Episode 97.  Burying a child is an unimaginable trauma that no parent should have to face. My guest today, Zeyneb Sayilgan, has sadly needed to endure that pain and grief twice. Through it all, her Muslim faith has sustained her and provided a path for healing. She has joined me to talk about her experience of loss and subsequent growth, as well as the related Islamic beliefs about death and the afterlife. We also touch on where the beliefs are similar to those in Judaism. Zeyneb brings both personal experience and knowledge to this complex topic. Highlights: Zeyneb’s personal religious and cultural backgroundEngagement with death in the Muslim communityComparison of death practices and attitudes in different countriesParallels and differences with Jewish and Christian practicesDetailed overview of Islamic funeral practicesCommunity healing through griefLife's value: time and eternityBio:   Zeyneb Sayilgan, Ph.D., is the Muslim Scholar at ICJS, The Institute for Islamic, Christian, and Jewish Studies in Baltimore, where her research focuses on Islamic theology and spirituality as articulated in the writings of Muslim scholar Bediüzzaman Said Nursi (1876-1960). She is the host of the Podcast On Being Muslim. You can read her publications on her blog.References:https://religionnews.com/2024/05/15/what-the-dead-teach-us-about-life-a-view-from-islams-last-rites/https://uscatholic.org/articles/202410/what-catholics-can-learn-from-muhammad-about-grief/https://muslimmatters.org/2024/12/13/death-the-greatest-teacher/ Social Media and other links for Zeyneb:  On Being Muslim podcastZeyneb’s blogICJS website – www.icjs.orgSuggested episodes on Living Our Beliefs:Elissa Felder episode Bonus episode on TaharaTranscript on BuzzsproutSocial Media and other links for Méli:Website – the Talking with God ProjectMeli’s emailLinkedIn – Meli SolomonFacebook – Meli SolomonFollow the podcast! The Living Our Beliefs podcast is part of the Talking with God Project.