With the death of Michael Jackson on 25 June and then followed by the macabre acts of grave digging in Illinois, it made me think again on how the dead are buried in Saudi Arabia. At least in Saudi Arabia the dead are buried basically the same way in which they entered the world except that the body is wrapped up in a white shroud as it is laid to rest in an unmarked grave. This certainly helps prevent the fear that a sick minded individual may attempt to sabotage the grave of one who is deceased, hoping to capitalize on what the deceased has been buried with or buried in. There is no doubt that since it was announced blatantly by the media that Michael Jackson was buried in a coffin which was encased with gold and cost US$25,000 that special precautions need to be taken to ensure his final resting place is secured. Secured from devious minds who may want a piece of something valuable or from fans who are fanatic to the degree that they would dare attempt to desecrate his grave in order to have a final keepsake.
Then in Illinois you have four individuals who were employed at the cemetery making their own additional profits by digging up remains in order to resell the burial plots. I wonder whether those same individuals searched the graves and bodies they dug up for anything that appeared to be of value? It is not uncommon for someone to be buried with their favorite possessions and jewelry.
So in many ways, the simple way in which one is buried under Islam in Saudi Arabia at least helps preserve the final resting place of a loved one with less fear that at some point in the future their grave would be disturbed.
Filed under: America, culture, islam, Saudi Arabia, Saudi culture, Saudi customs, Saudi Living, travel, Uncategorized Tagged: | America, culture, culture shock, customs, islam, KSA, religion, Saudi, Saudi Arabia, Saudi culture, Saudi customs
salam
Masha Allah, AmericanBedu, it’s like you read my mind! I also thought it’d be nice to have unmarked grave after seeing the cemetary in Saudi.
I wonder. The earth has many humans come & go for centuries, if everyone marked their grave… the next generation might need to grab their place early? Isn’t that will be funny. The baby is born, quick grab a grave spot. I don’t know…
I remember when King Hussein of Jordan died, they left his body waiting while they arranged for world leaders to all come and walk by his casket… In Islam, you show respect to the deceased by getting them in the ground as soon as possible. Not long after that, the Amir of Bahrain died, and by the time it was first reported on CNN International, he had already been buried.
I think it’s striking to see that even Amirs and Kings (like King Fahd) are buried the same way – very simply.
This post reminded me of something I read recently:
“Poor Economy Leads to Unclaimed Bodies in Morgue” (in Los Angeles). http://www.ktla.com/news/landing/ktla-unclaimed-bodies,0,634900.story
I don’t know about Saudi, but in Kuwait, you don’t pay anything to be buried.
That is the beauty of Islam, Subhan’Allah, it’s simplicity!
A $25,000 casket?? Absolutely, ridiculous!!! Like his money or his casket is going to help him when he stands before God!
What I find interesting is not only how much in common we have with one another in life; whether one is rich, poor, black or white, thin or fat and the list goes on. But also, how we will all die as well! And i do think, many people out there seem to forget this and unfortunately let THIS life completely take control of them.
You see it every day as well as you hear it. It always made me wonder and ask the question “do they really think they are going to live forever”?
hmm was not heard of providing security even after death
I love the simplicity and lack of thieves with the Islamic way. Though I do think that Queen Noor should have been allowed to attend King Hussein’s funeral. It also makes me happy to imagine not being embalmed and dolled up.
My only concerns: the Islamic method means that those graves are less likely to survive a natural disaster. The bodies could be recovered if they’re encased in caskets. The only other issue is organ donation which I wish was more prevalant in Islam.
I really like the simple sufficiency of Islamic burial, which seems to underline that when a person is dead, khalas, the body that used to carry her soul no longer belongs in this world. No fireworks, no material anchors, no pyramids or taj mahals.
I think that, when he’s properly received and answered to, death is a different sort of renewed freedom.
my family uses casets…but i think that being burried straight in the earth without all the extras is very natural.
A while ago, there were news reports about the new idea of “green” funerals, which were environmentally friendly. They sounded a lot like Islamic burials.
Ive always hated the pomp and ceremony and just plain waste of money etc that goes into burying people. Caskets that costs thousands…new clothes or their best clothes to be buried in…and maybe some family trinkets and what not in the box with them…this is such crap. YOUR DEAD!!! act like it.
Its a damn shame when people go into debt just to bury a loved one anymore. You cant even die free of charge anymore.
My opinion…everyone should be cremated. Simple.
Coolred, I agree with you about the waste, and this brings to minds two other things:
Stuffed Animals Buried for Michael Jackson in Detroit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0ZoWJBXmJo
and the film “Gates of Heaven”, about pet cemeteries, that I saw a long time ago: http://www.errolmorris.com/film/gates.html
I guess in our society we place headstones so we have a memorial to the person that has passed. Do Saudi families erect memorials to those who have died in another way? Or is that something that they just don’t do?
