Sakda U-Teh. The concept and practice concerning death in Islam : a study on the Muslim community in Bangkok . Master's Degree(Comparative Religion). Mahidol University. : Mahidol University, 2006.
The concept and practice concerning death in Islam : a study on the Muslim community in Bangkok
Abstract:
The main objective of this research was to study concept of death and funeral
rites of Thai Muslim communities of Bangkok. The primary and secondary sources of
Islam used in documentary research and field work included eight interviews of
Muslim leaders in the following four districts of Bangkok: (1) Nongchok (2) Prawet
(3) Rachatawe and (4) Sapansoong as well as participant observation. The interviews
included seven questions on the following areas: (1) the sign to death (2) the visiting
of the deceased person (3) the washing (Gush) (4) the shrouding (Kafan) (5) Janazah
prayer (6) the burial (Dafn’) and (7) the rites after burial.
It was shown that funeral rites of Thai Muslim communities of Bangkok are
generally divided into two groups as: the capture of original source of Islam called
Ahlul Hadith which follows the traditions of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon
him) strongly and the capture of the forefathers’ acts which is influenced by cultures
of other religions such as Buddhism and Hinduism called the Conservative group.
From the interviews it was found that funeral rites of Thai Muslim communities
of Bangkok have shown that most of the populations have retained the local customs
which compromised and accepted their forefathers’ acts which thence have been
remonstrated and rebutted between both groups. There is a reformative group in every
part of the communities but their authorization is limited to small local areas. The
funeral rites golden target of the dead person’s family members can be put into two
groups; the justified group which performed the funeral rites as enactive source of
Islam and the unjustified group which performed them while hoping to help the death
person receive good compensation in the soul world. Also, because of love, the
unjustified group does not attend those local customs, which impair their faith. The
funeral is a necessary rite of Muslims as a collective duty and death is traveling to the
part of eternal life on the day of Judgment, which is an important belief of Islam.
Because Thai Muslims are quality sector of Thai society then comprehensible
doctrines will result in development and peace to this country.