comes into its own is in its 28 pages or so of descriptions of the funeral rites for the various religions and ethnic groups. Take, for instance, the following helpful description of the difficulties faced by devout Muslims living in the UK.

Muslim burials

For followers of Islam, as with many other faiths, death is the end of life on this earth and the beginning of a life hereafter. For Muslims "Death is not final, but a temporary separation from the beloved person, who will be brought back to life on the Day of Judgement and, if God wills, be reunited with his family once more."

Muslims' particular requirements for the burial of the dead are often not met outside Islamic countries, and the necessity for them not understood within local communities. In Britain the Commission for Racial Equality has published a paper outlining measures that need to be taken by local authorities which also makes recommendations for central and local government. Some local councils have acted upon this advice and provide separate burial facilities in their cemeteries for non-Christians, but others still do not make any special provision and this sometimes leads to unnecessary distress for relatives.

The Holy Prophet urged Muslims to bury their dead quickly and it is traditional to bury the deceased within 24 hours. This can be difficult when death occurs at the beginning of a weekend or before a bank holiday and it is impossible to register the death and obtain the necessary certificates in time. It is also necessary to have the grave prepared in a particular way so that it is aligned towards Mecca, ie on a northeast to southwest axis. The body is placed in the grave so that the head is at the southwest end, facing towards Mecca.

'The body is then wrapped in one or two sheets of white cloth and laid in the grave'

The body must be ceremonially washed before burial and this is sometimes done at the graveside, if a standpipe is available. Lack of suitable washing facilities in cemeteries has led to this ritual being done in the mosque. Many new mosques have a special section for this, although it requires special permission from the local authority. The funeral prayer Salat Al-Janazah is said while the body is being washed, either at the mosque or at the graveside. The body is then wrapped in one or two sheets of white cloth and laid in the grave. It is not traditional to have a coffin, although some people now do so.

'The finished grave must be raised from the ground between four and twelve inches, to prevent anyone walking or sitting on it'

The finished grave must be raised from the ground between four and twelve inches, to prevent anyone walking or sitting on it, as this is strictly forbidden. The levelling of graves, practised in many cemeteries to make them easier to maintain, is also forbidden by the Muslim faith. There must be only one body in the grave and a simple headstone.

Failure to understand these requirements often causes offence which could easily be avoided by setting aside an area within the cemetery for Muslim burials and either having a Muslim on the cemetery staff or allowing families to dig their own graves. Lack of local facilities and unsympathetic staff have led many Muslims to undertake the expense of flying the body back to Asia or the Middle East for burial. The situation is improving, and there are now several private cemeteries providing the proper facilities and many more local councils will allow Muslims to dig their own graves.

Muslim and other alternative funerals

Muslim burials

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