Muslim funeral traditions and memorials for the grave. How are Muslims buried? Preparation, timing, installation of the monument Tatar tombstones

In the Russian cemeteries in the immediate vicinity there are burials of representatives of various peoples. Often, from the tombstones, you can determine which culture is underneath. Burial monuments sometimes speak much more eloquently about this than much else. For example, the Christian tradition allows for the variety and color of both the burial process itself and the appearance of the burial. Muslim foundations require a more restrained approach to the design of the grave.

Differences between Tatar tombstones

Exceptional appearance

The traditional religion of the overwhelming majority of Tatars is Islam. This belief strictly regulates not only the foundations of the life of every devout Muslim, the ritual of his burial, but also how the tombstone should look like in the place of his last refuge. Thus, Islam interprets death as a natural inevitability and a long-awaited opportunity for every believer to appear before the Almighty in his Paradise. Therefore, the tombstone should not express unnecessary and inappropriate sorrow. In addition, religion prohibits decorating monuments in a special way so that souls in Heaven have no reason for envy or quarrels. Therefore, the aesthetics of Muslim monuments are mostly laconic.

The design of the Tatar monument does not imply pretentiousness, the shape of the stele is a restrained rectangle. The only deviation from the severity of the outline is the ability to make the top of the obelisk look like a minaret or a dome of a mosque. At the same time, images on the surface of the slab of any living creatures, and even more so - a portrait of the deceased, are strictly prohibited. Such drawings, according to Sharia, is a great sin, because only Allah can create essences. But the symbol of Islam is welcomed - a crescent, which is usually located in the upper left corner of the stone. True, in recent years, strict prohibitions have been shaken, since the Islamic world is gradually changing under the influence of European culture. Therefore, photographs appeared on some Tatar monuments. Sometimes there are also luxurious gravestones. But most of the faithful Tatars remain faithful to the foundations of the Sharia and order the corresponding engravings on the tombstones.

It is allowed, for example, to place on the stele the name of the deceased with the years of his life, as well as an epitaph: words from the Koran or the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad, executed in the obligatory Arabic script.

A stingy ornament is not forbidden either. On male monuments it is usually of a geometric character, and on female monuments it is vegetative. Recently, male Tatar monuments can also be decorated with the image of a mosque or minaret. Monuments in Tatar cemeteries are mostly made of stone. The most popular is dark granite, from which all the elements of the burial, decorated with Islamic symbols, are made. Representatives of the same family are usually buried on such sites, constructing whole family memorial complexes, harmonious, sustained in a single aesthetic style.

Muslim monuments are erected in such a way that their face faces are directed strictly to the east, where the holy Mecca is located. This is a very strictly enforced law, the violation of which is invariably condemned by the mosque.

Each religion preaches its own attitude to death, respectively, the customs and rituals of seeing off the dead and their burial in each faith are different. The Muslim religion is no exception. It has quite strict rules for the burial of the deceased, and certain requirements are put forward for Muslim monuments. What is allowed to be installed on the graves of Muslims, what can be depicted on their monuments, and what is strictly prohibited by the Koran and Sharia, we will consider in our article. For an illustrative example, we will give several photos of Muslim monuments.

Muslim attitudes towards death

First of all, it is worth knowing that the Islamic religion has its own understanding of death. For a Muslim, his death is not something terrible, and it cannot be unexpected. The people of this religion perceive death as an inevitable phenomenon, and for the most part they treat it fatalistically. It is believed that a good Muslim, who during his lifetime belonged to Allah, returns to him after death. It is forbidden to regret this.

Muslim funerals should be conducted with modesty and restraint. Unlike Christians, Muslims do not openly grieve and cry loudly. Only women and children are allowed to shed tears for the dead. Since after death the deceased goes to Allah and he is given prosperity, it is forbidden to write sad words about the death of the deceased on Muslim monuments, regrets and promises to grieve for him for a long time.

Modesty, devoid of all kinds of rich excesses

Almost all people adhering to the Christian religion consider it a duty of honor to erect graves with worthy monuments to their relatives and friends. They erect huge granite structures, monuments on the graves, they can erect statues in the form of angels and the deceased himself. Huge vases for flowers are mounted on the slabs, gorgeous fences and other structures are installed near the graves, for which relatives have enough imagination and, of course, material resources.

