{"id":277,"date":"2020-03-25T09:14:39","date_gmt":"2020-03-25T13:14:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/web.colby.edu\/coronaguidance\/?p=277"},"modified":"2020-07-30T02:23:04","modified_gmt":"2020-07-30T06:23:04","slug":"bbsi-burials-funerals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/web.colby.edu\/coronaguidance\/2020\/03\/25\/bbsi-burials-funerals\/","title":{"rendered":"British Board of Scholars & Imams: Guidance for Burials and Funerals"},"content":{"rendered":"

Executive Summary<\/h3>\n
    \n
  1. The current circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic will require a collective response from the Muslim community, working with health services and local authorities, to manage the volume of deaths.<\/li>\n
  2. There are certain mandatory funerary rites afforded to the Muslim deceased.<\/li>\n
  3. In such circumstances, the Divine law permits certain relaxations of these rites.<\/li>\n
  4. Families should be comforted that their loved ones receive the deaths of martyrs, and that any short-comings in normal funerary rites will not affect this.<\/li>\n
  5. NHS and emergency workers (including funeral workers) should not forget their own physical and mental health, nor that of their families, in caring for others.<\/li>\n
  6. The risk of transmission of COVID-19 from a deceased body is low and should not be feared, provided adequate precautions are taken.<\/li>\n
  7. All such precautions\u00a0must<\/strong>\u00a0be taken by those handling the deceased\u2019s body, whilst ensuring dignity is maintained. The needs of the living take priority over the needs of the deceased.<\/li>\n
  8. There are several options for ritual cleansing from: full\u00a0ghusl<\/em>, minimal\u00a0ghusl<\/em>,\u00a0tayammum<\/em>, wiping over the body bag. Each should be considered in sequence, but if none can be done, burial without\u00a0ghusl<\/em>\u00a0is permissible.<\/li>\n
  9. The body bag may be considered to fulfil the role of the burial shroud (kafan<\/em>).<\/li>\n
  10. Funeral (janaza<\/em>) prayers should be performed by a minimum of people; alternatives include the absentee funeral prayer (salat al-gha\u2019ib<\/em>).<\/li>\n
  11. A number of options for burial can be considered, including shared graves, transferral to other sites, and delay in burial. Preparations should be made in advance, especially in areas with a large Muslim population. Cremation must be avoided at all costs.<\/li>\n
  12. The BBSI emphatically exhorts community organisations, mosques, and charities to mobilise the community so that they might get trained in funerary rites. Local communities are advised to take decisions on the basis of this guidance whilst factoring in local circumstances.<\/li>\n
  13. We are all returning to our Lord, and should pray for those who have passed away collectively and individually, remembering always the life to come.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Please note: the official version for this advice is at\u00a0http:\/\/www.bbsi.org.uk\/covid-funeralguidance<\/span>\/<\/a><\/span>\u00a0\u200e, and that website should always take precedence in terms establishing updates or corrections.<\/p>\n

    <\/h3>\n

    <\/a><\/p>\n

    1.Introduction<\/h3>\n

    The BBSI is an apolitical national assembly of imams, traditional scholars and Islamically literate Muslim academics formed to facilitate scholarly intra-Muslim research and dialogue. Our aim is to provide authoritative ethico-theological guidance and leadership on matters relevant to Muslims, whilst promoting wider community welfare. It primarily seeks to do this by developing theological leadership that can authentically represent the rich scholarly inheritance of Islam, whilst responding flexibly to the context of modern times. Its ultimate aim is to both serve and represent the Muslim community in an ethical, inclusive, professional and scholar-led way. The BBSI especially takes seriously the responsibility to provide theologically grounded, practically focussed, holistic and \u2013 above all \u2013 cool-headed and far-sighted guidance to the community in times of generalised anxiety and panic.<\/p>\n

    Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, in consultation with community organisations, health and medical experts, the BBSI has been providing ethico-religious guidance to the community. With an increase in death rates inevitable due to COVID-19, Muslim communities in the UK are advised to work with their local authorities in assembling a volunteer group of individuals. These individuals must be (i) aware of Islamic burial rites, (ii) properly trained in the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and (iii) suitable to safely carry out the burial procedures.<\/p>\n

    This document provides guidance on the burial procedures: storing, collecting, transporting, washing (ghusl<\/em>), prayer (salat al-janaza<\/em>), and interring the body (dafan<\/em>) to ensure that they accord with both Islamic and Public Health England (PHE) guidelines, taking into account the latitude of approaches in Islamic law and the principles of standard infection control precautions (SICPs) and transmission-based precautions (TBPs).<\/p>\n

    As with all BBSI guidance, it is directed primarily at imams, scholars and funeral workers, to help guide their decision-making processes, but equally is produced for the benefit of the general public. It should not be considered a religious verdict (fatwa<\/em>), but rather comprises a comprehensive guidance that draws on the classical traditions of Islam to provide an overview of options available. We encourage those who read it to consult with their local scholars and utilise it to help their decision-making processes. We pray that it will be of benefit and consolation during this extremely difficult time for the British and international community.
    \n    <\/a><\/p>\n

    2.\u00a0\u00a0 The Significance of Funerary Rights<\/h3>\n

    For Muslims, death is a transition between one stage of life and another. The act of burial marks this passage and carries profound meaning for the dead as well as the living. Burying the dead is a communal obligation upon Muslims and it is a means through which dignity and respect are afforded to our fellow humans who have departed onto the next stage of their existence.<\/p>\n