http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1§ion=0&article=67566&d=27&m=7&y=2005&pix=kingdom.jpg&category=Kingdom
Wednesday, 27, July, 2005 (20, Jumada al-Thani, 1426)
Woman Teaches How to Wash the Dead
Razan Baker, Arab News
JEDDAH, 27 July 2005 - Rarely are people prepared for the
death of a loved one. Whether it is a friend, mother or father, it can be
difficult to let a stranger wash the body. This dilemma has encouraged women to
take a course by a specialist in Islamic studies that teaches how to prepare
somebody for burial.
A doctor of psychology who took the course and who spoke to
Arab News wanted to remain anonymous because she said she did not learn it "for
publicity or praise."
She will soon begin to give the course for those who are
interested. The doctor believes that at least one member of every family must
know how to wash the dead, just as at least one should know how to perform
first aid.
"Why expose a family member to strangers?" she asked. "Most
of them would not appreciate it when they were alive."
The procedure is not complicated. The initial ablution of the
body is followed by its bathing. Then there is a second and final ablution.
Anything else are additions such as sidir, kafoor and cad, various kinds of
herbs and flowers. They are put between the sheets of the fabric that covers
the dead body in order to keep insects away from the grave and to prevent the
body from smell during burial.
Many people get someone to perform this at Al-Sharshoura,
where they are trained for it. Some of them do it correctly whereas others may
let a thing or two slip.
"If you are lucky you will find someone available, but if it
is late you will have to wait. This can pose a problem since it is stated in
one of the Hadiths that we must honor our dead by burying him or her as soon as
possible," the woman doctor continued.
She first thought of learning the ritual at the time of
confusion after the death of a relative. Her relative had suffered internal
bleeding and those who came to wash the body did not know what to do. The other
relatives did not know what to do either and they finally left the decision to
the people from Al-Sharshoura.
A faulty decision was made and they had to wash her twice
because the blood did not stop flowing. That day the doctor realized how
important it is for a dead person to have only his or her close relatives
present at the washing.
In preparation, she filled bags with all that is required and
offered them for free. It is important for each house to have the required
material, just like every house should have a first-aid box.
"If a year passes and the bag does not come to use, they can
offer it to a family that cannot afford to get one and get a new one."
One of the women who was interested in attending the course
was Somayya Rashid, who works for a private company. "Although a course like
this may make us feel closer to death; it also makes us appreciate life," she
told Arab News.
"Life is not about luxury; we need these kinds of courses and
knowledge from time to time, as a reminder. Every single individual will meet
his fate and if he wants to be well rewarded, he must do well during his life."
The doctor concluded that she hoped that the College of
Education and other government institutions would organize courses for both
students and employees in how to wash the dead.
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