People believe that by spending a lot of money on the construction of chic monuments, they express their love for the deceased person, demonstrate how important he was to them and how much they value him. Muslims believe that respect for the deceased should be shown in prayers for him, but not by a gorgeous monument erected on the grave. A Muslim monument in a cemetery should look modest, without frills and pathos. It has only one function - to indicate that a person is buried in this place.

The tradition of marking a burial site originates in one of the hadiths. It says that after the death of Uthman ibn Mazun, the Prophet put a stone on the place of his burial and said that now he will know where his brother's grave is. Also, the Koran forbids stepping on the graves and burial places of Muslims. Accordingly, monuments help to mark these places.

Acceptable text engravings

According to one version, the Prophet forbade attaching the graves of Muslims to anything, building something over them, as well as covering them with plaster. From this it follows that it is also impossible to write inscriptions on Muslim monuments. Some scholars believe that these words about inscriptions should be taken not as a prohibition, but as an extremely undesirable action. If, for example, the grave belongs to a well-known figure, a righteous man or a scientist, then the designation of his name on the grave will be considered a good deed.

On the graves of ordinary Muslims, it is allowed to indicate the name of the deceased only for their designation. The writing of the date of death is not desirable (makrooh), but it is permitted.

The question of whether it is possible to decorate the graves with inscriptions from the Koran or engrave the words of the Prophet on them is also controversial. Recently, such engravings in Muslim cemeteries are very common. But if we turn to history, it becomes clear that this is haram (sin). According to one of the hadiths, it is impossible to engrave the words of the Prophet, suras and verses of the Koran, since over time the graves can be leveled to the ground and they will walk on them with their feet. The words of the Prophet can thus be defiled.

What should not be on Muslim monuments and graves

The grave of a true Muslim should be humble. The monument should not contain inscriptions about the grief of relatives and friends. It is also not worth posting a photograph of the deceased on the monument.

It is strictly forbidden to build crypts, mausoleums and tombs on the grave. Sharia prohibits the erection of monuments that are too beautiful and demonstrate the wealth of relatives. It is believed that various monuments and lavishly decorated graves can cause quarrels between the dead. This will prevent them from enjoying the prosperity given by Allah after death.

For a long time, the mosque allows not only to write on the monuments the name of the deceased and the date of his death, now it is allowed to indicate some symbols. On male monuments, you can depict a crescent moon, and on female monuments, flowers (their number means the number of children). Photos of Muslim monuments on the grave with such symbols are given in the article.

The shape of the monument and the materials from which they are made

Muslim monuments in the cemetery, photos of which can be seen in the article, are usually erected from marble or granite. Often they are made in the form of a kind of arched structure, which at the top resembles a dome. Sometimes the top of the monument is made in the form of a dome of a mosque or in the form of a minaret.

Which way the monument should be facing

The question of which direction the monument should look in is fundamentally important for Muslims. The grave must be built in such a way that it would be possible to place the deceased in it, facing towards Mecca. This tradition should not be violated categorically, and the mosque is extremely strict about its observance.

Accordingly, the monument is erected only with its face to the east. For this reason, all the monuments face only one direction. Walking through these cemeteries, it is very easy to determine the direction. The eastern side is always where all the structures on the graves are facing.

Coming to Kazan, it is impossible to ignore Muslim traditions that have been closely intertwined in the history of this Russian republic for several centuries. Wedding and funeral rites here have their own characteristics, which in many respects do not coincide with Christian traditions both on the external and internal (spiritual) levels.

It was interesting for me to study these moments on the example of the topic of death.

All Muslim holidays, customs and traditions are closely related to the Koran - the holy book of all believers in Allah. Sharia, the rules of which are based on the Holy Scriptures, prescribes special rules for burial, in many ways different from ours.

When a Muslim is on the verge of death, special funeral rites are performed over him. They are very complex and must necessarily be carried out under the guidance of clergy and accompanied by special prayers.

Of the features. Deceased Muslims are never cremated. According to Muslim tradition, cremation is compared to a terrible punishment - burning in hell. Immediately after death, the following rite must be performed over the body of a Muslim: tie the chin, close eyes, straighten arms and legs, cover the face and put something heavy on the stomach to avoid swelling. Then follows the ritual of ablution and washing with water, in which at least four people must take part.

A Muslim is buried without clothes, the body is wrapped in a white shroud (kafan), consisting of three parts for a man and five parts for a woman. The deceased should be buried as soon as possible, at the nearest cemetery. The body of a Muslim is buried without a coffin, they put their feet down into the grave, put their head to the north, facing Mecca, the woman is covered with a veil so that her shroud is not visible. Throwing a handful of earth into the grave, a Muslim recites ayat from the Koran (“We all belong to God and return to Him”).

