VOLUME 1 ISSUE 1. DEATH.
Arranging final preparations for the dead is never easy, but someone has to do it. In this photo essay, a funeral director takes up the unenviable task of performing the last rites from cleansing and shrouding, to prayer and burial.
Funeral director Syed Osman Alsagoff stands in front of a Pusara Aman (Muslim cemetery) off Lim Chu Kang Road. Since entering the industry in 1997, his work sees him on standby 24 hours a day, every day.
The cold body lie lifelessly on the washing tub. He pulled the latex gloves over his hands while the deceased’s close family members stood silent- some of their eyes still red from tears.
Windows closed, stale, dead air permeated in this room exacerbated by the deathly silence of mourning family members unsure in arranging for the departed.
Water hose and soap soaked in water ready, he recited a prayer. Meticulously he would pour the soap solution and hose the water at various parts of the deceased. Throughout, a batik cloth covers the body and face – shown only when necessary.
Kindly he would instruct us to tilt the body – cold to the touch – left or right so as to cleanse the back and other areas of the body. The body is then dried completely before being wrapped in cotton wool, with sandalwood and camphor sprinkled over the body to disinfect and mask the smell.
He then proceeds to enshroud the body with over three layers of white cloth. It would be the last piece of clothing found on the deceased. The body is then placed in the living room as family would have their final look at the departed.
This is just one of the many rituals funeral director Syed Osman Alsagoff needs to do in an Islamic funeral service.
Driving the funeral van from house to burial site, he said: “If you have the will to find your religion, Allah will make a path for you.”
These eloquent words struck me as he shared his reason for joining an industry not many are willing to do. Having been around for over 12 years under his company name Maal Hijrah Funeral Services, his sole reason was to deepen his knowledge about Islam. For him, death was one such avenue.
On standby for 24 hours, seven days a week, he says that this is his fate and he accepts that he will be called upon to work anytime. “Death does not take an off day,” he adds.
As a one man operator, he does everything from arranging the burial site and bus for mourners, cleansing and enshrouding the bodies, leading the funeral prayers as imam, driving the hearse in a van to the burial site and seeing through the process till the very end. If the deceased is female, only then would he call his female partner to cleanse and enshroud the body.
Till today, his friends salute his decision as this is not something they were willing to do. He echoes this sentiment. “You have to deal with all kinds of bodies. In this line, you cannot be choosy.”
For him, this job gives him the opportunity to meet and advise people about death. For today, he says, you may be arranging the death of your loved one, tomorrow, someone else would be arranging for yours.
As Alsagoff looks over the hundreds of graves in the cemetary, he said: “Which one will mine be eventually?”
TOOLS OF THE TRADE: In Alsagoff’s hearse, a canvas mat used to transfer the deceased from the home to the hearse lays among other equipment needed for a funeral service.
DEATH CONFIRMED (right): Alsagoff makes final checks on documents like the Certificate of Cause of Death issued by the doctor and the Death Certificate before the proceeding with the funeral. Upon confirmation, these documents are faxed from his personal fax machine to Choa Chu Kang Cemetery Booking Office.
CALL OF DUTY (far right): Before leaving for the home of the departed, Alsagoff makes some final phone calls to ensure transportation by bus is provided for those attending the burial of the deceased at the cemetery.
EMPTY ROOM: Cleanse and shroud of the body takes place inside of the room of the deceased. A specially designed washing tub is placed near the bathroom to allow water to drain via a duct. The Body is then laid to rest in the living room for loved ones to pay their last respects.
MASKING DEATH (far left): After Alsagoff cleans the corpse with soap, he rubs camphor and sandalwood rubbed over it. It is customary to use these for disinfection and to mask the smell of decomposition with their sweet scent.
LEFTOVERS (left): During the cleansing and shrouding of the deceased, two bags are emptied of four large rolls of cotton wool, a white cloth, perfumed oil, latex gloves and scissors.
FINAL PRAYER: Before transporting the body to the cemetery, Alsagoff leads the salat-al-jenazah (funeral prayers) with male family members and relatives.
COVERED (far left): The hearse’s cover is secured after the body has been carefully placed inside. Alsagoff supervises to ensure that the funeral proceeds on time. He says “It is advised by the Prophet Muhammad that the funeral service be completely as quickly as possible.”
SAYING GOODBYE (left): Alsagoff stands in front of the hearse covered with flowers and a cloth inscribed with Quranic verses. Before departing for the cemetery, it is customary for a family member to seek forgiveness on behalf of the deceased and express gratitude for all those present.
With three of the closest family members inside the burial crypt, the body is carefully lifted and placed inside. Measuring at three metres in length, a metre and half in width and two metres in depth, the crypt is fully covered with earth.
FINAL DESTINATION: At the cemetery, Alsagoff and family members remove the hearse from the van.
PACKING UP: After the burial, Alsagoff places the hearse and other equipment back into his van.
LAID TO REST: The crypt is sealed with a concrete lid. A burial contractor forms a mound with more earth, shaping it with a cangkul (shovel) before marking it with a grave stone.
CONCLUDING RITES: Family members surround the crypt as Alsagoff conducts final prayers. He says that this ceremony also serves as a reminder to those present that “today we arrange for the dead, tomorrow someone will be arranging for us.”
PAYMENT AND RESPECT: Alsagoff prepares the certificates and a payment receipt for his services. With costs close to SGD1200, families can choose to settle payment at another time if they are unable to afford it. He says, “What is more important is that the funeral service is done properly for the family.”
