article by a Learner from Clydesdale

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This is a sad story, but interesting to read about the different cultures.

A Solemn Occasion

Over the summer a sad thing happened. The daughter of a long-standing friend had to go into hospital unexpectedly. While she was in, her condition got suddenly worse and the

family were called for. But it was too late. She died, leaving two young children. She was only thirty one.

On the day of the funeral I left the house at 12 o’ clock to go down to my pal’s house, where we all got into a minibus to go to the funeral parlour for prayers. My friend’s husband, who is Pakistani, wanted to give his daughter a funeral which was both Scottish and Islamic. The service at the funeral parlour was the Scottish part.

After this part of the service we went to the mosque. We were taken up the stairs and asked politely to take off our shoes and chairs were brought for us to sit on. The men were downstairs and the women up the stairs. There were readings from the Koran, starting at 2 p.m. and lasting till 2.30. Then it was read in English.

We sat and listened to the different languages and how the prayers are done in the mosque. It was interesting.

We then went to the graveside and we put some flowers in the grave. First we dropped in red roses, then the men in the family laid soil on top. Then we dropped in black roses and the men covered these in turn with another layer of soil. Finally we dropped in white roses for the deceased, then the rest of the soil was put in, the grass was laid on top and flowers spread over the top of this.

We were at the grave for an hour before the burial was complete and the last flowers were laid.

After the burial ceremony we went to the Bowling Club for soup, tea and coffee.

Learner from Clydesdale

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