The buried grave should rise four fingers above the ground. They pour water over the grave and throw a handful of earth on it seven times while reciting the ayat. In all prayers, and especially those pronounced immediately after the funeral, the name of the deceased should be often mentioned, only good things should be said about him. These prayers are designed to alleviate the situation of the deceased before the "underground judgment" that is coming to him.

Sharia is strictly forbidden to bury a Muslim in a non-Muslim, and vice versa, a non-Muslim in a Muslim cemetery.

The Muslim cemetery also has its own characteristics. The modern burial place outwardly practically does not differ from ours, but the old cemeteries are completely different.

There are several ancient cemeteries in Kazan. We visited one of them, located on the outskirts of the city in the Admiralteyskaya Sloboda. This is a very beautiful location and a very ancient place in Kazan. Previously, this area was called Bishbalta, which means "five axes" (five as the sacred figure of Muslims - the number of daily prayers and prayers and axes as a symbol of what people were doing here - carpenters and lumberjacks lived here). It is believed that this place has existed for more than one thousand years.

The cemetery, which is located overlooking the Volga, formed during the heyday of the Kazan Khanate. It is noteworthy in that there are burials dating back to 1320 on it.

For a long time, the cemetery was not marked in any way and was fenced off. As described on the local forum "Chaos reigns on the territory of ancient burial places - broken and mocked gravestones, on which they make shish kebabs, gravestones broken out and prepared for someone under a cottage, trampled burial places, tombstones torn out by the roots or simply broken in half. Many residents of Kazan do not respect cemeteries. Vandals break gravestones, enterprising people then grill shashliks on these gravestones.

We were lucky to see all of the above, but after some time. The fence has appeared, although it is very easy to squeeze through it. At the entrance there is a monument telling what this place is. As for the rest, everything is as described - complete devastation, rubbish, very few tombstones that have survived.

But this is a historical and cultural monument. Through the inscriptions on the tombstones, it was possible to learn a lot about history: a couple of centuries ago, not only the date of death was applied to the stones, but also philosophical discourses about life. These tombstones are the classic and most correct version of how the tombstone of a deceased Muslim should look like. Simply, without a photograph, with an indication of ancestors up to the fifth generation, no words of sorrow. But more on that later.

The feeling that a bulldozer had passed through the cemetery. I have never seen such vandalism in any old cemetery. Even everything looks much more decent. And here the ground has been dug up, all the stones are scattered. The gravestones have been battered. Although in some places the "hand of improvement" is felt. This is how the paths along the cemetery are laid out. Only on them you can walk without tripping over someone's grave.

This is the view from the cemetery. I'm surprised that this place was not cleared for construction at all.

And this is the location of the cemetery on the map.

For comparison, I could not help but visit active modern Muslim cemetery.
Its main feature is that all graves and tombstones, without exception, face Mecca, and there are no photographs on the monuments, this is prohibited by religion. The epitaphs on the monuments are strict, limited to words from the Koran, general information about the deceased person and the date of his death. Such modesty in the design of graves is dictated by funeral traditions and rituals, rooted in the days of the nomadic life of Muslims. Various grave structures (mausoleums, tombs, crypts) are not approved by the Sharia.

Now let's see how everything really is. So, we see the photos.

Instead of temporary wooden crosses, as is customary in our country, such boards with a sign are placed in such a cemetery. Sometimes they are never replaced by stone tombstones.

Pretty pretentious.

Photo again.

No crosses, just a crescent. But does this mean that only Muslims are buried here? Given the non-observance of traditions, I'm not sure. Or people themselves allow such indulgences. Unfortunately, I never found out the exact answer to this interesting question.

Another of the special moments. Passing a cemetery, a Muslim usually reads a surah from the Koran, and the location of the graves helps him determine the direction to which his face should be turned.

When deciding what to write on a monument for a Muslim, it is better to dwell on the words of the Prophet and the famous suras of the Koran. It is uncharacteristic and unacceptable to address the deceased with words of love, promises of loved ones to remember and grieve for him. The attitude towards death in Islam is more strict and fatalistic than in Orthodoxy: death does not escape anyone, and this must not be forgotten. When dying, a devout Muslim returns to Allah, who belongs to him during his lifetime, and it is unworthy to express regret about this in inscriptions on monuments.

