Coronavirus: Islamic council outlines modalities for burial of muslim faithful

The Nigeria Supreme Council Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has issued out its position on how bodies of Muslims infected with the coronavirus should be buried, and this includes being compulsorily buried in Muslim cemetery.

 Penpushing reports that, this is contained in a set of guidelines issued by Nasir Sani-Gwarzo(chairman) and Yusuf Nwoha,(secretary) respectively of a subcommittee set up to develop a comprehensive guideline on best procedure to be adopted in the burial based on Islamic laws and principles.

The organization noted that the step became necessary, following the outbreak of the novel pandemic, and also opposed any cremation, emphasizing that, it is unacceptable for the body of a Muslim victim of the coronavirus disease to be cremated.

Penpushing further reports that, the committee, explained that, Islam has rules guiding its burial practices, but need  to put into consideration the new set of rules occasioned by the ravaging coronavirus.

“Washing the dead is a collective obligation, which is not exempted except under a strong legal justification; and among such legitimate circumstances is to ensure that the deceased did not suffer from an infection that could be transmitted to others. The best known rule is that – “harm to the living must be avoided.”

“The body may be sprinkled with water as much as possible; alternatively by pouring water on the body without physical scrubbing or touching by the hand. A specific nature of shrouding is not mandatory, provided the entire body is covered by the shroud’.

‘Where practicable, however, it is encouraged to use three or five pieces of white shroud for men and five pieces for women; otherwise application of reasonable discretion is allowed,” the statement added.

The Council said there is nothing wrong in putting a Muslim body in a body bag, but advised government to take responsibility of preparing the infected Muslim bodies for burial to avoid contamination.

Penpushing reports that, the Islamic body advised that government should ensure registration of all deaths with the relevant health authorities adding that prayer on the body of a victim of infection should be done by a small number of Muslims with precaution and under the direction of appropriate health authorities.

“Where it is, however, medically established that the deceased is free from any contagious disease, then the deceased should be prepared, prayed upon and buried by a few who are permitted under the social distancing and or complete lockdown imposed, while taking all necessary preventive measures,” it added.

Penpushing further reports that, the committee said Muslim prayer for the dead (Janazah) can be performed in absentia for the deceased, especially in the case of total lockdown, explaining, “the prayer in absentia is allowed for those who could not physically be present to pray on the deceased,” pointing out that this must be subjected to prevailing doctrine acceptable in the area.