end of life issues for muslims

14/19/2010

End of Life Issues for MuslimsAPC 2010 Annual ConferencePrepared by: Kifah A. Mustapha

4/19/2010 2End of Life Issues for MuslimsAPC 2010 Annual Conference

4/19/2010 3

→ Believing in God - (Allah)

→ Believing in God’s Angels

→ Believing in God’s Books

→ Believing in God’s Prophets and Messengers

→ Believing in the Day of Judgment

→ Believing in Divine Predestination (Al-Qadar)

End of Life Issues for MuslimsAPC 2010 Annual Conference

http://www.islamicfinder.org/gallery/displayimage.php?album=35&pos=35�


“Say: He is Allah (God). The One and only. Allah (God) theeverlasting Refuge. He does not beget. Nor was he begotten.And comparable to Him, there is none.”

Quran 112:1-4

“(O Believers!) You shall worship God (alone). And you shallnot associate anything with Him (therein).”

Quran 4:36


Muslims believe that angels are pure entities,created from light, cannot disobey God and haveno divine nature.

Muslims believe that angel’s duties are assigned byGod: Some angels bring revelation to prophetslike Gabriel, some angels record the actions ofhumans, some angels only praise God, etc…


“Now We have sent down to you, (O Mohammad), theScripture (of the Quran) with the truth, as a confirmation of allthe Scripture that preceded it – and as a guardian over it (topreserve divine guidance).”

Quran 5:48

Torah


“Say, (O Believers): We believe in (One)God, and (in) all that has been sent downto us (in the Quran): and (in) all that hasbeen sent down to Abraham, andIshmael, and Isaac, and Jacob, and (to)the (prophets of the) Tribes (of Israel):and (in) all that was given to Moses and(to) Jesus: and (in) all that was given to(all) the (other) prophets from their Lord.We do not differentiate (in Faith) betweenany of them. Thus are we Muslims, inwilling submission to Him (alone).”

Quran 21:36


→ Muslims believe that all humans will stand for trial atthe Day of Judgment.

→ Rewarded in Heaven shall be those who were righteous,and punished in Hell shall be those who were evil.


Knowledge: Muslims believe that God (Allah) has fullknowledge of everything in the universe whether minor ormajor.

Written Destiny: Muslims believe that God (Allah) hasrecorded everything in a Book that was kept with Him inHeaven: it is called “The Preserved Book”.

Divine Will: Muslims believe that nothing happens but byGod’s (Allah) permission and Will. It is when God (Allah)wishes something it happens.

Creation: Muslims believe that Allah is the sole creator ofall creation and that He endowed them with their attributesand abilities.

4/19/2010 10

→ The Witness (Shahadah)

→ The Prayers (Salat)

→ The Charity (Zakat)

→ The Fasting (Sawm)

→ The Pilgrimage (Hajj)

End of Life Issues for MuslimsAPC 2010 Annual Conference


Simply by saying with conviction,that you bear witness to:

“La ilaha illa Allah, Mohammedan Rasoolullah”

One becomes a Muslim.

“I bear witness that there is no God but Allah, And I bear witness that Mohammad

is the Messenger of Allah.”


→ The Five daily prayers regulate a Muslim’s day.

→ Prayers are performed at dawn, noon, afternoon, sunset and night.

→ Prayer in Islam is a direct linkbetween the worshipper and God.

→ Muslims face Mecca in their prayers.

→ Prayers involve ablution (wudu), calling to prayer (athan), standing, bowing, prostrating, sitting postures.


TWO kinds of charities in Islam:

the obligatory and the voluntary.

The obligatory charity is called ZAKAT.

while the voluntary charityis called SADAQAH.


Ramadan is the 9th month of the Islamiccalendar. A month of increased prayer, fasting,charity and good deeds.

Muslims are ordered to fast by the Quran:

“Oh ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed toyou as it was prescribed to those before you,that you may (learn) self-restraint”.

Quran 2:183


→ It is mandatory on every Muslimonce during their lifetime.

→ Only those who are financiallyunable to afford the expense and/orill people are excused from this trip.

→ One of the greatest expressionsof unity in the world.


Demographics

Muslims in USA

Clergy

Role of Mosques


→ 1.57 billion Muslims worldwide (almost ¼ of the world’s population)

→ 57 countries with Muslims as a majority of the population, including 22 Arab countries.

→ Only 18-20% of Muslims are Arabs

→ Country with the largest Muslim population is Indonesia.


