In this probing study of death rites, Leor Halevi plays prescriptive texts against material culture, advancing a new way of interpreting the origins of Islam. He shows how religious scholars produced codes of funerary law to create new social patterns in the cities of Arabia, Mesopotamia, and the eastern Mediterranean. They distinguished Islamic from Christian, Jewish and Zoroastrian rites; and they changed the way men and women interacted publicly and privately. Each chapter explores a different layer of human interaction, following the movement of the corpse from the deathbed to the grave. Highlighting economic and political factors, as well as key religious and sexual divisions, Halevi forges a fascinating link between the development of funerary rites and the efforts of an emerging religion to carve its own distinct identity. Muhammad's Grave is a groundbreaking history of the rise of Islam and the roots of contemporary Muslim attitudes toward the body and society.

A person is born into this world, spends a little time and then passes away. Allāh (Swt) mentions in the Holy Qur'ān: "Every soul has to taste death"The one thing we can all be sure about and cannot deny, is the fact that one day we will all be leaving this earth. Our life on this earth is merely a journey to our real abode in the hereafter. The Messenger of Allāh (Swt) mentions in a Ḥadīth: "Live in this world as if you are a traveller or a wayfarer".In another Ḥadīth, the Messenger of Allāh (saw) mentions: "The intelligent person is the one who controls his self-desires and performs deeds for after his death, and the helpless person is the one who follows his self-desires and relies on Allāh (Swt)"This booklet does not go over all the preparations one must make before they pass away as our whole lives should be preparation for the hereafter, but I will cover the necessary steps we must take as Muslims when another Muslim is about to pass away or passes away.This is a time of great grief and sadness which can lead people to perform acts which are against Sharīʿah and are classified as 'Bidʿah' - innovation. People sometimes spend lavishly on funerals in the same way as they spend at weddings. People become a burden on the family of the deceased expecting to be dined on several occasions and the atmosphere at the funeral house may become contrary to the event. Many actions are done with the thinking that there is a basis for it in our religion, but the reality is that there is no evidence to support them.Rather than go through all the innovative practises, I have identified the actions for which there is sound evidence. I have provided references where required, so we can have peace of mind that we are carrying out all of the rituals correctly. We will comprehensively review the process which will enable the burial to take place quickly, easily and most importantly in accordance with Sharīʿah.Some of the subjects we will cover are as follows: What do we do when we see someone passing away?What legal paperwork do we need to go through with the burial?How to prepare the Kafan (shroud) and bathe the body of the deceasedThe correct burial process according to SharīʿahThe period of mourning and information on ʿIddahEtiquettes of visiting the house of the deceasedWhat can we do for those who have passed aw

A wide-ranging analysis of grass-roots activism, migration, legal, political and religious changes as basis for social transformation.

"Muslims have always been part of the United States, but very little is known about how Muslim Americans practice their religion. How do they pray? What's it like to go on pilgrimage to Mecca? What rituals accompany the birth of a child, a wedding, or the death of a loved one? What holidays do Muslims celebrate and what charities do they support? How do they learn about the Qur'an? [This book] introduces readers to the way Islam is lived in the United States, offering ... portraits of Muslim American life passages, ethical actions, religious holidays, prayer, pilgrimage, and other religious activities"--Back cover.

""This book examines professions that involve working with diverse populations and addresses contemporary issues that impact the full and successful utilization of human services by Muslims living in non-Muslim majority countries"--Provided by publisher"--