Grief Support NetworkGrief Support NetworkVariations of Ethnic and Faith Variations of Ethnic and Faith

Traditions in GrievingTraditions in Grieving

Muslim TraditionsMuslim Traditions

A. Rauf Mir, M.D., F.A.C.P. A. Rauf Mir, M.D., F.A.C.P.

July 11, 2006July 11, 2006

Each year 5 million Americans suffer the Each year 5 million Americans suffer the death of a loved one.death of a loved one.

MOST GRIEVE ALONEMOST GRIEVE ALONE

In the GKC Metropolitan area over 13,000 In the GKC Metropolitan area over 13,000 people die each year.people die each year.

Over 33,000 souls mourn their deaths.Over 33,000 souls mourn their deaths.

Prescribes patterns of order for society in such matters as:Prescribes patterns of order for society in such matters as:-- Family LifeFamily Life-- Civil and criminal lawCivil and criminal law- - BusinessBusiness-- EtiquetteEtiquette-- Food Food -- DressDress-- Personal hygiene/HealthcarePersonal hygiene/Healthcare-- End of life issuesEnd of life issues-- WillWill

Newsweek, March 16, 1998Newsweek, March 16, 1998: U.S. Muslim population estimates:: U.S. Muslim population estimates:-- Current – 6 millionCurrent – 6 million-- Year 2000 – 1.4%Year 2000 – 1.4%

Islam – Total way of lifeIslam – Total way of life

Ordained by GodOrdained by God

Trials / TribulationsTrials / Tribulations Disease / HealthDisease / Health Poverty / WealthPoverty / Wealth Family / FriendsFamily / Friends

The Shari’aThe Shari’a

Framework of a total legal system to Framework of a total legal system to regulate and organize various aspects of regulate and organize various aspects of human activities.human activities.

Comprehensive but only a few rulings are Comprehensive but only a few rulings are fixed.fixed.

God shall neither be vetoed nor outvoted.God shall neither be vetoed nor outvoted.

Sources of the Shari’aSources of the Shari’a

1.1. QuranQuran

2.2. Sunna – Traditions of ProphetSunna – Traditions of Prophet

3.3. ConsensusConsensus

4.4. AnalogyAnalogy

Life – Trust from GodLife – Trust from God

Man as a TrusteeMan as a Trustee

Death - not to be fearedDeath - not to be feared

‘‘Every soul shall have a taste of death: and only on Every soul shall have a taste of death: and only on the day of Judgment shall you be paid your full the day of Judgment shall you be paid your full recompense’ recompense’ Q; 3:185Q; 3:185

‘‘Eat and drink and be not prodigal’Eat and drink and be not prodigal’

Q; 7:31Q; 7:31

‘‘Don’t let your own hands throw you into Don’t let your own hands throw you into destruction’ destruction’ Q;2:195Q;2:195

‘‘Your body has a right over you. Seek Your body has a right over you. Seek treatment: Oh subjects of God…for God treatment: Oh subjects of God…for God has created a remedy for every ailment, has created a remedy for every ailment, some known and some not.’ some known and some not.’ HadithHadith

‘‘The most beloved by God, of the things He The most beloved by God, of the things He is asked to grant, is good health’is asked to grant, is good health’

HadithHadith

‘‘If you hear that the plague is in a place, do If you hear that the plague is in a place, do not enter it; and if it is in your place, do not not enter it; and if it is in your place, do not run away from it’run away from it’ HadithHadith

Illness – Illness –

Patient / family (next of kin) need to Patient / family (next of kin) need to receive full information regarding receive full information regarding diagnosis / prognosisdiagnosis / prognosis Level of openness individualizedLevel of openness individualized

Patience is a great virtue in Islam, Patience is a great virtue in Islam, generously rewarded by God.generously rewarded by God.

Prophet says Prophet says ‘when someone suffers (from ‘when someone suffers (from an illness) God discards his sins as the an illness) God discards his sins as the tree sheds its leaves.’tree sheds its leaves.’

Earthly life is a transition period preceding Earthly life is a transition period preceding Eternal life.Eternal life.

The only guarantee that comes along with The only guarantee that comes along with birth is death.birth is death.

‘‘To God we belong and to Him is our return’ To God we belong and to Him is our return’ 2:1562:156

Islam teaches that all humans are born Islam teaches that all humans are born sinless. However, as we live, by our sinless. However, as we live, by our nature we commit sins.nature we commit sins.

‘‘Every descendent of Adam is a sinner, and the Every descendent of Adam is a sinner, and the best of the sinners are those who repent.’best of the sinners are those who repent.’ HadithHadith

Humans are responsible for the sins committed Humans are responsible for the sins committed intentionally.intentionally.

(God doesn’t forgive wrongs committed against (God doesn’t forgive wrongs committed against fellow human beings without one seeking fellow human beings without one seeking forgiveness from the grieved party and doing forgiveness from the grieved party and doing ones best in making up for it.)ones best in making up for it.)

‘‘Work for this life as if we are living forever and Work for this life as if we are living forever and work for the hereafter as if we are dying work for the hereafter as if we are dying tomorrow.’tomorrow.’

