Islam_in_Focus_text

treasure, and make him for us a pleader,
and accept his pleading."
The whole Funeral Prayer is offered in the standing posi-
tion. Whenever a funeral procession passes by, be it of a
Muslim or otherwise, every Muslim should stand out of re-
spect for the dead.
A man washes a man and a woman washes a woman. A
woman may wash her husband, and a man or woman may
wash young children. During the washing the washer's hands
should be covered by gloves or cloth, and the private parts of
the dead body should be washed without being seen.
The grave should be built and marked in a simple way.
The dead body should be covered with white cotton sheets
of Standard material. Any extravagance in building the grave
or dressing up the body in fine suits or the like is non-
Islamic. It is false vanity and a waste of assets that can be
used in many useful ways.
The custom of some North American Muslims of offer-
ing a big and costly banquet upon burial of the deceased is
also non-Islamic and an irresponsible waste of money and
effort that can be of infinite benefit if used otherwise.
General Remarks on Prayer
As already pointed out, the Muslim's mind should al-
ways be occupied with the Remembrance of God and his