In addition, national patterns are welcomed in the design of the tombstone, often the name of the deceased is written in Arabic. All this is no-nonsense.

Several very ancient specimens have been found. In Tatar.

And in Arabic. Traditional gravestones are similar to those we saw in the ancient cemetery.

And a few pretentious ones, very similar to ours.

With words from the Koran.

A little intimidating.

And as a conclusion, I will note that it was incredibly interesting for me to learn and see all this.
I hope you enjoyed it too.

Everything about religion and faith - "prayer for a monument to a Muslim" with detailed descriptions and photographs.

Muslim attitudes towards death

Modesty, devoid of all kinds of rich excesses

Acceptable text engravings

On the graves of ordinary Muslims, it is allowed to indicate the name of the deceased only for their designation. The writing of the date of death is not desirable (makrooh), but it is permitted.

What should not be on Muslim monuments and graves

The shape of the monument and the materials from which they are made

Which way the monument should be facing

Accordingly, the monument is erected only with its face to the east. For this reason, in Muslim cemeteries, all monuments face only one direction. Walking through these cemeteries, it is very easy to determine the direction. The eastern side is always where all the structures on the graves are facing.

Prayer for a Muslim monument

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ISLAM'S FUNERAL RIGHTS

The pre-Islamic custom is the rite of hair cutting as a sign of mourning for the deceased. This hair was laid on the grave. Often, the funeral was accompanied by cutting off the veins of a camel, which was slowly dying near the hero's grave, or by chopping off the heads of prisoners. For example, the pre-Islamic Bedouin hero Antar ibn Shaddad, on the occasion of his brother's funeral, brought 300 prisoners and a large number of camels and destroyed them at the grave.

Religious epitaphs

Religious epitaphs express faith in God and the afterlife. Inscriptions on the monument to Christians, Jews, Muslims. Verses and quotes from the Bible and the Koran.

Who were you dear to during your lifetime,

To whom did you give your love

Those for your rest

They will pray again and again.

Without the present, but with the future!

May God give you fortitude and courage!

May God give you unity, fortitude and virtue!

There are, Lord, sins and atrocities

Above Thy mercy!

Slave / (slave) land and vain desires

Forgive sins for his sorrows /(her) !

Now let go of your servant / (your slaves) Master, according to your verb, be in peace.

His memory /(her) endowment in blessing!

Once upon a time, death reconciled Jesus with humanity.

In Thy light, Lord, we see light!

Remember not the sins of my youth and my crimes; but in Thy mercy, remember me!

Life is like a dance, like a flight

In a whirlwind of light and movement.

I believe: death is just a transition.

I know: there will be a continuation.

In His kindness, the Lord grants us what we wanted All epitaph:

From now on, everyone answers himself:

I am before God, you are before people!

Where is the virtue? Where is the beauty?

Who will notice her traces here?

Alas, here is the door to heaven:

Hidden in it - yes, meet the sun!

Why not to faces crumpled by old age,

You came, Death, and plucked my flower?

Then there is no shelter in heaven

Tainted with decay and debauchery.

I will rejoice in the Lord and rejoice in the God of my salvation!

For God, everyone is alive!

My hope is in You, Lord!

Sons of men in the shadow of Thy wings, O Lord, are at rest!

My flesh will rest in hope; for you will not leave my soul in hell!

Muslim symbols

Crescent moon with a star h = 14-18cm.

FRAGMENT OF SURA FROM THE QURAN (ARABIC ELM)

Crescent - Symbol of Islam with additional oriental elements

Crescent - Symbol of Islam with oriental ornament in the form of diverging rays h = 20cm.

Composition "Crescent Moon with Stars"

Fragment of a prayer for decorating a granite monument of a Muslim burial L = 30 cm

Fragment of a prayer for decorating a granite monument of a Muslim burial h = 20 cm

Image of a Mosque for decorating a granite monument of a Muslim burial h - 30 cm

Kaaba Zoroaster - a Muslim shrine in the courtyard of the Protected Mosque (Mecca) for decorating a granite monument of a Muslim burial h - 30 cm

Crescent moon with a mosque and ornaments for decorating a granite monument of a Muslim burial h = 70 cm

Crescent moon with a star inside a generally accepted symbol of Islam. Among Muslim theologians, the following interpretation of the crescent and star symbol is most common: even an incomplete moon (rising crescent, wax moon) is able to illuminate the path of a wanderer in the sands of Arabia with a soft and cool light, and the stars are a guideline for moving towards their fate

(indicates the path of life to Allah).

