Religious Requirements at the Time of Death
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Religious Requirements at the time of death This document has been produced by Rev’d Dom Jones, Hampshire Constabulary Force Chaplain & LRF Faith Communities Link Religion Main Points Cremation Funeral PM’s Organ Ritual Noteworthy Points COVID-19 Links / Burial Requirements Donation Christianity Christianity is an Either Nothing Y Y Nothing specific May request a priest for Church of England Abrahamic monotheistic specific ‘Last Rites’ Methodist Church religion based on the Roman Catholic Church life and teachings of The Baptist Union Jesus of Nazareth. Its United Reform Church adherents, known as Christians, believe that Jesus is the Christ, whose coming as the messiah was prophesied in the Hebrew Bible, called the Old Testament in Christianity, and chronicled in the New Testament Islam The word Islam means Burial Within 24hr of N N Face Makkah (the Qibla) Ideally only male Muslims National Muslim Burial submission to the will of death should handle a male Council God and its followers It is an important religious body, and female Muslims are Muslims. They duty to visit the sick and a female body. believe in one God dying, so a large number (Allah) and regard the of visitors may arrive at religion’s founder all hours. It is customary Mohammed as the among Pakistanis and prophet of Allah. Arabs to express their The Koran (Quran), is emotion freely when a Allah’s word consists of relative dies. Whenever the teachings of possible you should give Islam. This, along with them privacy to do so; and recorded sayings of explain gently but firmly Prophet Mohammed the need to avoid and his acts, constitute disturbing other’s by their the Islamic legal system mourning. (Sharia) 1 Religious Requirements at the time of death This document has been produced by Rev’d Dom Jones, Hampshire Constabulary Force Chaplain & LRF Faith Communities Link Judaism Judaism is based on the Burial Within 24hr of N Y When a Jewish person Identification of the dead United Synagogue belief in one God. The death but not dies, the following is particularly important love of God and on Shabbat guidelines apply: for the position of a widow the wish to carry out the (Saturday) 1. Do not touch the body in Jewish law. Ten Commandments as until 20 minutes after given in the Immediately death. ‘Torah (the first five after death, 2. Do not wash the body books of the Old close relatives (clean crevices if required Testament). Religion may make a to preserve the dignity of and culture are tear in one of the deceased). inextricably mixed. their garments. 3. Do not remove false The Jewish Sabbath teeth or other prostheses. begins before nightfall It is Jewish 4. Close the eyes. on Friday and ends with tradition that 5. Straighten the body out, the first sighting of three when a Jewish laying it flat with the feet stars on Saturday night person dies, a together and arms by the (i.e. sunset’ to sunset). Wach’a side. Fingers should be (Watcher) straight. may stay with 6. Cover the body with a the body from plain white sheet without the time of emblems. death until the 7. The body should be burial. placed with the feet towards the doorway. Hinduism Hinduism embraces a Cremation Ideally, N The dead body should be Gloves should be worn by Hindu Council UK way of life and a social Hindus are placed with the head non-Hindus when touching system which involves cremated on facing north and the feet the body. The family the worship of the day of facing south. The arms normally wish to perform numerous gods, all of death but the should be placed to the Last Offices themselves them manifestations of formalities sides and the legs should the one required in be straightened. The face Supreme Being. In Britain make should be pointed upwards Hinduism, there is no this with the eyes closed and supreme church impractical. the whole body must authority and no always be covered with a hierarchy. white cloth. Any detached body parts must be treated 2 Religious Requirements at the time of death This document has been produced by Rev’d Dom Jones, Hampshire Constabulary Force Chaplain & LRF Faith Communities Link with respect as if they were a complete body. Sacred objects should not be removed. Sikhism The word Sikh means Cremation As soon as N Y It is vital for staff to After death and City Sikhs disciple or follower, and possible after ensure that none of the identification, the body or they believe in one death, and five symbols of Sikhism parts of the body should be God whose message is friends and are disturbed. It is also covered with a plain white revealed by Guru relatives will important not to trim the sheet or shroud. If the Nanak, the 16th Century prepare the hair or beard, and the hair condition of the