The first Muslim cemetery in Moscow appeared in the 18th century. The emergence of such burial places is associated with a large number of believers living in the city. Gradually, the number of cemeteries increased, they were ennobled, became more and more. Some of them function to this day.
Differences between a Muslim cemetery and any other are minimal, because all of them are intended for the burial of the dead in a territory specially fenced for this purpose. It does not matter what nation or race the deceased belonged to, the main thing is that he professes Islam. The Muslim cemetery is always located outside the city and is surrounded by a fence so that stray animals cannot enter it.
Features
For many who first came to such a place of burial, it seems strange that all the tombstones face the same direction. Actually, the explanation for this is quite simple. In that direction is the sacred city of Mecca for every true believer.
Islam forbids putting pictures on monuments. This is a requirementapplies to any Muslim cemetery. There are no photos on the tombstones. But you can see on them many epitaphs, which are statements taken from the Koran. It is allowed to put general information about a person and the date when he passed away on a tombstone.
Muslim cemetery in Moscow or any other city, has no crypts, tombs and mausoleums. The graves of the faithful are decorated exactly as Islam dictates. No deviations from the established norms are allowed. At the funeral of a Muslim, all rituals are also strictly observed.
Rite over the deceased
After the death of a believer, a ritual of ablution and washing is performed over his body. Having delivered the body to a mosque or to a Muslim cemetery, where a special bed is located, it should be laid on it facing Qibla. The room in which the deceased is located is fumigated with incense.
Having done this, proceed to washing. It is performed in strict accordance with Shariah law, and at least four people take part in it. At the same time, men do not have the right to wash a dead woman, and vice versa. An exception is made only for the wife of the deceased.
Savan
According to Sharia law, the faithful cannot be buried in clothes. He should be wrapped in a shroud, which is usually made by the relatives of the deceased. If there are none, then the neighbors make it.
Here, too, has its own characteristics. If the deceased was rich, then his body is covered with three pieces of cloth, the matter of which corresponds to the we alth of a person. This isa kind of sign of recognition and respect.
It is desirable that the fabric is new. Although it is not forbidden to use the used one. But if a man died, then his body cannot be covered with silk.
Funeral
The Muslim cemetery where the deceased is buried is usually not far away. Burial should not be delayed. Muslims are not customary to be buried in a coffin. Putting the body in the ground should be so that the head is turned towards Qibla. This requirement must be strictly observed by all believers.
After the deceased is buried, the grave is poured with water, seven handfuls of earth are thrown on it and the prayer needed in this case is said.
Requirements
Islam, like any other religion, has its own characteristics and traditions. This also applies to the cemetery. They are strictly observed. After all, Muslims believe that this is very important for the afterlife of a person and his being in Paradise.
Requirements for cemeteries are as follows:
- it is allowed to allocate a certain area for the burial of family members, if this does not interfere with others;
- it is forbidden to bury people of a different religion in the cemetery;
- there should be passages between the graves, since it is strictly forbidden to step over or even worse, step on the burial place;
- Tombstone should be modest.
Many believers not only carefully look after the graves of their relatives, but also clean the burial places and unfamiliar dead, whose relatives for one reason or another do notcan provide them with proper screening.
During the funeral, one should also take into account the fact that, according to the laws of Islam, the body of the deceased cannot be cremated. After all, Muslims believe that then a person will go to Hell and will forever burn in fire there.
Entrance to any Muslim cemetery is allowed for people of any faith. After all, every person, regardless of his religious views, has the right to pay a debt of respect to a deceased friend or relative.
There are several active Muslim cemeteries in the vicinity of Moscow. Each of them has its own history and many believers are buried on them.
Kuzminsky cemetery
In the South-Eastern district of the city is the Kuzminskoye cemetery, which was created in 1959. It covers an area of 60 hectares and is divided into Muslim and Central sections.
Despite the fact that the cemetery appeared relatively recently, the place where it is located is mentioned in historical documents of the 18th century. It owes its name to the village of Kuzminki, which was presented by Peter the Great, to his friend and colleague Grigory Stroganov.
After the death of the new owner, his widow ordered the construction of a wooden church, on the site of which a stone church was built at the end of the 18th century. It functions even now, standing out for its decorations - Tuscan porticoes and a round light drum.
The Muslim cemetery in Kuzminki is located along Academician Scriabin Street. You can get there by bus orsubway.
Danilovskoe cemetery
One of the oldest in Moscow is the Danilovskoye Muslim cemetery. It was formed at the end of the 18th century due to the plague raging in the city and occupied an area of 6.8 hectares. During its existence, many believers were buried on it. Even today, walking through the cemetery, one can come across tombstones dating back to the end of the 19th - the beginning of the 20th century, and sometimes even to the 18th century.
It is still in operation, although for some time it was considered closed, but after it received new territories, it was decided to resume burials on it. Burials in this cemetery are held according to all Muslim traditions.
The following types of urn burials are carried out on it:
- to the ground;
- open columbarium;
- kindred grave;
- sarcophagus.
Despite the fact that many other Muslim cemeteries have appeared in Moscow, Danilovskoye is still the main one. Basically, representatives of the peoples living in the former USSR and professing Islam are buried on it. In particular, Tatars, Vainakhs, Azerbaijanis, Kazakhs, Uzbeks and many others.
There are many active Muslim cemeteries in Moscow, and if you want to bury a true believer in one of them, it is not a big deal. The main thing is that all the necessary rituals and traditions are observed. After all, as Muslims believe, it also depends on what the afterlife of the deceased will be like.
