‘Better to bury bodies in countries where they died and it’s not permissible to freeze the body’

Dr Osama from Canada possible victim of COVID-19

KUWAIT CITY, March 26: Some lawmakers recently called on the government to repatriate bodies of citizens who died abroad in order to bury them in the country amid the exceptional circumstances that the world is going through, reports AlRai daily.

Due to the current situation, the bodies of deceased citizens cannot be repatriated quickly; so questions were raised about the necessity to bring the bodies back to the country or if the best option is to bury them where they died.

The daily sought the opinion of religious scholars on the legal aspect of such cases. They agreed that it is better to bury these bodies in the countries where they died and those in Kuwait should pray for them.

Sheikh Dr Ajeel Al-Nashmi confirmed that the rule for a person who dies outside Kuwait is to expedite his burial in the Muslim cemetery in the country where he died. He explained it is not permissible to delay the burial by putting him in the refrigerator for a long period; for example, three days or more. He quoted the Holy Prophet — Peace Be Upon Him — as saying: “Hurry up at the funeral, if it is good, you will bring it to him, and if it is evil, you will put it off your neck.”

He added it is permissible to repatriate the body if it can be done in two days, especially if there is no burial for Muslims in the country where he died or if his family wants to bury him in his country. In such cases, there is nothing wrong if the arrival of the body is secured immediately; especially if the body does not change during the trip, he said.

Pray

He went on to say that people should pray for the deceased in the country where he died, and it is permissible to repeat the prayer upon returning home. It is also permissible to pray for him in absentia, if he is not repatriated to his country, and whether or not they pray for him in the country where he died, he clarified.

Sheikh Jassim Al-Ainati revealed the Sharia allows the burial of a deceased Muslim in the country where he died, especially if his repatriation is stalled. He explained that repatriation of the body is unnecessary if there are Muslims who can perform the funeral prayer in the country where he died.

“Also, it is not permissible to leave the dead body of a Muslim without burial until it is decomposed while waiting for an opportunity to repatriate him; especially in light of the disruption of flights under difficult circumstances,” he asserted.

He said the need to expedite burial of the dead must be taken into account; indicating that if a Muslim dies, he should be buried outside his country, while Muslims perform the funeral prayer in the country where he died and his family may conduct another prayer in absentia.

Dr Abdullah Al-Shureika explained the basic principle is to expedite preparation and burial of a Muslim as per the instruction of the Prophet — Peace and Blessings Be Upon Him. It is preferable for the family of the deceased to wash, bury and pray for him in the Muslim cemetery there. It is permissible to repatriate the body, provided the transfer period is not long. If the body is placed in the freezer for an unknown period, then this is not permissible; so the dead person must be buried immediately. In these circumstances that the world is passing through in which no one knows when the flights will resume, it is advisable to bury the person in the country where he died, he added.

Sheikh Khaled Al-Saidi confirmed that it is better, if possible, to repatriate the body. If he is in the home of non-Muslims and quick movement is not possible, then it is permissible to bury him there in the presence of Muslim brothers who will wash him in the Islamic way and pray for him. He should be buried in a place designated for Muslims and preserve the body, if repatriation is not possible due to the current situation, he explained.

He pointed out the epidemic poses danger in terms of transporting bodies, especially if the dead came from countries experiencing the epidemic. He affirmed Allah accepts supplication for the dead everywhere in the world — whether in Kuwait or America. He said it is necessary to take into account two factors: ensuring the body does not decompose and protecting the interests of Muslims in the country.

Meanwhile, infectious and viral diseases consultant and lecturer at the University of British Columbia in Canada Dr Osama Al-Enezi has announced that he might be infected with novel coronavirus; citing weakness of preventive measures taken in British Columbia such as the lack of surgical masks for health practitioners — one of the reasons behind his possible infection, reports Al-Rai daily.

In a statement to the daily, Al-Enezi confirmed the preventive measures taken by Kuwait exceeded that of Canada and other countries.

On his health condition, he said he is currently suffering from high temperature, which sometimes spikes to more than 39 degrees; in addition to headache, pharyngeal congestion, fatigue and body pain, but he is not experiencing shortness of breath.

He then praised the health capabilities of Kuwait, revealing that Minister of Health Dr Bassel Al-Sabah communicated with him directly as he was in the country for a week — from Feb 24 to March 2 — to assist and give medical opinion on the fight against the emerging coronavirus epidemic.

Infected

He thinks he got infected while performing his medical duties in conditions where there is lack of protection for medical teams. He said even the main hospital — Vancouver General Hospital — lacks surgical masks, such that the hospital is forced to re-sterilize old masks and reuse them.

He added that he addressed Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau through a tweet regarding the lack of surgical masks, especially for physicians treating patients exhibiting symptoms of coronavirus, to ensure prompt action.

He said the Ministry of Higher Education should take into consideration the conditions of doctors dispatched for training in British Columbia, pointing out that one of the priorities of any training program is to ensure the health and safety of doctors.

He explained those infected with coronavirus in Canada are advised to stay at home as long as they do not experience shortness of breath, which is contrary to the directive in Kuwait where the best medical care is provided for all the infected.