Burying the Deceased
Q: Explain the Shar'ee method and sequence of burying the deceased and pertinent aspects relating to the burial.
Carrying and burying the deceased
Muslims buried in a non-Muslim graveyard
Q: In the brook street cemetery outside the muslim fence in the non muslim area, muslims have purchased sites through corruption. Muslims have already been buried in this non muslim section. What will be the ruling. The council has put a stop to burials in these graves after finding out about the corrupt sales.
Handing over the body of a deceased Muslim to his non-Muslim family members
Q: If an agreement is reached with the non Muslim family that the Muslims will do the ghusal, kafan and janaza namaz and thereafter hand over the body to the deceased’s non Muslim family. Will this be incorrect?
Reserving a grave in a public graveyard
Q: If you are a trustee of a public qabrastaan, can you reserve burial sites for yourself or your family members?
Burying the deceased in a coffin
Q: In a case where a person is suffering from a communicable disease, the legal requirement is for the mayyit to be buried in a sealed coffin. How should the body be placed in the coffin? In some countries this is a normal requirement.
Who should sit in the hearse with the driver?
Q: Is there any particular ruling as to who should sit in the hearse with the driver?
At what speed should the hearse be driven?
Q: What speed must the hearse be driven? Normally the hearse is driven slowly at around 80km to the qabrastan, however when transporting the body from the hospital to the ghusal facility or when traveling a long distance from Harrismith to Durban, the hearse is driven fast.
Placing a cloth over the grave when burying a female
Q: Is it fardh to place a cloth over a female’s grave when burying her?
Method of placing the planks in the grave
Q: Is there any order in placing the planks in the grave e.g. starting from head side for females and starting from the feet side for males?
Reserving a grave
Q: Can a qabar be reserved for family members perpetually?