Supplication of ForgivenessSupplication of Forgiveness

““Say (to humanity, O Prophet): O My Say (to humanity, O Prophet): O My servants – those (of you) who have servants – those (of you) who have committed (sins in great) excess against committed (sins in great) excess against their own souls – never despair of the their own souls – never despair of the mercy of Allah! For, indeed, Allah forgives mercy of Allah! For, indeed, Allah forgives sins, one and all. Indeed, it is He who is sins, one and all. Indeed, it is He who is the All-forgiving, the Mercy Giving. So the All-forgiving, the Mercy Giving. So turn in penitence to your Lord. And submit turn in penitence to your Lord. And submit yourselves to Him.” yourselves to Him.” 39:53-5439:53-54

EuthanasiaEuthanasia

Physician assisted suicidePhysician assisted suicide

Withholding / Withdrawing life sustaining therapyWithholding / Withdrawing life sustaining therapy

AutopsyAutopsy

TransplantationTransplantation

Organ donation from the living is considered a Organ donation from the living is considered a great charity according to the Quranic saying great charity according to the Quranic saying

““And if anyone saved a life, it would be as if he And if anyone saved a life, it would be as if he saved the whole people” saved the whole people” 5:355:35

Procurement of organs from a cadaver for Procurement of organs from a cadaver for transplantation is permitted.transplantation is permitted.

Continuation of life support for some time to preserve the Continuation of life support for some time to preserve the suitability of the needed organ for transplantation is suitability of the needed organ for transplantation is allowed.allowed.

End of life discussionEnd of life discussion Organ donationOrgan donation Advanced DirectivesAdvanced Directives Pain managementPain management

appropriate stepsappropriate steps highly desirablehighly desirable no virtue in suffering unless no remedy no virtue in suffering unless no remedy

availableavailable

Family members closely involved – usually post-Family members closely involved – usually post-hosp prefer to care for patients at home rather hosp prefer to care for patients at home rather than commercial facilitiesthan commercial facilities

Hope communicatedHope communicated Reminder of God’sReminder of God’s

MercyMercy ForgivenessForgiveness OmnipotenceOmnipotence

Prayers encouragedPrayers encouraged

‘‘So verily with every difficulty there is relief. So So verily with every difficulty there is relief. So verily with every difficulty there is relief.’ verily with every difficulty there is relief.’ 99:599:5

‘‘To God doth belong dominion of the heavens and To God doth belong dominion of the heavens and the earth and all that is therein and it is He who the earth and all that is therein and it is He who hath power over all things.’ hath power over all things.’ 5:1205:120

Death/DyingDeath/Dying

Good deathGood death Painless death - amongst family members, preferably at homePainless death - amongst family members, preferably at home

Fulfillment of worldly obligationsFulfillment of worldly obligations family affairsfamily affairs no debtno debt

Faith ritualsFaith rituals In lifeIn life While dyingWhile dying After deathAfter death

D/DD/D

No role of premonition / forecastingNo role of premonition / forecasting Involvement of medical community Involvement of medical community

stressedstressed ““Spiritual leader” role limitedSpiritual leader” role limited Touch / company emphasizedTouch / company emphasized

D/DD/D

‘‘Right to die’ / Suicide / Euthanasia Right to die’ / Suicide / Euthanasia ““Karma”Karma”

‘‘And verily judgment and justice must indeed come to pass’And verily judgment and justice must indeed come to pass’ 51:651:6

‘‘Then shall anyone who has done an atom’s weight of good Then shall anyone who has done an atom’s weight of good see it. And anyone who has done an atom’s weight of see it. And anyone who has done an atom’s weight of evil shall see it.’evil shall see it.’ 99:7,899:7,8

D/DD/D

At the time of deathAt the time of death

Quranic recitation and prayersQuranic recitation and prayers If patient conscious and able – encouraged to recite If patient conscious and able – encouraged to recite

‘Shahada’‘Shahada’ BodyBody

Eyes and mouth closedEyes and mouth closed Extremities unfoldedExtremities unfolded

D/DD/D

After deathAfter death Maintain modesty / privacyMaintain modesty / privacy Formal washing of bodyFormal washing of body

by person of same sexby person of same sex private parts kept coveredprivate parts kept covered

Wrappings with plain, white cotton clothWrappings with plain, white cotton cloth Formal prayers – congregationalFormal prayers – congregational Burial – no casket / vaults, etc.Burial – no casket / vaults, etc. No wake / viewingNo wake / viewing No cremation No cremation

D/DD/D

Funeral ritualsFuneral rituals MourningMourning

Appropriate lengthAppropriate length Best way to support bereavedBest way to support bereaved Rituals regarding mourning / anniversary expressionsRituals regarding mourning / anniversary expressions

Generational changes with assimilationGenerational changes with assimilation TraditionsTraditions Family unitFamily unit

Mission/Goals of GSNMission/Goals of GSN

We are proud of these and applaud them highlyWe are proud of these and applaud them highly

‘‘Say: O my Lord…advance me in Say: O my Lord…advance me in knowledge’knowledge’

Q;20:116Q;20:116