Cremation is strongly associated with the faith and not only tolerated but encouraged as the traditional passing preference for Hindus. This is because Hindus believe that cremation helps encourage the soul to leave the body as part of the ongoing process of reincarnation.
Dharmic religions originated in ancient India. Almost all people adhering to Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism choose cremation as the traditional method of disposal of the dead, which makes the Republic of India one of the countries with the highest cremation rate in the world.
Another important Jewish death custom is the cleaning of the body. Newborn children are washed immediately upon entering the world, and so, the Torah says, should the dead be cleaned before leaving it – “As we come forth, so we shall return." (Ecclesiastes 5:14).
Buddhists typically favor cremation because they believe it is an important way to release the soul from the physical form. Buddha himself was cremated, so his followers often follow his lead. But burial with embalming is allowed, too. Buddhism also allows the donation of organs and autopsies.
Muslims are always buried, never cremated. It is a religious requirement that the body be ritually washed and draped before burial, which should be as soon as possible after death. Those carrying out this duty should be immunised against hepatitis B and be aware of the hazards of AIDS.
While cremation may not be the preferred method of disposition for Catholics, it is an option that is permissible by the Catholic Church under certain circumstances. Catholic families who are considering cremation should consult with their priest to ensure that they are following the Catholic Church's guidelines.
Of all world religions, Islam is probably the most strongly opposed to cremation. Unlike Judaism and Christianity, there is little diversity of opinion about it. Cremation is considered by Islam to be an unclean practice.
The Jewish funeral consists of a burial, also known as an interment. Cremation is forbidden. Burial is considered to allow the body to decompose naturally, therefore embalming is forbidden. Burial is intended to take place in as short an interval of time after death as possible.
Sikh cremation
As with many Asian religions, Sikhs believe that the physical body serves no purpose but to house the soul. For that reason, cremation is usually preferred, but burying is also accepted. However, no headstone or monument is allowed.
While traditionally inhumation was favoured, in the present day the dead are often cremated rather than buried, particularly in large cities in China.
Muslim tradition to bury without the coffin comes from an interpretation from the Koran, the Muslim holy book, which says “From the earth We created you, and into it We will return you, and from it We will extract you another time.”
Islamic belief holds that only Allah knows what is good or bad for us and that the body should be treated with the utmost respect in life and in death. Burning the dead is considered a form of mutilation, forbidden by Allah.
A Jew who is descended from a line of the priestly class known as Kohen is not allowed to intentionally come into contact with a dead body, nor approach too closely to graves within a Jewish cemetery.
For thousands of years, Jewish law has held that burial in the ground was the only acceptable option for the Jewish faith. And yet today, despite tradition and continued opposition from some in the Jewish community, many Jews are choosing cremation instead of – or as part of – traditional burial.
During cremation, the body parts that do burn consist of organs, soft tissue, hair, and skin, while the water in our bodies evaporates. The body parts that do not burn are bone fragments. Teeth usually burn during cremation, but not entirely.
Increasingly, more Australians are choosing to be cremated. In 2020, 65 percent of people chose to be cremated.
Cremation is usually favored in Buddhism, but burial is also permitted. The burial or cremation usually takes place right after the funeral. In some Buddhist traditions, such as Mahayana Buddhism, the funeral takes place a few days after the death to allow the first stage of rebirth to occur.
As Sikhs believe the physical body only houses the soul, cremation is usually preferred. Burial is also accepted, but there will be no headstone or monument allowed. Organ donations and donating of the body to medical science are both permitted. Funerals typically take place at a Gurdwara (Sikh temple).
The body is merely a vessel on this journey. Since the soul cannot die, Sikhs do not mourn the decedent. Instead, they celebrate those they have lost and pray the decedent's soul will return to God. These beliefs influence how you should act at a Sikh funeral.
Shiva is held for family and friends to begin the healing process. The mirrors in the home may be covered. This is a Jewish custom because during the mourning period the family is not to concern themselves with their own reflection, so there is no need for mirrors.
Judaism teaches that honor, respect and caring for a person who has died is one of the greatest mitzvot (commandments). It is Jewish practice to bury the deceased as quickly as possible to provide comfort for their soul and expedite the person's journey to the Next World.
A Jew who is a Cohen, a descendant of the priestly class, will only attend the funeral and burial of his immediate family as he is otherwise forbidden to come near a corpse. You may see a close friend or relative who is a Cohen remain outside the funeral parlor or cemetery because of this law.
Muslims are always buried without embalming and are never cremated. The deceased should be buried as soon as possible, usually within 24 hours, and the burial should be as close to the site of death as possible, preferably within 1-2 miles.
History. In Christian countries, cremation fell out of favor due to the Christian belief in the physical resurrection of the body. Christians also used burial as a mark of difference from the Iron Age European pre-Christian Pagan religions, which usually cremated their dead.
The Islamic faith doesn't allow coffins or burial caskets. Instead, those burying the body will place stones or wood at the bottom of the grave to prevent the body from contacting the soil and gently lay their loved one on top with their right side facing the qibla.