If you go to muslim cemetery, then it is striking that all the monuments and graves with facades directed to the east, towards Mecca. Initially, there were no stone slabs in Muslim cemeteries; they appeared later, with the beginning of a sedentary lifestyle. Sharia does not belong to the grave buildings without special disposition, considers them unnecessary extravagance. Monuments on the grave should not look like a mosque. “Truly, we belong to Allah and we will be returned to Him,” - these are the words that the Shariah recommends to write as an epitaph on a tombstone.

Muslim funerary traditions and memorials on the grave

Muslim monuments for the grave are chosen very carefully. This is the only thing that relatives and friends of the deceased can do for him. When equipping a grave and decorating a tombstone, Muslims are guided by the laws of Sharia, which clearly regulate funeral and burial rites. The faithful prepare for death in advance, realizing its inevitability and making peace with it. They collect money and select the things necessary for the burial ritual. It is believed that if a person takes care of his funeral in advance, he will receive the highest grace.

Ancient burial traditions in Islam

At the dawn of the spread of Islam, the performance of ritual rituals during the burial of Muslims, visiting and venerating their graves were prohibited. Funeral traditions were characteristic of Arab culture during the times of paganism (Jahiliyah). Despite the prohibition, ancient pagan rites penetrated into Islam. They became intertwined with religious elements and became an integral part of the culture of many Muslim communities.

As the position of Islam strengthened, fears of a revival of paganism and polytheism began to gradually dissipate. Therefore, the attitude towards funeral traditions has become less strict. The ban on visiting the graves of Muslims was canceled by the Prophet Muhammad himself. He believed that going to the cemetery would remind people of death and make them think about their life. Although visiting graves was no longer condemned, veneration of the dead remained prohibited.

Early Muslim theologians condemned any form of veneration for the departed. It was forbidden to make a pilgrimage to the graves of respected Muslims, to erect mausoleums and mosques over their burial place, to worship them and ask for their protection. According to beliefs, large and richly decorated monuments cause discord among the dead, depriving them of their well-deserved bliss. Therefore, all previously created buildings in the cemeteries were destroyed.

The laws of Islam also strictly regulated the actions of the faithful in relation to their deceased relatives. They prohibited Muslims from gathering near the burial site and performing sacrifices in cemeteries. Muslim authorities condemned the decoration of tombstones with materials used in the manufacture of fire (gypsum, cement). Fire is the most famous form of punishment in Hell. He can bring hellish torment on the deceased.

On the grave of a Muslim, it was allowed to put a memorial sign in the form of a stone or a tombstone.

The traditions of Islam prescribe not to leave inscriptions, images and patterns on the tombstone.

The surface of a grave mound or a gravestone slab may be above ground level at a height of no higher than 4 fingers. This height is sufficient to locate the grave. The covering of the grave must be perfectly flat.

Place for a Muslim grave

The grave (kabr) is dug up in the Muslim cemetery closest to the place of death. It is impossible to bury a Muslim among the Gentiles. If the wife of a true believer belonged to another faith, she is buried separately.

The place for burial is selected taking into account that the face of the deceased is turned towards the Qibla. Qibla is a symbol of monotheism and Islam. The direction of the deceased's face towards the Sacred Mosque is a sign of his worship of Allah. The tradition of directing the face of the deceased and the front of the tombstone towards Mecca has been strictly fulfilled to this day.

The grave must be positioned in such a way that one can freely walk to it without stepping on or stepping over the burials of other people.

Islamic laws prohibit treading not only on someone else's grave, but also on the place where a relative is buried.

Islam allows two dead people to be buried in one grave. Reburial is carried out when the corpse in the grave has completely decayed (after 50 years). Between the bodies, you need to make a partition of earth or stone slabs. Unless absolutely necessary, they do not bury in the same grave the deceased of the same sex, or a woman and a man, who are mahrams for each other (marriage between them is prohibited).

How Muslim Graves Are Built

The traditional tomb of a Muslim contains a recess in which the body (lahd) is laid. The depth of the grave should be such that a person can fully fit into it with arms raised up (about 225 cm). However, if it is not possible to dig such a hole, you can use a less deep one. The main thing is that its depth is sufficient so that animals do not get to the body.