We do seem to place a lot of significance in the body, whereas I guess the Islamic religion would be more focused on the soul and there’s not a lot of point fussing over a body without a soul?
Just a thought. Their tradition does sound a lot more natural especially compared to the lengths we can go to with open caskets and big send offs.
I agree with Coolred… I know it goes against some religions, but since I don’t have one, thats the way I plan to go. My grandfather was an Episcopal priest (yes, they are priests) / Navy Chaplain . He and my grandmother never saw the point of visiting a gravesite and so were cremated and when both were gone (a year apart), per prior arrangement, had the Navy take their ashes out to sea and scattered together.
I really don’t care if someone wished to be buried with their heirloom silver, i only wish they would donate their “useless in future” organs and tissue. Personally hindu ,so religion states i need to be cremated but in reality i wouldn’r care what they did as long as they harvested every thing they could possibly get off me
My friend’s cousin (only 42) died last week from hep B-related liver cancer and S said when they buried his cousin, he could see the bones of his cousin’s brother who died a few years ago. Do they reuse the same grave in Islamic funerals? That’s the impression I got from him.
Interesting topic. I think American funerals are waaaay too expensive. I don’t want to be set up in a box for people to view nor do I want to stand around my loved one’s body in my grief while others parade by and offer condolences. I want to be at my house, under my covers or in my closet where I can cry to my heart’s content.
And I don’t want an audience for that.
Susanne…my understanding is that they dont actually reuse burial holes but since there are no coffins etc the bodies are buried quite close together. It could be that enough distance wasnt left between one grave the next.
It should be made a law that organs are donated upon death if possible. We have a million rediculous laws out there that do not help people in any way shape or fashion…why not a few that do.
For those that clamour for intact bodies to be buried…that body is no longer of this world…and if you believe in God then you believe that the body can be made whole again on Judgment Day along with the soul…so whats the problem?
I wish to be cremated after organs are harvested. My husband wants to donate organs so how does that work with the immediacy of an Muslim burial? I know I’m to contact the nearest Islamic society upon his death.
Im glad you brought this up AmericanBedu, and all of the comments thus far presented.
I’m only 25, and after the deaths of close family members–my Dad at 15, and my 25 year old big sister 2 years ago–and a really close mentor and sorority sister just 3 months ago died unexpectedly at 28. Suffice it to say I’ve been thinking about my own mortality.
It does seem macabre to think about death at this age, but I realized that its practical to know what you want so the family isn’t without some instructions. I personally don’t want a funeral.
I’m not at all religious and I don’t fear death. I don’t look forward to a heaven or the prospect of a hell. I just expect to sleep. My hope is that people I knew in life carry on the good things I did, and in return help someone else. The cyclical nature of doing good is a legacy I think all people want to leave their loved ones with–its a sacred trust and a mission that requires no other effort than to love and to respect. So I think simplicity is the most meaningful way to return to the earth.
Though this may not seem so simple, I know I want to be cremated–as such I’m making my family go on an international 10 country-”Ash-Scatter” adventure! I want them to spread me all over the world!!!!! And then throw a big party in Vegas! (that bit may be optional, but I think it’s a damn good idea!)
Wendy I totally agree with organ donation! I’m with you there ma’am!
On Michael Jackson, you’ve gotta put the King of Pop in something immaculate, lol he loved his glitter and gold thats for sure! Besides in the end it doesn’t matter what his remains were put into–his memory is still contagious and you can’t help your feet when you blast his music. It just feels so good and makes you happy no matter how badly you feel. That’s the way we should all be towards each other and when we die thats the happy feeling we should leave people with.
I shall step off my soap box.
Like others I am enjoying the comments. I have mixed feelings on types of services. I found closure being there for my father’s funeral and find it hard to fathom to not have the choice to be at the graveside when a loved one of mine is put to rest. I don’t think a lot of pomp and circumstance is necessary just a simple dignified service which allows one that final goodbye in the here and now.
My mother died right after 9/11 and I was overseas at the time and unable to get a flight in time for her service due to the disruption of the air system. She had chosen to be cremated. As a result, it is disconcerting to me at least to not have somewhere to pay respects since she chose not to have a final resting place.
And for those interested in further reading on organ donation and islam you may enjoy an earlier post I had written on this subject:
http://americanbedu.com/2009/06/11/organ-donation-and-saudi-arabia-is-it-permissible/
Carol, It must have been very difficult for you not being there to say goodbye for your mom.
