Understanding Autopsy and Its Purpose
Autopsy is the post-mortem anatomic dissection and examination of a dead body. Varying traditions, beliefs, and practices relating to death can be found in all cultures and religions, and they have resulted in conflict regarding autopsy. Religious beliefs and cultures have influenced the treatment of dead bodies in different ways throughout history, and attitudes towards death and the deceased have changed across time, as have the role and mechanism of autopsy. In this article, we will briefly consider autopsy and the Islamic perspective.
What Is an Autopsy?
An autopsy is a surgical procedure that consists of a thorough examination of a corpse by dissection to determine the cause, mode, and manner of death. An autopsy is carried out by pathologists (doctors who specialise in understanding the nature and causes of disease) to evaluate any disease or injury that may be present for research or educational purposes.
This entails a preliminary visual examination of the entire body, including the organs and internal structures. Then, microscopic, chemical, and microbiological examinations may be made of the organs, fluids, and tissues. This may involve the removal and examination of organs; all organs that are removed for examination are weighed, and a section is preserved for processing into microscopic slides. After being examined, the organs are returned to the body; organic material is not usually retained without explicit consent from the coroner (presiding medical official who is authorised to conduct an autopsy) or the next of kin of the deceased.
Alternatives to Traditional Autopsy
Although research is limited, there are alternative methods to traditional autopsy, such as MRI and CT scans. MRI, or magnetic resonance imaging, is a type of scan that uses strong magnetic fields and radio waves to produce detailed images of the inside of the body. One of the earliest reports of whole-body MRI as an alternative to conventional autopsy was in 1996. This study found that, in 60% of cases, MRI had equivalent or better diagnostic sensitivity than conventional autopsy, making it a very good non-invasive alternative to autopsy.
Other studies of CT (computerised tomography) scans, which use X-rays and a computer to create detailed images of the inside of the body, had shown that CT scanning was a more accurate imaging technique than even MRI for identifying a cause of death. The error rate when radiologists (medical professionals who conduct scans) provided a confident cause of death using scanning was similar to that for the clinical method of determining cause of death. As CT scans showed a similar accuracy rate to the conventional method, it may also be reliably used for issuing death certificates and could therefore be acceptable for medicolegal purposes.
The Islamic View on Autopsy
Islam teaches us to treat the body of a deceased person with absolute gentleness, dignity and respect. In this way one honours the sanctity of the human body, which Allah Almighty has entrusted to mankind, as well as honouring the departing soul in its final journey, returning to its Lord. Showing due regard to the body of a departed soul also reflects one’s own character and appreciation for life and death.
The body of a deceased person continues to perceive what is happening to it as well as around it because the senses of the soul, as yet connected to the human body, are amplified upon death. Therefore, the way we handle a dead body must be gentle and careful to avoid causing any pain or discomfort to the deceased.
Islamic Guidelines for Treating the Deceased Body with Dignity
The following are some of the conditions observed in Islam to ensure maintaining the dignity of a dead body:
- Retaining the purity and sanctity of the body by not allowing any pollutants to come into contact with the body, especially after Ghusul (major ritual purification bath)
- Not applying any make-up or anything of the like to the dead body
- Turning the head of the deceased to face their right (to face towards Ka’bah Shareef, the blessed direction of prayer, in the grave); closing the jaws and the eyes; keeping hands to the side and straightening the body
- Ensuring the body is covered at all times, before and after shrouding
- Family and friends reciting the noble Quran and Zikr, Remembrances of Allah Almighty, aloud in the presence of the deceased (preferably after Ghusul of the body) so the deceased can benefit from this
- Avoiding large numbers of people gathering around the dead body to ensure that the environment is calm and peaceful, in keeping with the Prophetic Sunnah
- Not disturbing the body in any way, especially avoiding touching or shaking the body
- Limiting any physical contact to be by only the permissible people, Mahram, but even this should generally be avoided after Ghusul has been performed
- Not disturbing the Kaffan, shroud, once donned and maintaining the shrouding of the body
- Burying swiftly and avoiding unnecessary delays, as the Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (Peace be upon him) said:
“Hasten at a funeral, for if (the dead person) is good, you would (soon) bring him close to the good. And if it is otherwise, it is an evil of which you are ridding yourselves.”
Why Traditional Autopsy Conflicts with Islamic Teachings
We can see from the above Islamic conditions observed for a deceased person that the process of traditional autopsy is contradictory to the way Islam explains how a deceased body should be treated. It also demonstrates the Islamic perspective towards a deceased body; just as it is forbidden to harm and violate the sanctity of the human body when it is alive, it is also forbidden to harm and violate the sanctity of the body after its passing.
This is because the sense of perception of the deceased human body, through its connection to the soul, is significantly amplified. This is not merely a physical perception but a heightened spiritual perception too, as the body can hear the recitation of the noble Quran and Zikr and perceive the environment around it.
Qadr (Divine Decree) and Accepting the Will of Allah Almighty
As a Muslim, it is important to hold conviction and belief in the Qadr, the pre-destined decree, of Allah Almighty; to recognise that He knows everything and has already decided everything that will happen. This means knowing that every single person shall taste death and depart this world in exactly the way in which Allah Almighty has ordained.
To overly dwell on the cause of passing and investigate it through the physically invasive procedure of autopsy is something every Muslim should seek to avoid. Where it is necessary for legal or moral reasons, then every precaution should be taken to ensure it may be done in the most non-invasive method possible, such as the alternatives discussed in this article. May Allah Almighty make the process of our passing from this world and being laid to rest without disturbance an easy one for us all.