The length of the grave should slightly exceed the height of the deceased.

The width of the pit is usually half of its length (80–100 cm). The pit must be wide enough for people who carry out the burial to descend into it.

On the side that is closer to the Qiblah, lahd is placed. Its height is 55 cm, and its width is 50 cm. At the same time, part of the lyahd is located in a niche outside the burial pit. The niche is deepened into the wall by 25 cm. Lahd is also 20 cm below the floor of the grave.

If the soil is loose, the wall of the lyahd is reinforced with a stone or wooden wall. It is also necessary to reinforce the ceiling in the niche. The corpse is covered with a thinner slab so that the earth does not cover the body. Stones or earth are placed under the head and back of the deceased so that his face is directed to the Qiblah. In this case, the right cheek of the deceased should be firmly pressed to the ground.

Instead of lahd, they build a shikka. Shikkoy is a notch at the bottom of a pit that resembles a ditch. Stone or wooden walls are installed on its sides. From above, the shikku is covered with slabs and the grave is covered with earth.

The surface of the tombstone should not be below ground level. If the soil is loose, add more soil to the grave. When she sits down, the hill above the grave will remain.

2 stones are laid on the grave - at the level of the head and feet.

From above the gravestone mound is sprinkled with rubble, then water is sprinkled on it so that the pebbles are pressed tightly to the ground. This will make the surface of the grave even.

Modern burial traditions in Islam

Although inscriptions on tombstones are prohibited in Islam, it is allowed to indicate the name of the deceased on the grave so that his grave can be found. In the modern world, Muslim theologians are less strict about the prohibition of the use of images of people and photographs on tombstones.

According to the beliefs of Islam, the depiction of people and animals makes believers forget about God and provokes madness. The faithful begin to worship not Allah, but the depicted people and animals. But recently, the mosque has begun to allow people to be depicted on tombstones and their photographs to be installed. At the insistence of relatives, even images of animals can be performed.

Despite the softening of the rules of the funeral ritual, most of the Muslim monuments have a laconic look. The most common is a monolithic slab, the top of which is made in the form of a dome of a mosque or a minaret. In addition to the name and date of death of the deceased, the words of the prophet or excerpts from Muslim suras in Arabic script are engraved on the stone.

The monument to the deceased woman depicts modest floral ornaments, as well as thematic compositions characterizing the deceased's occupation.

On women's tombstones, a drawing is cut out in the form of a hat or scarf. They often depict a bouquet in which there are as many flowers as the woman gave birth to and raised children.

Tombstones on the graves of deceased men have images of minarets, mosques or thematic pictures related to the deceased's occupation. The upper part of the tombstone on a man's grave can be made in the form of a man's headdress - a turban. It testifies to the high social status of the deceased. A sign of wealth is the decoration on the slab in the form of a fez.

Religious symbols and charms are often depicted on tombstones, symbolizing the deceased's commitment to Islam. The symbols of Islam - the crescent and the star - are installed on the burial slabs. In this case, the rays of the crescent are directed from right to left. Geometric oriental-style ornaments and frames are often used in the design of burial slabs.

It is not typical for the Muslim tradition to write words of love and sorrow on monuments. When a Muslim dies, he returns to Allah. Therefore, expressing regret in connection with death is frowned upon in Islam. It is regarded as dissatisfaction with the will of Allah.

Tombstone making

The finished monument will be made to order by employees of companies that provide various ritual services. Wealthy Muslims order monuments made of granite and marble. Preference is given to black slabs. In Islam, black has a special status as it is the color of the Sacred Stone of the Kaaba. Prophet Muhammad wore black clothes. This was the dress he wore on the day of the conquest of Mecca. Black is the color of the Abbasid caliphs. It symbolizes strength, greatness and power. Muslims try to give the tombstone a resemblance to the monolithic stone of the Holy Kaaba, which serves as a reminder of the eternity of the afterlife.

The inscriptions on the stone are made by hand, using a laser or on a milling machine.

Hand engraving is the most time consuming and expensive. Its undoubted advantage is its durability. It will be possible to read what is written on a tombstone with the manual method of applying phrases even after several thousand years. Laser engraving allows you to quickly and easily create complex images with minute details. On a milling machine, the inscription and the image are cut out a little longer than with a laser. However, what is written after milling engraving lasts much longer than with laser processing.

A cheaper option for a Muslim tombstone is a metal cone with a crescent moon on top. A tablet is placed on it indicating the name and date of death of the deceased.

