Orientalists admit change in Muslim's funeral rite because of epidemic

There is no direct prohibition of cremation in the Koran; and the need to preserve people's health and life can change the prevailing Islamic traditions, the Orientalists interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot" have commented on the contradiction in the positions of the SAMs (Spiritual Administrations of Muslims) of Russia and Dagestan concerning the burial of coronavirus victims.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the Dagestani SAM (Muftiate) reminded in the rules for burial of coronavirus casualties that cremation is forbidden in Islam, while the Russian SAM has treated the cremation of the bodies of the dead admissible in exceptional cases.

The position of the Dagestani Muftiate regarding the cremation of coronavirus casualties is in line with all the prescriptions of the Koran, said Mikhail Roschin, a senior researcher at the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS).

"Cremation in Islam is generally prohibited; however, there is no direct prohibition in the Koran, but it's prohibited according to established traditions. This is not an exclusively Muslim tradition; same with Christians, for example. But in Islam, it is practically considered a sin if relatives of the deceased fail to follow the funeral procedures prescribed by the Sharia," Mr Roschin told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

In his opinion, the Russian SAM stands for cremation in exceptional cases, taking into account the coronavirus pandemic. "From the viewpoint of Islam, the position of Dagestani Muftiate is understandable. But we must take into account that now the situation is, to put it mildly, non-standard. Such a large-scale pandemic has not happened for a long time. Therefore, it is clear why the Russian SAM advocates cremation in exceptional cases. This is the result of the threat of coronavirus infection," Mikhail Roschin has explained.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on April 13, 2020 at 09:32 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.