Towards ensuring a befitting ritual bath for a Muslim corpse, the Lagos Secretariat Community Central Mosque (LSCCM) has built a modern Janazah bay to purify Muslim dead as prescribed in the Holy Quran and Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (SAW).

The facility is equipped with modern equipment and there are well-trained corpse washer for easy purification of the corpse.

Speaking during official opening of the facility, the Chairman of LSCCM and Overseer of Shamsideen Adisa Thomas Mosque, Old Secretariat, Dr. Tajudeen Afolabi, said the facility became obligatory to the community, as ritual purification of the dead is mandatory in Islam

“When the executives took over the affairs of the mosque, we noticed that people that are brought in here for janazah prayer usually ask us where they will perform the ritual birth. More importantly when the former head of service in Lagos State, Alhaji Rafiu Tinubu died, his body was brough from Abuja and taken directly to LSCCM for Janazah but we could not provide a Janazah bay for his ritual bath and this took all of us aback. So, we conceived the Idea to provide one within the vicinity of the mosque.

“It took time before we could decide on the best location to erect the Janazah bay. Alhamdulillah, I am happy that we have the first of its kind in Alausa Community Central Mosque.”

He added that the bay is environmental friendly and first of it kind in Lagos State.

“I don’t think there is any mosque in Lagos State with such a modern Janazah bay. It is equipped with a washing tube and a flat slab where the dead will be shroud. There is provision for hot and cold water, likewise a bathroom and toilet for the copse washer to clean up. There is also provision for a separate septic tank whereby water used for the ritual bath will be collected to avoid environmental pollution.”

Afolabi said the facility is not commercialised, the bereaved were only required to provide disinfectant in case the facility runs out of such items.

“We are not collecting a dime from anybody, it is open to the general public 24 hours daily. Deceased families are expected to come with shroud cloth, meet the mosque manager or any official of the mosque for permission to bathe their corpse, which they will be allowed with no delay or bureaucracy.”

He also disclosed that the community is planning to acquire an expanse of land around Odonguyan axis of Ikorodu council, which would serve as a cemetery for Muslims in Lagos.

“He prays to Allah to give the community impetus to provide a commentary, where the dead can be buried. We are negotiating land at IKorodu and I pray to Almighty Allah that before the end of our tenure, we should be able to get a cemetery for the Mosque. So that Muslim dead will be buried there.”

He advised Muslims to endeavour to replicate the facility in their various mosques.

“Islam is the best religion and it encourage cleanliness during our lifetime and after death. Almighty Allah has ordained to clean our dead before they are buried. So, I will advise every Mosque in the country to make sure they have a standard Janazah bay.”

The First Vice Chairman LSCCM and Chairman Maintenance Community, Alhaji Muritadah Adekunle Balogun, said the facilities have provision for 10 people per day or more about over 30, 000 persons in a year.

“We don’t pray that people should die but definitely we are Muslim we will die one day. Whoever wants to take advantage of these facilities among the members of the Ummah is welcome. We have trained 15 officers that will man the facility both male and female. When a male corpse comes the male officer will be in charge and when a female corpse is brought in the female official will handle it under the supervision of the Imam of the mosque.

He assured that all the precautionary measures will be observed at the bay, likewise Sunnatic provision as taught by the prophet (SAW).

Imam of LSCCM, Abdul Gafar AbdulHakeem assured that the corpse washers working at the bay were well trained on the theoretical and practical steps of Janazah . And after rigorous training they were all asked to practicalised what they learn to ensure they possessed the adequate knowledge of ritual bathing.” He urged Muslims to always make provisions for the dead as Islam encourages it.

“ As we are making provision for the living, let’s endeavor to also make provision for the dead. We cannot just continue to build mosques to purify the soul and neglecting the dead.

“Today we complain that Muslim corpse were not taken care as enjoined by Allah, as Muslims what are we doing to correct this irregularities. To correct it, this facility should be available in all Central Mosques. As we are donating for mosque maintenance, we should also endeavour to raise money to build a Janazah bay,” he said.