Due to widespread cases of Covid-19 Muslim scholars have warned fellow adherents against the culture of washing bodies before burials as a way to curb the spread of the deadly virus.
Mombasa based Muslim Covid-19 committee on Monday, April 13 issued new codes on dealing with a corpse after death until burial.
The scholars issued new guidelines to be followed as a substitute for the washing of bodies. The new guidelines known as Ghusl will now make it possible to bury an individual without washing or shrouding the corpse or performing a ritual known as tayammum where purified sand and dust is used on a deceased.
The scholars say that the new guidelines are in line with government directives on how to handle dead persons during this pandemic period.
Muslim faithful normally bury their dead within a short period after performing several rites on the body.
Rishad Ramadhan, Muslim Covid-19 Committee Chairman says, ''The bodies will be put in body bags and taken for prayers before burials,
''We have been in consultation with the ministry of health and reached an agreement that due to seriousness of the disease and how contagious it is, we cannot wash our dead shroud or perform tayammum as this poses a health risk''
Ramadhan added that Islam provides an avenue where if some rights and obligations cannot be performed due to the danger they pose they are put on hold and alternatives used.
The committee added that they are already training young men on how to handle and bury bodies of Covid-19 victims, while also calling on the government to allocate them more funds to enable them to buy protective gears.
''Burying one person cost Ksh37,000 an amount which is too high for the poor in society We are appealing to all Muslims and Kenyans to come and support the poor so the can bury their kin decently'' added Ramadhan.
The guidelines come at a time when the government has been criticised on how it handled the death and burial of James Oyugi Onyango, a 59-year-old man who succumbed to Covid-19. The victim was buried late in the night without having the comfort of a decent send-off.
The county government of Siaya has refused to comment on the matter arguing that they were following government directives of ensuring that deceased Covid-19 victims be buried within 24-48hours.
