Certain religions have objections to autopsy (eg, Islam, Judaism) in that bodily intrusion violates the sanctity of keeping the human body complete, despite those religious doctrines not strictly forbidding it.
Traditional Islamic texts forbid the cutting up of bodies and it is believed the body continues to feel pain after death. Autopsies can, however, be performed to serve justice and for medical and scientific reasons.
The Roman Catholic Church banned mutilation of dead bodies in 1153, though primarily due to practices related to the Crusades and were approved by the Vatican in the 13th century and increased during the Renaissance. Autopsies are not encouraged, and some teachings suggest that they are not permissible.
In Islam, the deceased are to be buried within 24 hours. This was highlighted in media reports of the death of Osama bin Laden.
Of all world religions, Islam is probably the most strongly opposed to cremation. Unlike Judaism and Christianity, there is little diversity of opinion about it. Cremation is considered by Islam to be an unclean practice.
Cremation is prohibited under Islamic law because, unlike in some cultures, it is considered a violation of the dignity of the human body. Based on reports attributed to Prophet Muhammed it is mustaḥab (or preferred)—i.e., not farḍ/wājib (compulsory)—to bury the dead bodies quickly.
During cremation, the body parts that do burn consist of organs, soft tissue, hair, and skin, while the water in our bodies evaporates. The body parts that do not burn are bone fragments.
Origins Of The Tradition
In Jewish communities, people gather at the burial and throw either 3 or 13 spadefuls of dirt on the casket. These customs are based on the idea of three layers of the soul in the case of 3 spadefuls, and throwing 13 spadefuls is a reference to the 13 spadefuls in the Psalms.
A person must be buried as soon as possible after death, says Imam Dr Abduljalil Sajid, chairman for the Muslim Council for Religious and Racial Harmony in the UK. This is usually no more than 24 hours later. The reason for speedy burials partially stems from days when hygiene wasn't at its best, Dr Sajid says.
Muslim, Bahá'í and orthodox Jewish faiths consider embalming to be a desecration of the body, and pro- hibit it. Hindus and Buddhists choosing cremation have no need for embalming.
The transgression of a divine law in a grievous matter with full knowledge and consent. The matter may be serious either in itself (as blasphemy) or because of the circumstances (as striking one's father or mother) or on account of its purpose (as telling a lie in order to destroy a person's character).
How long after death should a Catholic be buried? The funeral and burial take place between 2 and 7 days after someone has died — typically around three days after. The ceremonies are usually not held on a Sunday, as this day is reserved for the traditional Sunday church service.
No autopsy is performed, which can lead to wild media speculation if the pope dies suddenly as occurred with John Paul I, who died in 1978 after only a month in office. When is the pope's funeral? After the death of the pope, the cardinals arrange for the funeral rites, to be celebrated for nine consecutive days.
Figure 1. The belief among Muslims that autopsies are unnecessary because everything, including death, happens according to God's will is illogical. Illness also happens through God's will, and no Muslim would argue against treating sick people.
Equally the Quran says that: 'If anyone saves a life, it is as if he saves the lives of all humankind'. Thus many Muslims understand from this verse that donating one's organs is a blessed act. In 1995, the Muslim Law (Sharia) Council UK issued a fatwa, religious edict, saying organ donation is permitted.
The Quran teaches that the body slowly disintegrates, except for the tailbone. It is believed that at the time of resurrection, Allah resurrects the body from the tailbone. Cremation is thought to prevent resurrection by destroying the tailbone along with the rest of the body.
Trimming hair and nails
Generally, this emanates from the belief that nails and hair were given to the children by the deceased as a parent and as such they shouldn't be trimmed during the mourning period and after the burial. At least you should wait for 49 days.
Can a woman attend a Muslim funeral? Traditionally, only men are allowed to attend the burial, however, some Muslim communities permit women to attend.
The one performed on a deceased Muslim is called Ghusl Mayyit. It's usually carried out by family members who are the same sex as the person who has died. It involves washing all parts of the body with soap and water in a specific way while maintaining privacy and dignity.
It is a common practice to cover the legs as there is swelling in the feet and shoes don't fit. As part of funeral care, the body is dressed and preserved, with the prime focus on the face. Post embalming, bodies are often placed without shoes; hence covering the legs is the way to offer a dignified funeral.
The wash is done for a few reasons. Practically, it's important to get rid of extra fluids that might still be in the body and religiously, it's like the body is getting ready for a final prayer. Washing the bodies of the dead is considered a collective duty for Muslims.
Coffins get tapered to conform to the shape of a human form. A coffin also has a removable lid while caskets have lids with hinges. Coffins are usually made out of wood and lined with cloth interiors. Unlike caskets, they do not have rails that make transportation easier.
We think this is an urban legend. We've witnessed many cremations and never heard a scream. But then again, cremation retorts aren't silent either. Now, bodies do make all kinds of gnarly noises.
Does the body feel pain during cremation? The body does not feel pain during cremation because the person is no longer alive. When a person dies, their brain stops sending signals to the body. This means that the person cannot feel pain or any other sensation.
This is done to ensure that the head of the deceased person burns well. So, when the head gets burnt, it is broken with a stick. Let us tell you that this process in the crematorium is termed the Kapaal Kriya.