Upon hearing the news, many of the people from the office rushed to the hospital to visit the parents and provide their support. On the way to the hospital, I related to co-workers that the US practice would be to leave the family for a few days to deal with their grief. The response was, in India (the family was Indian) we have a saying, "For a birth, you have plenty of time to visit, but for a death you must go right away." So, we went to the hospital and waited as many friends, family, and co-workers arrived at the hospital to mourn with the family. The grief of the family was obvious and great - but the Muslim faith doesn't permit great wailing, screaming, falling down, and making a show. Instead, grief is displayed much as we would express it: comforting each other, crying together, and sitting quietly to let the family know we are there with them.
Because of his family's faith (Islam), the funeral was held the same day. Arrangements were made with the police to issue the death certificate and a grave was arranged in an Islamic cemetary here in Dubai. Graves in the cemetary are situated so that the dead can be buried facing Mecca. As soon as the death certificate was issued, the body was prepared for burial and the group moved to the cemetary. The women weren't allowed in and had to wait at the gates for the burial.
Typically, Muslims are not buried in a coffin (if allowed by local laws). Instead, they are laid upon a stretcher and covered with a shroud. This is true even of the Kings and Sheikhs to symbolize that we all come from the earth and return to the earth no matter our position or greatness on earth.
1 comment:
Absolutely nothing sadder than a child's funeral. I'm so sorry.
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