In recent months, social media has become a stage for troubling funeral practices in Ghana. These scenes have unsettled many conscientious and faith-minded people. In one widely circulated video, the body of a deceased small-scale miner was propped upright while mourners poured mud and water over him, reenacting scenes from his former life. In another, a deceased man dressed as a footballer was similarly placed, standing as people danced around and touched the body in ways that bordered on irreverence.
These practices raise serious concerns, not only from a moral standpoint but also from religious and spiritual perspectives. Culture shapes how we mourn and remember, but Islam, like other great faith traditions, clearly delineates the dignity owed to the human body in death. The dead are not props for performance or celebration; they are to be treated with solemnity and reverence, as prescribed by divine teaching.
Death in Islam: A Sacred Transition
In Islam, death is not an end but a transition to another stage of existence. It marks the beginning of the soul’s journey back to its Creator. The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) instructed the believers to honour the deceased with the same respect afforded to the living. He said:
«كسرُ عَظْمِ المَيِّتِ كَكَسْرِهِ حَيّاً»
Breaking the bone of a dead person is like breaking it while he is alive.
This teaching is not merely symbolic. It reflects a deep spiritual principle: the sanctity of the human body persists beyond death. Accordingly, the deceased should be washed gently (ghusl), shrouded modestly (kafan), prayed over (Janāzah), and buried with humility without theatrics or spectacle.
The Qur’an reminds us of the inherent dignity granted to every human being:
«وَلَقَدْ كرَّمْنَا بَنِي آدَمَ…»
“And indeed, We have honoured the children of Adam …” (Qur’an 17:70)
This divine honour extends beyond physical life. The dead are not to be paraded, objectified, or reduced to entertainment. They should be remembered with prayers and laid to rest in peace.
Culture, Identity, and the Limits of Expression
In many African societies, including Ghana, funerals are both moments of mourning and celebrations of life, legacy, and community. This cultural richness is meaningful and can coexist with faith, so long as it does not contradict divine guidance. The increasing trends of “standing corpses,” choreographed displays, and public exhibition of the dead cross that line. Even when intentions are good, such practices trivialise the gravity of death and risk desensitising communities to human dignity.
Islam calls for tawāḍu (humility) in all phases of life, including death. A funeral is not a stage for self-expression; it is a solemn farewell and a mirror for the living to reflect upon their own mortality and accountability before God.
A Universal Principle of Reverence
Islam is not alone in emphasising dignified funerals. In Christianity, the sacredness of the body after death is affirmed:
“Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.” (Ecclesiastes 12:7)
Similarly, Hindu teaching points to the eternal nature of the soul:
“For the soul there is neither birth nor death … it is not slain when the body is slain.” (Bhagavad Gita 2:20)
Across traditions, the message is consistent: death demands humility, respect, and reverence. Though the rites differ, the underlying values of dignity and solemnity are widely shared.
The Responsibilities of Faith Leaders and the State
The time has come for faith leaders, cultural custodians, and state institutions in Ghana and beyond to take a clear, unified stand. These trends reveal not only a lapse in spiritual understanding but also a gap in community education and public standards.
Imams, pastors, and religious scholars should proactively teach the proper observance of funeral rites, not only in mosques and churches but also in schools, media, and community forums. The message must be clear: the dead deserve dignity, not performance.
Government and local authorities likewise have a role. Public health and decency regulations that govern the handling of corpses should be upheld and, where necessary, clarified. When public displays endanger health or cross into obscenity, they cease to be cultural expressions and become matters of societal concern.
Conclusion: A Return to Sacredness
Death is the ultimate reminder of human frailty and the temporality of life. It calls for introspection, prayer, and unity, not theatrics. Islam’s teachings on death are not merely legal rulings; they are expressions of spiritual wisdom, urging us to treat every stage of life, including its end, with sacred care.
As a society, let us not lose sight of what it means to honour the dead. Let us restore funerals to their rightful place: sacred farewells, deeply personal yet guided by timeless principles. In doing so, we reaffirm not only our respect for the deceased but also our own humanity.
By: Kamal Suguruman Lambon
About author
Kamal Suguruman Lambon holds a Bachelor of Science in Administration. He is a member of the editorial team of The Review of Religions Ghana and serves as a Deputy Health Service Administrator at House of Hope Hospital.
You may also like
Leave a Reply
Scroll to Top