Installation of a headstone

The firm that makes the gravestones usually installs them. Installation work is included in the cost of manufacturing services. However, you can install the headstone yourself.

To carry out construction work, you need to obtain permission from the cemetery management. The most suitable period for installing a gravestone is the warm season from April to October. However, in some cases it is necessary to carry out work in the winter. In this case, you need to contact specialists who have experience in installing monuments in the cold season.

In order for the tombstone to stand for a long time, not to fall or lurch, a cement base is created on the grave. After the funeral, at least 1 year must pass. During this time, the earth will sag and gain stability.

The larger the stone, the more material will be required to create a massive frame.

Burial monuments, even of very modest sizes, are very heavy. The weight of a medium-sized gravestone ranges from 120-200 kg. Therefore, the installation of the gravestone requires the work of several people.

The burial site is cleared, a depression is made and a concrete cushion is formed in it. You can use cement, gravel and sand. If the structure is large, the pillow is reinforced with reinforcement. When making a cement or concrete base, vertical pins are placed in it. Later, a monument was fixed on them.

When installing a commemorative tombstone, be sure to use the building level.

Muslim mazars

Mazar is the name of the tomb of a Muslim saint (awliya). The culture of worshiping the graves of saints and revered people began to develop in Islam from the 10th century thanks to Sufism. Sufism is an esoteric movement in Islam. It preaches asceticism and spirituality. The path of spiritual perfection of a Sufi lies through complete obedience to the teacher and the fulfillment of all his instructions.

Sufis believe that prayers transmitted through spiritual guides-intermediaries are more powerful than those addressed directly to Allah. Trying to give the deceased mentors the maximum honor, their followers erect mausoleums (mazars) on the graves. The tradition of building cult structures on burial sites appeared in Islam due to the influence of Tengrianism - the ancient pagan culture of the Turks. The modern symbol of Islam - a crescent moon with a star - also has a pagan origin.

The traditional Muslim mazar is a building with a quadrangular base. It is crowned with a spherical dome. The building can be very large, consisting of several rooms. She is fenced off. There is a vertically installed pole (tug) next to the mazar. At the top of the tight there can be a figure of an open palm, a bud, or a crossbar with a triangular piece of cloth attached to it. Since especially revered mazars are located far from settlements, tugs are used as a guide. They help travelers find the mazar. The mausoleums function as a mosque.

Travelers can stop and pray in the mazar.

If earlier mazars were installed only on the grave of Awliya, nowadays mausoleums are installed on the graves of deceased relatives. Wealthy people order massive structures that resemble mosques or palaces. For the construction of tombs, expensive materials (marble, granite) are used. Mazars are decorated with domes, bas-reliefs, crescents, arches, columns, elaborate tops, parapets and mazar slabs.

Although the Koran prohibits spending money on the construction of expensive and massive places of worship, the faithful try to demonstrate their worth by showing respect to their deceased relatives.

Muslim sarcophagi

To honor the memory of deceased relatives, ornate sarcophagi are erected on Muslim graves. Such a structure looks dignified and rich. The installation of the sarcophagus is not condemned by Islamic authorities.

The upper part of the Muslim sarcophagus is given the pointed shape that is traditional for Muslim culture. The structure is covered with tiles with elegant and intricate ornamentation. Colors characteristic of Islam are used. The color green is especially revered among the faithful. He identifies the green banner of the prophet. Blue and purple are considered shade colors. They symbolize mystical contemplation and communion with the divine essence. To decorate sarcophagi, white is used - the favorite color of the prophet.

He is a symbol of holiness and dignity.

When choosing the color of the facing material, one should give preference to patterns with clean, light and shining shades. Faded and dull colors are associated with misery and poverty. Brown and gray shades are not used in the design of Muslim tombstones.

Muslims all over the world consider the crescent with a star to be the symbol of Islam. Most people of various religions associate it with Islam. But few people know why among Muslims it was the crescent moon that became so widespread.

In fact, the symbolism of the crescent and the star was not born with the advent of Islam, but several thousand years before it. There is a lot of evidence in history in favor of the fact that the symbol of the celestial body was used by different peoples in different eras. Before answering the main question of the article - where does the crescent moon look for Muslims, let's go to the origins.

The history of the symbolism of the crescent

It is believed that this symbol was first used in the worship of the Moon and the Sun, which was
typical for a number of peoples. There are others mentioning that indicate that this symbol
denoted at different times two Goddesses: Carthaginian Tanit and Greek Diana.