→ Gallup reveals that MuslimAmericans are the mostracially diverse religious groupsurveyed in the USA.

→ Muslims are estimated tobe between 7 to 8 million inthe USA.

→ Islam is one of thegrowing religions in followers.


Imam – is the person who can lead the prayer in Arabic and has basic knowledge in Islam

Sheikh – is the person who has solid knowledge about Islam and serves the religious needs of people.

Scholar – is the person who can interpret the text and make rulings or judgments.


→ Mosques are places where Muslims meet to offer prayers to God.

→ Mosques could be major buildings with minarets and domes orthey could be simple rented places.

→ Services offered at Mosques include, prayers, funerals,arbitration, marriages, divorces, counseling, youth activities, voterregistration, religious education, civic and social services, etc…

http://go2.wordpress.com/?id=725X1342&site=persia1.wordpress.com&url=http://persia1.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/800px-sultanahmet_camii_2006.jpg�


→ Muslims believe that their main purposein life is to worship God at all times.

→ Muslims understand that life is a testthat can be of many dimensions includingsickness, death, loss of property, etc…

→ Muslims honor life as an investment inrighteous deeds even when sick or ill.

→ A Muslim when encountering illness orhardships of any type would be urged to seeit as a sign of love from God.


→ The Sacredness of Life

→ A Muslim should Seek Cure

→ Allah is the Healer

→ Healing in recitation of the Quran

→ General Rules of Islamic Medical Ethics

→ Mercy Killing!


→ In Islam life is considered a gift from God.No one has the right to harm life but througha court of law based on a crime that makes theperson liable for punishment.

→ Saving a life is one of the most honorablethings a person can do and it is considered asif humanity is being saved.

Allah said: “and whoever saves a life, it shallbe (reckoned) as though he has saved the lifeof all humankind.”

Quran 5:32


Seeking cure in time of illness is something that Islam urges.

The prophet (PBUH) said: “Allah has created illness and Allah has created cure; so (seek) cure.”

Hadith narrated by Ibn Abdel Birr


Muslims understand that all healingis in the Hand of God and thatmedicine or seeking cure is just thetool.

Allah said: (on behalf of Abraham):{and He is the One who feeds me andgives me drink. And when I becomeill, He (is the one who) heals me.}

Quran 26:79-80


Muslims believe in the healing power of thewords of God when recited next to an illperson.

“Thus do We send down (in the verses) of theQuran that which is healing (for body andsoul), and a mercy to the believers.”

Quran 17:82


→ Harm should not be removed bycausing another equivalent harm or bigger.

→ Necessity overrides prohibition.

→ Removing harm has priority overbringing benefit.

→ Public interest overrides individualinterest.

→ Harm is removed as needed.


Ending the life of an ill person forthe purpose of easing his pain(mercy killing) is not allowed inIslam.


The prophet (PBUH) said, “Allah said in the Holy Hadith;

O son of Adam, I (God) was ill and you did not visit me! (The servant) will say: my Lord, how would I visit You and You are the Lord of all that exists! (Allah) will say: Didn’t you know that my servant (so & so) got sick and you didn’t visit him! Didn’t you know, that if you had visited him you would have found Me by him!”

Hadith narrated by Imam Muslim.

Social support is seen as an act of worship in Islam:


→ Short visits.

→ Supplications to the ill person.

→ Optimistic words.

→ Offering support and help for the family.


Although illness is considered asone of the reasons to ease thepractices of Islam, there are stillsome practices that should beperformed in a matter that doesnot burden the person or worsenhis/her condition.


In case of illness that prevents a person from standing for prayer, it is permissible to pray while sitting or even laying down.

“Those who remember Allah (always, and in prayers) standing, sitting, and lying down on their sides, and think deeply about the creation of the heavens and earth.”

Quran 3:191


When praying, Muslims face the direction of thecity of Mecca. Which is Northeast in the USA.

Allah said: “We have seen the turning of your(Muhammad’s) face towards the heaven. Surely,We shall turn you to a Qiblah (prayer direction)that shall please you, so turn your face in thedirection of Al-Masjid Al-Haram (at Mecca).And where so ever you people are, turn yourfaces (in prayer) in that direction.”

Quran 2:144


Due to different schools of thought in Islam and thedifferent cultures that Muslims represent, you mightexperience some differences in how people practice theirreligious life.

Gender Relations Dietary Restrictions


→ It is appropriate to keep physical space when dealing withmembers of the Muslim community.

→ Some Muslims may be uncomfortable with gestures that includeany touching, especially from the opposite gender.

