Islamic burials: Muslim graves and graves of Muslims

International audienceThe rise of Islam resulted in the rapid dissemination and development of new funerary practices during the Middle Ages in Arabia (Halevi, 2007), in the Middle East (Imbert, 1992), in Africa (Insoll, 1996), in the Mediterranean area (Chávet Lozoya, Sánchez Gallego and Padial Pérez, 2006; Faro Carballa et al., 2007; Buturovic, 2016; Gleize et al., 2016), then in the Far East (Ambary, 1985; Lambourn, 2008; Rosmawati, 2018), and finally more recently in America (Austin, 1984; M’bow and Kettani, 2001) and Oceania (Svanberg and Westerlund, 1999). The importance of resurrection and final judgment in Islam implies special care be taken in the performance of funerary rituals and specific practices (Tritton, 1938; Smith and Haddad, 1981; Ragib, 1992; Halevi, 2007). From the beginning of Islam (1st century AH1/7th century AD), Muslims have been attentive to recognising members of the Muslim community (Umma) and to distinguish themselves from other religious groups through their funerary practices (Halevi, 2007). However, funeral rituals are not specified in the Quran (Tritton, 1938; Welch, 1978; Smith and Haddad, 1981; Bowker, 1991; Halevi, 2007). The manner of burying the body and the construction of the Muslim tomb were established based on the interpretation of texts (Hādīth traditions2 and law texts) and discussions between Muslim jurists and traditionists as for the other funerary rituals, such as the washing of the body and the funeral procession, for example. These normative rituals are based on the notion of the equality of all Muslims in the face of death. The practices were adapted from the events of the death of the Prophet Muhammad, in opposition to other existing customs but also by integrating and adapting other cultural practices (Halevi, 2007; King, 2009). Muslim funerary practices were instituted progressively during the first centuries after the Hegira (i.e. the ‘Exile’), but it seems that some rules were already in place during the first century of Islam