Abstract
<jats:p>This monograph explores the phenomenon of death and funeral practices within Islamic traditions, situating them in their broader cultural, social, and religious contexts. Death is not only a personal or familial concern but a meaningful event that shapes moral conduct, social responsibilities, and religious obligations. The study employs ethnographic and anthropological methods, including participant observation, ritual analysis, and textual examination, to investigate how Islamic funeral rites are performed and interpreted. A special focus is placed on the preparation of the deceased for burial, particularly within the Muslim community in the Czech Republic, highlighting the adaptation of traditional practices to local conditions. The research also examines exceptional circumstances, such as deaths caused by natural disasters, cases of grave desecration, and exhumation, to understand both historical and contemporary challenges in Muslim funerary practices. Regional and historical variations are analyzed through comparative studies of funerary rituals and tomb designs across different Muslim societies, showing how local, social, and religious factors influence the material and symbolic expressions of death. Contributions from fieldwork, including student research, provide unique insights into cemeteries as spaces of aesthetic, social, and cultural significance, beyond their function as places of interment. By combining theoretical and ethnographic perspectives, this monograph illuminates the multifaceted significance of death and burial in Islam, highlighting the interplay between individual, communal, and spiritual dimensions. It offers a foundation for further research on the transformation of funeral practices in diverse Muslim communities, including those in non-Muslim contexts, and contributes to a deeper understanding of the cultural and religious diversity within the Islamic world.</jats:p>