MUSLIM CUSTOMS SURROUNDING DEATH, BEREAVEMENT, POSTMORTEM EXAMINATIONS AND ORGAN TRANSPLANTS

Muslims are always buried, never cremated. It is a religious requireme nt that the body be ritually washed and draped before burial, which sh ould be as soon as possible after death. Those carrying out this duty should be immunised against hepatitis B and be aware of the hazards of AIDS. Muslim women never attend burials and it is rare for funeral di rectors to be involved. Muslim jurists from the Arab world can justify organ transplantation, but those from the Indian subcontinent are aga inst it. They are united in the belief of the sacredness of the human body and thus deplore postmortem examinations.