So why was the crescent moon chosen as a symbol among Muslims? The answer to this question should start with the story that at the dawn of Islam no designations were used. Armies and communities hung out simple monophonic flags, and in the Koran nothing was said about symbols.

Only in the 15th century, when the Turks captured Constantinople, they adopted the flag with the image of the crescent from the Byzantines.

There is a legend according to which Osman (it was he who founded the empire) had a dream before the battle, in which the flag stretched from end to end of the Earth. He considered this a good omen and therefore the emblem became a symbol of the whole dynasty.

The Ottoman Empire expanded its borders and dominated the rest of the Muslim world for many centuries. This is how the culture of the Ottomans spread, and with it the symbolism of the crescent, which was once chosen by the founder, was entrenched among the Muslims.

Over the centuries, the heavenly body has become associated with Muslims and non-Muslims with Islam and its adherents. At the same time, he did not cease to be a symbol of the Ottoman Empire, and not of religion.

In the 21st century, the crescent moon is still considered by many Muslims to be a symbol of Islam, although it is not. People who practice this religion wear chains with crescents and a star. This is how they identify their religion. It is impossible to compare the symbolism of the crescent moon with the cross among Muslims. This is an absolutely false comparison.

It is worth noting that although symbols adorn the flags of Muslim states and mosques, there are followers of Islam who consider the crescent as a pagan sign. Its rejection by devout Muslims can easily explain the Koran, which prohibits the worship of animals, people, heavenly bodies, etc. According to the holy book, Islam came to our world to rid people of idols and paganism.

These rules must be strictly observed in some areas of belief. In other aspects of human life, the crescent symbol has a right to life. Muslims can use any symbols and signs that do not contradict Sharia law.

Stolen symbol

Despite the fact that the crescent moon symbol was first used in the Ottoman Empire, it did not belong to this people initially. There are many archaeological finds that say that the crescent moon appeared as a symbol even before our era.

The meaning of the month and stars in Islam

What does the crescent moon mean for Muslims? According to some legends, the choice of symbolism is associated with the resettlement of the Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina. According to others, the crescent moon speaks of the adherence of devout Muslims to the lunar calendar, and the star with five rays is a reflection of the 5 pillars of Islam and 5 times prayers performed by devout Muslims (they are called "namaz").

There is another version of what the Muslim crescent means. According to her, this emblem personifies divine protection and rebirth, and the star symbolizes paradise.

Mosque decoration

If you go to the distant past, you can see that the crescent moon with a star began to appear for the first time on the mosques of the Ottoman state as a sign of distinction from the churches of Christians.

The symbols themselves did not have a sacred meaning, they did not conflict with Islam, but they did not personify something sacred either. Surely during excursions to countries professing Islam, you have often noticed that the crescent moon on the minarets has a different shape. In some cases, it takes the shape of a circle. These differences can be easily explained. According to some reports, the installation of the crescent was carried out at the final stage of the construction of the mosque. The shape of the sign corresponded to the current phase of the moon.

Where should the horns of the month look?

Many believers are worried about the question - in which direction does the crescent moon look for Muslims? Most often, it occurs at the moment of choosing a Muslim monument for the grave. I would like to do everything in accordance with the canons of Islam, so that nothing could prevent the deceased from getting to the Great Judgment.

In fact, you shouldn't take any one option as the truth. The star and the crescent moon are not part of religion. They are only borrowed by the Turks. Islam denies any image.

As one Islamic scholar put it:

“The crescent and the star are not symbols of Islam, but they were used by the last Islamic dynasty, the Ottoman Empire. The Ottoman Empire considered it normal to use the star and the crescent as their symbols, and not symbols of Islam.

So, the star and the crescent moon is not part of the Islamic religion, since Islam is very strict on the concept of "there is no God besides Allah, and there are no images." Therefore, the proposal to sanction Islam on such [images] is erroneous. Also, if Islam prohibits images (statues) of people, animals and any creatures of Allah, so what about the use of the symbol for Islam? "

But after all, there are some established rules explaining - where should the crescent moon look for Muslims? Rules exist, but only for minarets in some Islamic states. It is believed that the lower edge of the crescent should be turned towards Mecca. Although, at the same time, there are mosques where the horns of the crescent moon look up into the sky. This only confirms that there are no strict regulations!