OUR DIALOGUE

Q: What happens when a pilgrim dies during his pilgrimage? What are the rituals associated with this?

By Adil Salahi
A: Death means the end of life on this earth. However, for a monotheistic religion like Islam in which resurrection and accountability are essential beliefs, death means the beginning of a new journey taking us to God and the Day of Judgment. Hence, there are certain rituals to be followed in preparing the body of the deceased for burial.
These include giving the deceased a bath, wrapping them well and offering a special prayer for them. What we are concerned with is what happens if the death occurs during the pilgrimage, with the deceased having started his pilgrimage journey and performed some of its rituals. This is explained in the following Hadith:
Ibn Abbas reports: “A man was on his camel on the day of attendance at Arafat, when he fell down and knocked his head. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: ‘Bathe him in water and Sidr, and wrap him in two garments. Do not add any perfume, and do not cover his head as he will be resurrected on the Day of Judgment declaring his response to the call to pilgrimage’.” (Related by Al-Bukhari).
The Hadith speaks of how to prepare the deceased for burial if he dies while he is offering the pilgrimage, when he is still in the state of consecration, or ihram. In ordinary cases, the deceased is bathed with water and Sidr, which means the leaves of a buckthorn tree that gives foam similar to soap. Before finishing, some calyx of sweet-smelling flowers is added to give the body a sweet smell.
A pilgrim who dies while offering the rituals of pilgrimage is bathed in the ordinary way, but the prohibitions that apply during the state of consecration are maintained. Thus, he is wrapped in his two garments which he wears during consecration. Normally a third one is added, but not for a pilgrim. His head is left uncovered, because we are not allowed to cover our heads during consecration. No perfumes are added to the water used for bathing him, for the same reason.
The Prophet said in the above-quoted Hadith that the pilgrim is resurrected in the same condition he was in at his death, i.e. declaring his response to God’s order to offer the pilgrimage. This is indicative of the importance of this religious duty which is required of every Muslim at least once during their lifetime. This is a duty owed to God by all people and the pilgrim declares his response and readiness to fulfill this duty. Therefore, if he dies while doing it, he is buried in the same condition, and he will be resurrected in that condition. This ensures his forgiveness of any past sins, because such forgiveness is the reward for the pilgrimage.
The Hadith also indicates that no one else is required to complete the rituals the deceased pilgrim might have not had time to complete, although the pilgrimage may be offered on behalf of someone who is unable to undertake it. Scholars say that when someone has started an act of worship in obedience to God, but death prevents him from completing it, he will be rewarded for it in full, God willing.

Q: Those who are critical of Islam often claim that its early success at the hands of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) the bearer of God’s last message to mankind, was due to the promises and threats it gives. Please throw light on this aspect.

A: Some people cite the Qur’anic descriptions of heaven and hell, claiming that people’s fear of the punishment in the hereafter or their eagerness to enjoy the supreme pleasures of heaven prompted their speedy acceptance of Muhammad’s message. Even today some people try to dismiss the spread of Islam into new areas as due to such promises and threats. Nothing can be further from the truth.
By their nature, people prefer today’s pleasure and immediate comfort even when what they are promised for tomorrow is much better and greater. Tomorrow always seems to them to be distant. It appears even more so to those who indulge in pleasure at every opportunity. What the message of Islam promised was nothing of the pleasures of this world. It never promised its followers that they would be always victorious against their enemies. On the contrary, it told them that they would encounter stiff opposition and suffer great hardships. They would be expected to withstand all this, never wavering in their commitment, even if it meant that they faced death, loss of their land, homes, families, and all they had. Their reward does not come in this life. It is there, in the next world, the life to come.
To a person who is keen on the pleasures of life, such a promise does not score highly. It appears so distant. Would that merit sacrificing all the pleasures that may be had in this life?
Yet those who responded to the Prophet’s call and believed in his message were fully aware that the immediate promise they were given involved great hardship and exposure to unrelenting persecution. When the delegates of the Ansar met the Prophet and were about to give him their pledges of support against all his enemies, one of them shouted: “Stop. Do you know what you are pledging to do for this man? You are committing yourselves to go to war against the whole world. If there is any doubt in your minds or if you feel that if your wealth is looted and your honoured leaders are killed you will give him up, it is more honourable for you to leave him alone now.”
It was the case with every new Muslim. They were clear that the road ahead was full of difficulties. They would be called upon to sacrifice their all. Hence, those who responded to the Prophet’s message were the best of all people.Those early Muslims had to fight battles, but every single battle was imposed on them. They were only defending themselves against clear aggression. They never thought of attacking anyone for any reason. All they wanted was to live in peace and to be allowed to present their faith to people so that they may choose to accept if they wanted. They realized that there was much to life than cheap pleasures. Hence, they were able to establish a model society, which humanity today can do no better than to emulate.

Q: My would-be husband is a foreigner and has embraced Islam a few years ago. He lives in a country other than his country of birth. He will be visiting India to solemnize our marriage shortly. Though he has taken a new Islamic sounding name, his passport and other travel documents carry his previous name. One part of that name is ‘Christian’. For the sake of our marriage and travel out of India, he has to retain that name on all his original documents. Will it be objectionable if my Nikahnama from the mosque contains that name?
(Name withheld)

Islamic Voice replies:

A nikah between a believing man and a believing woman is perfectly valid, regardless of their names. Islamic marriage does not necessitate any formally Islamic-sounding name, though it may become important for social convenience. The Nikahnama can carry his original name for the sake of fulfilling the legal formalities. Your would-be husband can apply for formal change of name once he returns to his country of residence.