body founder of the religion. body the night on the head should be kept permits, the eyes and before the covered. mouth should be closed cremation at These symbols are: and limbs straightened the funeral KESH – uncut hair (and with arms placed straight parlour. beard) beside the body. KANGHA – a semi- circular comb fixing the According to Sikh hair in a bun. etiquette comforting a KARA – a steel or gold member of the opposite bangle worn on the right sex by physical contact wrist. should be avoided unless KIRPAN – a symbolic those involved are closely dagger. related KACHI – shorts/underpants. The five Ks should be left on the dead body, which should if possible be cleaned and clothed in clean garments before being placed in a coffin or on a bier. Baha’i The Bahá'í faith is one Burial - no At some point Y A special ring may be Baha’i Law prescribes that of the youngest of the embalming before placed on the deceased’s burial should take place at world's major religions. interment a finger –do not remove. a distance of not more than It was founded by special prayer Body wrapped in plain one hour’s journey from Bahá'u'lláh in Iran in for the dead is cloth or silk. the place of death. 1863. said. 3 Religious Requirements at the time of death This document has been produced by Rev’d Dom Jones, Hampshire Constabulary Force Chaplain & LRF Faith Communities Link The only Iran was then mainly a specific Muslim country, and the requirement of faith was proclaimed by a Baha’i a young Iranian, who funeral service called himself The Báb. is recited for He said that a Baha’i messenger would soon deceased aged arrive from God, who 15 or over. would be the latest in a line of prophets including Moses, Muhammad and Jesus Christ Buddhism The Buddhist faith Either When a ? Y After death, the main The Buddhist Society centres on the (though Buddhist dies Buddhist tradition is for Buddha who is revered cremation special prayers the family to request as an example to his is more usually take prayers from the sangha followers of a way of usual in the place for a (usually a monk, lama, life. country of period of time nun, priest or order Buddhahood is realised origin of before burial. member) of the within the person many This period appropriate school of through prayers, Buddhist depends on the Buddhism and to perform purifications, retreats families lunar calendar certain actions and and virtuous conduct. and varies dedicate them to the dead between three person. Particularly for to seven days practitioners of Vajrayana in most Buddhism – most schools of commonly in Britain, Buddhism Tibetan Buddhism – an experienced Buddhist practitioner may perform the special Buddhist practice of Powa or ejection of consciousness. In some cases a monk may perform chanting, however this is not a universal 4 Religious Requirements at the time of death This document has been produced by Rev’d Dom Jones, Hampshire Constabulary Force Chaplain & LRF Faith Communities Link practise. They may wish for a Buddha figure close by and may use a candle or incense stick Paganism Paganism describes a Either Most Pagan Y Y Most Pagan funerary Pagans believe in group of contemporary funerals will rituals will involve some reincarnation. Most pagans religions based on a take place sort of singing, chanting believe in some reverence for nature. outdoors, and/or the reading of form of reincarnation, These faiths draw on the either in an text; this may be viewing death as a traditional religions of established accompanied by the transition within a indigenous peoples memorial site partaking of wine or mead continuing process of throughout the world or a and the consumption of existence. Pagans accept location of food such as bread. It is death as a significance to common for Pagans to natural part of life and will the deceased, cast a ritual circle and call wish to know when they such as a on the four are dying natural place directions of the compass so that they may which the or the four elements consciously prepare for it. individual during a ceremony. The shared ritual may consist of an affinity periods of meditation and with or where reflection and will they regularly sometimes involve the held or took burning of incense or part in oils and a ritual fire. Given ceremonies. the British climate and the comparative rarity of the practice, it is unlikely that Pagans will be naked at funerary rituals. Pagans do not carry out animal sacrifice or unlawful harm on others at any ritual. Pagans are inclusive in all aspects of their faith, so it will not be uncommon for non- 5 Religious Requirements at the time of death This document has been produced by Rev’d Dom Jones, Hampshire Constabulary Force Chaplain & LRF Faith Communities Link Pagans and those of other faiths to be present at Pagan funerals.