Understanding the cultural and religious beliefs surrounding death can help you communicate with sensitivity and compassion when supporting a pupil and their family. While we can only provide a general overview here, we encourage you to speak directly with the family to understand their specific traditions and wishes. Every family is unique, so it’s important to approach each situation with an open mind and without assumptions. 

Islam

When Muslims die they are buried as cremation is forbidden.

Family and close friends usually wash the body and then it is wrapped in a clean cloth. The body will usually be buried within 24 hours, sometimes even before relatives have seen it. Traditionally Muslims would not use a coffin but in the UK, to meet our requirements, they will usually use a simple coffin and headstone with the head of the deceased to be facing the holy city of Mecca.

There is an official mourning period of 3 days where the family stay at home and are brought food by friends and relatives. After the funeral, relatives can visit the grave on Fridays for 40 days.

Muslims believe in the After Life which is eternal. On the Last Day, the dead will come back to life to be judged by Allah. The good will live in paradise, the bad in hell. Muslims follow the teachings of the prophet Muhammad and should try to live as taught in the Quran.

As death is the passage to the next life and is Allah's will, devout Muslims may consider it inappropriate to openly grieve.

 

Hinduism

Hindus cremate their dead within 24 hours with the exception of small children and babies who are buried. The soul is important not the body.

The Shraddha ceremony (funeral) takes place between 10 and 30 days after the death. There is a large meal to symbolise nourishment for the soul. The ceremony is a celebration as well as remembrance. Mourners wear traditional Indian dress and white is the colour for funerals. The eldest son, and sometimes other male members, shave their heads as a sign of respect.

Sometimes the ashes are taken back to India to scatter in the Ganges River or there are some areas of water in the UK that have been designated for this purpose.

The mourning period lasts between 2 and 5 weeks. Yearly offerings of rice and sesame seeds are made by the eldest son.

Hindus believe in reincarnation. Each rebirth is dependent on the last life. Those who have done good deeds (karma) will be reborn into higher caste families.

Buddhism

There is no particular ritual after death although Buddhists believe that the person's spirit stays for a while so it's important to be gentle with the body. Cremation tends to be preferred.

Buddhists believe that death is a natural part of life and grieving is not seen as a helpful process.

Buddhists believe in reincarnation after death (being reborn into another body). Only Buddhas, those who have attained enlightenment, enter Nirvana.

Jehovah's Witnesses

Jehovah's Witnesses can be either buried or cremated depending on the family's preferences.

The body is not considered to hold any particular significance after death.

Jehovah's Witnesses believe that they will be resurrected at Armageddon and given eternal life on earth.

Judaism

The body is buried not cremated. Coffins are not always used, but if necessary, it will have holes in so that the body comes into contact with the earth.

An undertaker will prepare the body. The eyes are closed, the body is laid down on the floor and covered. Candles are lit next to the body and someone stays with the body at all times until the burial. Before the funeral, the body is cleaned and wrapped in a simple cloth (shroud).

Funerals take place as soon as possible but cannot be on the Sabbath.

There is a 7-day mourning period, called Shiva, with short prayers held at the house each evening. Family and friends visit with gifts of kosher cake and biscuits.

Mourning lasts for one year after death. To express grief, mourners lay sit on low stools, tear or cut an item of clothing or cover up mirrors.

Romany

Cremation is not forbidden, although burial is usually preferred.

After a person dies, they are laid out in clothes chosen by the family. The body is then taken home where the family will sit up all night with them for 5 nights and allow friends to pay respects before the burial.

The body is usually placed in an open coffin with candles and white sheets around it. Family and friends place items in the coffin that were important to the person who died.

Children tend to be involved along with the adults and parents may want children to stay out of school for up to 2 weeks.

A large gathering is organised at the family home. This is seen as a celebration of life.