→ While speaking to Muslims of the opposite gender, you maynotice that some will avoid direct eye contact.

→ Many Muslims are reluctant to shake hands with the opposite sex.

→ Muslim women may want to keep their bodies covered.


YES

NO


Muslims balance between the reality of death that affect their lifeemotionally through loss and grief and between the fact that no oneis immortal.

Muslims cope with death and seek healing through faith and patience.


Muslims recognize that God(Allah) is the One who grantedus life and thus He is the Onewho is in control of our death.

Muslims look at death as amoment of submission to theWill of God (Allah).

Muslims believe that eachperson is returning to His Lordat time of death.


Kalimah

Sacred Mosque Closing Eyes Announcing His DeathQuran


Muslims are urged to offer condolencesand help for the family of the deceased.

The prophet (PBUH) said:

“Whoever offers his brother the believercondolences because of an affliction,Allah will cover (dress) him of thehonorable garments at the Day ofJudgment.”

Hadith narrated by Imam Ibn Asaker


Wakes in Islam are meant to be simple, non costly and a chance for thegrieving family to find support by the presence of people offeringcondolences.


Quick Burial Visit Family or Friends

Offer Prayers


There are certain things to be done before burying a Muslims body.


Every Muslim must be given a bath before burial.

The body after the wash must be covered with sheets of cloth

covering all the body.


Each deceased bodymust be honored byperforming prayerson their behalf.


→ Pulling the Plug

→ Brain Death

→ Vegetative State

→ Organ Donations

→ Autopsies

→ Abortions

→ Power of Attorney

→ Writing a Will


Death is defined when the soul isseparated from the body.

Since this is something that cannot beverified by senses, scholars of Islamreferred to death as when:

1. The heart stopped working.2. No more breathing.3. Relaxation of body parts while body

being cold.


The Muslim Law (Sharia) Council of Great Britain resolved that:

“The medical profession is the proper authority to define signs ofdeath. The current medical knowledge considers brain stem deathto be a proper definition of death. The Council accepts brain stemdeath as constituting the end of life.”


Although many Scholars of Islamlimit their approval to removemachines only on those declaredbrain dead, some other scholarsand medical Muslim professionalshave a different view.


Under the same concept ofthe sacredness of life, Islamurges Muslims to save liveseven if it means to donateorgans from one body toanother but with conditions.


1. Harm (in the patient) should not be removed by causing anequivalent or bigger harm (for the one to donate).

2. Harm (in the patient) should be removed as needed.3. If artificial organs can be used then there shall be no need for

human organs.4. Honoring life prohibits the business and profit intentions

behind donating organs.5. Honoring life means prohibiting the donation of any organ

that will disfigure the shape of the body.6. Honoring the free choice of each person means that personal

approval should be obtained legally before death.7. Honoring the body by burial means, donating organs should

not delay the process of burial only if required by law.8. Honoring the body means that female bodies should be

exposed to females only and male bodies for males only asmuch as possible.


Autopsies are only permitted under the concept of necessity.

Honoring the human life is respected during life and after death.

If performing autopsies conditions do apply.


1. A legitimate reason must be valid.2. The consent of the deceased is required

before his/her death if the autopsy was forresearch purpose.

3. Consultation with Muslims Scholars is requiredfor the final approval.

4. Autopsies should be limited to what is needed.5. Disfiguring the body is prohibited.


“breaking the bones of a dead person is likebreaking the bones of a live one.”

Hadith narrated by Imam Abu Daoud


Islam did not allow abortion after the realexistence of the fetus in his mother’s womb.

Scholars of Islam have different views on whento declare that the life of the infant exists.

Some scholars declare that life starts after(intercourse) or fertilization happens.According to their view no abortion is allowedafter that at all unless the life of the mother isin danger.


1. Abortions before 42 days is allowed with approval of both parents.

2. Abortion between 42 and 120 days is allowed only in these cases:

a. In case of rape or adulteryb. In case of proven medical major

disability for the infant.c. In case of harm of the mother’s life.

3. Abortion after 120 days is only allowed if it harms the mother’s life.


In Islam it is urged for every Muslimto write his will before he dies.


“the true fact of every Muslim thathe owns something (worth) of(writing) a will, (should not) sleepfor two nights but his will is written(and) with him.”

Hadith narrated by Imam Bukhari

4/19/2010 61

http://www.mosquefoundation.org/�

mailto:[email protected]�

end of life issues for muslims

Spiritual