"You may think that the shroud of a woman differs from that of a man, but the obligatory amount of shroud for both women and men is the same. Stay with Saad News for more."
What is the difference between the shroud for women and men?
How many pieces does the shroud of the deceased consist of? What is the difference between the shroud of a woman and a man? The word "Kafan" in Arabic means to cover or conceal something, and in Islamic jurisprudence, it refers to the specific manner and order in which a Muslim's body is covered before burial. It is obligatory for Muslims to shroud the deceased before burial, whether the deceased is a woman or a man. You may think that the covering or shrouding of a woman differs from that of a man, but the pieces of the shroud for both the woman and the man are the same. The only differences lie in the recommended practices (Mustahabbat) and the method of shrouding. In this article, we will learn about the differences between the shroud of a woman and a man.
Obligatory Shroud for Men and Women
The shroud consists of obligatory and recommended parts, and the obligatory parts are the same for both men and women.
Lung or Mezar (a cloth that covers the body from the navel to the knees).
Shirt or Qamis (a cloth that covers the body from the shoulder to mid-calf and around the body).
Sertasari or Izaar (a long cloth tied from one side of the body to the other).
Differences in the Shroud for Men and Women
It should be noted that Muslims (whether male or female) do not have any difference in the obligatory parts of the shroud. However, as will be explained later, men and women only differ in the recommended practices related to the shroud. The length of the shroud does not have a fixed measure and can vary depending on the height and build of the deceased. The number of knots in the shroud also does not have any specific significance.
Recommended Shroud for Men
One of the recommended practices for the male shroud, which differs from the female shroud, is the use of a turban. The turban is placed on the deceased's head, and then both ends are passed under the chin and draped over the chest. (The right end of the turban is placed on top of the left end, and vice versa, with both ends resting on the chest of the deceased).
Recommended Shroud for Women
In the difference between the male and female shroud, one of the recommended practices for women is the headscarf (or maqna). A white cloth is tied around the deceased woman’s head as a scarf. Another difference is the covering (Lifafa), a cloth wrapped around the chest, which is tied behind the back. Therefore, the difference between the male and female shroud lies in the recommended practices, which include the turban for the male and the headscarf, second and third coverings for the female. The other recommended practices in the shroud for both men and women are the same.
Ayatollah Khamenei’s Opinion on the Difference between the Shroud of Women and Men
There is no difference between the shroud of a man and a woman in terms of the obligatory parts.
The esteemed religious authorities state that a Muslim (whether male or female) must be shrouded with three pieces: the Lung, Shirt, and Sertasari.
The lung should cover the body from the navel to the knees, and it is preferred that it covers from the chest to the feet.
The shirt should cover from the shoulder to halfway down the leg, and it is better if it reaches the feet.
The length of the Sertasari should be sufficient to tie both ends, and its width should be such that one side overlaps the other.
The recommended practices for the shroud include: the runpej, the covering above the obligatory covering, the turban for men, the headscarf for women, the jiretin, and the placement of cotton to cover the private parts.
