With 32 years of experience driving a Muslim hearse, Ibrahim proudly talks about his career saying that its all about dedication. As others may consider his job to be that of a mere driver, what they do not know is that he indirectly earns thawabs for escorting a jenaza

By ThE NEw DAWN REPORTER

In a famous hadith narrated by Abu Huraira, it is said that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said among other five rights a Muslim has over another Muslim is joining a funeral procession heading for burial. Literally, Ibrahim Muhammed has been doing just that for the last 32 years in his line of work as a Muslim hearse driver.

Initially stationed at Jamia Mosque car park in Nairobi’s CBD for quite a number of years but under management of Young Muslim Association (YMA), The New Dawn caught up with Ibrahim, 53, at his new workstation at Westland’s Mosque in Nairobi to get to know what his work as a hearse driver entails.

“After having responded to job vacancy advert and successfully undergone an interview, I have been on duty as a driver ever since among other duties assigned to me,” says Ibrahim.

Incidentally, Ibrahim’s first day of work was during the infamous August 1st, 1982 attempted coup against the regime of then President Daniel Arap Moi.

According to Ibrahim, the hearse only operates within Nairobi area and can be spotted shuttling in between mortuaries, mosques and Muslim cemeteries of Kariokor and Langata.

“In line with Islamic teachings, it is incumbent that when a Muslim dies he/she should be buried within the shortest duration possible,” observes Ibrahim.

However, there are a number of procedures to be complied with before a body is buried. “Firstly, the concerned persons’ relatives should clear pending hospital/mortuary bills before the body is released. Thereafter, a burial permit will be issued to collect the body and that is where I come in,” notes Ibrahim.

“Alternatively, prior arrangements can be made with the management of Young Muslim Association where I in turn get notified,” he adds.

On what it feels like to ferry Muslim dead to their final resting places, Ibrahim says that it is a job like any other though Islamic etiquette on handling the dead has to be observed.

“A Muslim dead body you are transporting was once that of a person youate, talked and even laughed with. It is only now that Allah has cut short his breath,”says Ibrahim.

Thus care should be taken not to talk ill about the body while transporting in the hearse. “A dua (supplication) should be recited before transporting it. Do not talk in a bad way about it but instead talk about the good things he/she did while alive. For example, how he/she used to do good, pray and give to charity/orphans among other good deeds.”

When it came to handling a dead body, a Muslim hearse too has some equipment and protective gear. “A Muslim hearse has among other items protective gloves, a stretcher, mat and pieces of cloth. This is because you are never sure of the state of the body upon the time it met its death. There are those that have accident, fire or gunshot wounds, so you need caution,” explains Ibrahim.

Another observation is that a Muslim hearse can only transport a single dead body at any given time unless it is an emergency. “Unless otherwise, I only transport one body at a time. If a situation compels me to transport more than one body; then they have to be of the same sex and on different stretchers,” says Ibrahim.

In his 32 years of experience, Ibrahim loves his job and cannot recall having any bad incidents worth reporting about. “Generally, Muslims have never looked down upon my work and are times quick to congratulate me for the effort.”

Interestingly, there are also those who have chided him on wishing to take his hearse for a ride. “There those who just wish to have a spin in my hearse,” says Ibrahim.

About how he is able to beat Nairobi’s chaotic traffic snarl ups, Ibrahim observes that though his hearse has no siren, flashing the emergency light bar at the roof of the hearse does the trick. “When traffic police notice the flashing of the emergency light bar, they are quick to hold traffic and make way for me to pass. Others upon noticing it is a body heading for burial quickly, they make it easy for me to proceed.”

Incidentally, this is the third hearse for Ibrahim to ride in his career. “It is every driver’s dream to drive a brand new car and this being the third, I always make sure it is in tip-top condition with my motor vehicle mechanic knowledge,” says Ibrahim.

The New Dawn has also learnt that currently, different mosques in Nairobi have hearses to serve Muslim populations in different areas. For example, according to Ibrahim, Pangani Mosque has three hearses, Eastleigh mosques share one and South C mosque has one and the current one that he rides serves Westland’s area. It is worth mentioning that these mosques have the mandatory Ghusl washing facilities for the Muslim dead. Ghusl is an Arabic term referring to the full body ritual washing before burial.

Worth noting is branding of a Muslim hearse. Whereas non-Muslim hearses are black in colour, Muslim hearses are white with a green stripe running across the vehicle.

At the end of the day, Ibrahim’s job as a hearse driver has seen him educate his children all of whom are now grown up. “Alhamdullilah! I have managed to educate my children and taken to them to driving courses. Others are engaged in other activities. Now, they are fending for
themselves,” Ibrahim says proudly.

At 53 years, Ibrahim looks forward to retiring and leaving his job to capable hands of young men. “This job is about dedication and as a Muslim, one also earning thawabs for escorting the jenaza
(Muslim funeral procession) whether you are doing on foot or driving a hearse.”

Source: The New Dawn