An Anthropology of Death: To Be a Tree

To Be a Tree
by
LINDA “ilham” BARTO on 17 January, 2009 00:15:00

MY sister died this week. She had a lovely, Christian funeral, but it was stained with things I hate –embalming, a casket, a cement vault, and a cold cemetery. Until I became a Muslim, I was not sure why I absolutely despised the standard burial rituals. It’s because those things add up to an unnatural way for the body to continue. The human body, as with all living bodies of creation, was designed to return to the earth in a beautiful continuation of energy. An Islamic burial respects the natural process of decay and emphasizes the “dust to dust” aspect that is often heard in funeral speech but seldom taken as a directive.

I can’t stand to think of my sister’s body, robbed of its blood and filled with formaldehyde, locked in a metal box, deep in the cold vault, without the comfort of the earth’s embrace. In a natural burial, the body of the deceased is washed and shrouded. An autopsy is performed only if necessary, and embalming is not done unless, for some reason, the body cannot be buried right away or cannot be preserved with dry ice or cold storage. Although not everyone will agree with me, I think that it is a final act of charity for a deceased person to have willed that his or her organs be donated for the sake of others. Prophet Muhammed (peace and blessings upon him) said that these three things continue to benefit a person after death: charity that continues to help others, knowledge from which people continue benefit, and a righteous child who continues to pray. Certainly donating an organ to improve or continue the life of another is a form of enduring charity.

In a natural burial, the body is returned to the earth either without a casket or in a biodegradable coffin. Such a coffin may be made of wood, paper, and/or woven fiber and contains nothing toxic or synthetic. All materials are environmentally friendly. You can see a “Natural Coffin Gallery” on www.naturalburialcompany.com.

Most cemeteries require vaults with all the artificial accompaniments, but there is a growing movement for natural burials, also called “green burials” because they contribute to the sustaining of earth’s green beauty. Dr. Billy Campbell, founder of Memorial Ecosystems, explained, “What we’re doing is basically land conservation. By setting aside woods for natural burials, we preserve it from development. At the same time, I think we put death in its rightful place, as part of the cycle of life. Our burials honor the idea of dust to dust.”

There are several natural burial sites now available in the USA and Canada. The first in the world was Ramsey Creek Preserve near the mountains in South Carolina. It began in 1998 with thirty-three acres that included natural woods and shoals, streams, and a variety of wild plants and animals. In 2006, the wildlife preserve acquired protection of an additional thirty-eight acres.

In such ecosystems, bodies are returned to the earth in a dignified and respectful manner. No elaborate monuments or other grave markers are allowed, but a simple, natural stone may be engraved and placed in a graceful style to blend with the landscape. Native plants cloak the gravesite as life continues as it was intended.

I plan to grow up to be a tree! If you would like to find a green cemetery near you, research on www.forestofmemories.org under the “Find a Green Cemetery” option. I hope that, insh’Allah, someday there will be an entire Muslim forest in North America.

Originally Published as "To Be a Tree"

Source: Daily Muslims

Posted by Dr. A.H.Awang Mois