Christians need to learn something from Muslims....

Garissa Senator Yusuf Haji died in the early hours of Monday morning and buried in less than 24 hours as per Muslim burial customs, despite belonging to the Kenyan elite class, being a very influential politician in his community and enjoyed the trappings of power.

Despite his stature, he was buried like every other Muslim - it didn’t matter who he was while alive. 

According to Muslim burial rites, a body is rarely transported instead, one is buried where they have passed away and as quickly as possible.

The burial should take place where death (maut) happens. That is why Senator Haji was buried in Nairobi and not Garissa.

The remains are wrapped in a simple plain cloth (the Kafan) which costs less than Sh. 500. After that, instead of a coffin, the deceased is transported to the mosque in a Janaza that is returned after use and reused by another family.

The Janaza is taken to the mosque and placed at the back awaiting the normal prayers.

After the normal prayers are over, worshipers are informed about the presence of the body of a departed brother or sister and requested to remain behind.

It is considered a blessing to take part in such a ceremony even if you were not known to the departed. At that point, many people especially the youth help to ferry the body to the front.

Before the body leaves for its final resting place, the family led by the eldest son and the Imam ask if there is anyone who owed the departed anything.

If the deceased owed anyone anything, the son or immediate family male members are expected to take responsibility for the debt.

After that, final prayers led by the Imam are conducted and the entourage leaves for the cemetery.

At the graveyard, immediate family members preferably sons and brothers to the deceased go inside the grave.

According to Islam burial customs, women are not allowed at the gravesite. If they attend, they can only watch from a distance.

After arriving at the cemetery, the body is removed from the Janaza and placed inside a grave that has a mould of mud which acts as a pillow where the head of the deceased is placed. Additionally, the body faces the right side towards Mecca.

Wooden planks are used to enclose where the body is placed and if there is no wood, concrete slabs can be used.

Once done, family members step out of the grave and soil is poured in.

This is followed by a quick sermon that can take five to 10 minutes and the ceremony ends.

There are no speeches or protocols at the mosque or the burial site regardless of the status of the deceased.

At the mosque and burial site all are equal