My father was cremated as well, but has a resting place for his ashes in a cemetary vault in a bell tower in a burial park. It is a beautiful place to be able to go to remember him and other neighbors buried there. My mom, brothers and sisters and I were lucky enough to be able to be with him during his final 2 weeks. And, we were all able to pray for him as a group around his bedside right after he died and to say our final farewells. I think it’s important to have this step to ‘disconnect’ from the person when they are so close…..especially for those of us who live so far away most of the year.
@susanne430
Grave reuse (recycling?) does happen in some Muslim cemeteries. The famous Ma’la cemetery, which is situated near the Holy Mosque in Makkah, has been a very popular burial ground for Meccans for hundreds of years, dating back to the days of the prophet. Even those who no longer live in Mecca request that their bodies be flown over there. And while they are already expanding the ground, reusing graves is still a must. Graves are reopened for use after 4 or 5 years, to allow the former occupant’s body to totally decompose back to the earth (since there’s no casket or such surrounding it).
I am all for organ donation and feel it is just as wasteful to be buried with usable organs as it is to be buried with gold. But I don’t have a problem with them being buried in their ‘best suit’.
My mother was cremated and I have to say it did feel odd not going to a cemetary after the service but I also have issues with leaving them in that cold ground especially if they are not protected from the dirt by a casket. The thought of being eaten by worms etc just makes me cringe. So, I guess it would be cremation for me as well.
Lynn, that’s why I want to be cremated!
My philosophy on once a person has passed away their soul is no longer in the body so it does not matter if the person is in a casket or not. But I still like having a place to pay my respects…
I do understand that Carol. My sister had a real hard time with that aspect of my mother’s cremation. I figured a park bench at her favorite park would be a good place to go and remember her and to be with her in ‘spirit’. I guess that has more meaning than a cemetary that may not even be near you anyway.
Something just occured to me. If we don’t care about the ‘empty’ body after a person dies then why is there such a fuss over the cleaning of it or if someone disrepected it in some way?
Carol, Have you seen the Saudi Gazette today? (Sun. Aug. 2) This article is in it! Congrats!
Miriam Mac, I would love to see that article online. Do you have the link to it, perchance?
@Miriam – what article? I’ve been searching but not sure what I’m looking for. Can you send me the link?
Hi. It’s this article we’re all commenting on the ‘Burial in KSA’ that you wrote. I opened the paper today, and volla….it was there! It’s on page 6 under Blogosphere.
I’m not sure if you can find it online, but if you type Saudi Gazette and the name of the article, perhaps it will pop up.
Ok, I found the site. It’s on the Opinion page under the article of Obama’s birth. But, when I went to the site, they only have a few of the articles and nothing about blogging. Sorry….guess it’s just for us locals. If you want me to mail it to you, send me a private e-mail with your address Carol. But, anyone in Saudi who gets the paper today should be able to see it.
I’m unable to find “blogosphere” in the online edition. If you are viewing online and can send the link that’d be great. I searched and came up empty.
Thanks for the clarification Miriam. If you’re talking snail mail, I know that would take forever so I’ll wait till I see you.
SEE ME ??? That will be the day…. I really hope to meet you in person some day and get that tour you promised of Riyadh! Big Big Big Smile!
Count on it MA!
On Sun, Aug 2, 2009 at 9:00 PM,
I am a registered donor for every part of my extremely healthy and reusable body except my eyes. Something personal I think.
For the rest I think you are all very selfish and have no thoughts or compassion for the archeologists of the future.
As I am keen about archeology I plan to have a burial vault deep in the ground, with a great self painted box for my remains (or whats left after the donations) and lots of jewellery and odds and ends. My dog, cats and horse, will join me of course and their stuff as well.
Just imagine the sheer joy and happiness of the archeologist who will find my remains after 2000 years!
Especially as by that time there will be nothing to be found of this era except anonymous bones, discarded computer bits, and plastic sixpack rings.
Aafke, sweetheart, if you donate your body to Science, I have some very disturbing news to tell you. Your right arm might end up in Alaska, your left arm in Idaho, your right leg in Nebraska….you can see where I’m going with this, right? ha ha As for the ‘box’ you will be put…if you’re adding your horse, I think you are describing a huge crate….not a box!
I don’t mind donating body parts that are inside me if they’re still viable, but leave the rest of me in one piece, please! I know someone that would love to have his remains sent into outer space to travel around and around the Earth like a tiny planet. Actually, it might not be such a bad idea.
Miriam Mac, Actually I do not donate my body to science: they are too prone to play around with it! But my organs are open for donation, except my eyes.
@Aafke – it sounds like a very special time capsule! (smile)