After Life...

In Islam, the dead are buried the same day, so Mamadou was almost immediately whisked away and prepared for burial. To prepare for burial, the deceased is ceremonially bathed and wrapped in cloth, prayers are offered for the forgiveness of their sins and then they are carried by men to the grave site for burial. Only men are permitted to be present at the burial while the women await their return at the deceased's home. Upon return, everyone present - family, friends, acquaintances, passers by - will again offer ceremonial prayers for the forgiveness of sins. But the story doen't end there.

Muslims believe in a spirit life after death and therefore participate in certain ritualistic activities on the 3rd, 8th and 40th day after a persons death. Because these ceremonies are not based on Koranic teaching, exactly what happens at these ceremonies and the reason they hold them can differ among ethnic groups (and probably even within each of the various groups). From what I understand, prayers are offered on the 3rd day again for the forgiveness of sins since that is the day the deceased will be judged according to their works. Prayers on the 8th and 40th day have more to do with the body's 'believed' stages of decomposition.

One thing that does seem consistent among each of the ethnic groups is the giving of 'charity' (cookies, pop) to male guests. The treats are purchased by the family with the help of gift offerings from villagers.

JP blending with the crowd at the Imam's mother's 40th day get together

Some time ago, JP and I went to the 40th day get together for the Imam's mother who passed away (if you remember, she was the first patient of mine who passed away). Everyone was tickled that we showed and they made a point of stuffing JP's pockets with cookies and pop.

The women aren't recipients of the googies and always sit separate from the men...