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Last night, I attended my first halaqa -- a meeting to discuss issues of faith in the Islamic community (kind of like a Bible study). It was a young, diverse crowd of 20-somethings from a variety of backgrounds. The topic was most interesting: death, grief, and Islamic burial practices. 

We began by discussing the formalities involved in the treatment of the body and the duration of mourning. The burial must occur within 24 hours of death. The body of the deceased is to be washed, the hair combed, after which a white garment is to be wrapped around the body (similar to that worn on the hajj).

The salat al-janazah (community prayers meant for burial) is performed, and the body is laid to rest six feet below the ground. The grieving process is restricted to three days after the death, except in the case of the widow who mourns for a period of four months and ten days. 

Overall, burial is a cathartic event for the Muslim community. The quick preparation, burial, and prayers for the deceased provide a framework (even granting permission) for grieving while giving parameters for that expression. 

On a more personal level, I was struck by the attitude of the attendees toward the many protocols surrounding burial. Rather than viewing them as more chores to perform, my new Muslim friends receive a sense of comfort from the rites, whether it be burial or another occasion. Participating in this discussion allowed me to wrestle with the Bible's ambiguity on the subject of burial, as well as the ambiguity of life in general.

At a recent seminar I attended, the speaker stated that "adulthood only comes with ambiguity." Becoming an adult requires me to work through this ambiguity in a nuanced manner rather than the black-and-white thinking that characterized my life for so long.

This is why experiences like these are so valuable; they allow me to come into contact with ideas that, while very different from my own beliefs, sharpen my faith and how I live it out.