5-Endless Bliss Fifth Fascicle - Hakikat Kitabevi

14 – THE RELIGIOUS SERVICE
TO BE DONE TO THE
DECEASED—THE SHROUD
The following information has been translated from
Durr-ul-mukhtâr, and from its explanation entitled Ibni Âbidîn.
Janâza means a dead person, or mayyit. Today, we call a
coffin containing the corpse of a dead person ‘janâza’. Jinâza
means the bench for washing corpses. Mawt means death.
The symptoms of death appoaching are the feet slackening
and lengthening, the nose becoming twisted, and the temples
becoming concave. An ill person in this state is made to lie on
his right side, and his face is turned toward the qibla. It is sunna
to make him lie in this manner. It is also permissible to make
him lie on his back with his feet toward the qibla. This has
become common recently. But something must be put under his
head. Thus his face will be toward the qibla. If it is difficult to do
so, it is permissible also to make him lie in any manner that
comes easy.
When coaching the Kalima-i-tawhîd, it would be good to add:
“Muhammadun Rasûlullah.” In fact, to be converted to îmân,
a disbeliever has to begin with “Esh hadu” and also has to say,
“Muhammadan ’abduhu wa Rasûluh.”
Once death has begun, all hopes of life having been given
up, a disbeliever’s conversion to Islam is not acceptable, though
tawba (penance) is still acceptable.
A person who utters something that will cause disbelief while
being in the state of death is to be taken as a Believer. For, he
is not conscious at that moment.
Signs of death are stiffening (rigor mortis), becoming cold,
and putrefaction. When death is diagnosed, which is possible
before these signs as well, [such as by the breath stopping,
which can be determined by using a mirror, which should not be
misted over when held in front of the dead person’s mouth, by
the stopping of the heart or the pulse], it is sunna to close his
eyes and to tie up his chin. His chin must be tied up by means
of a wide piece of cloth fastened on top of his head. When
closing his eyes it is sunna to say, “Bismillah wa ’alâ Millati
Rasûlillah,” and to say another certain prayer. Before the
corpse becomes cold it is sunna to open and close his fingers,
elbows and knees, and to leave his arms and legs straight.
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