THE FUNERAL AND BURIAL PRACTICES AMONG THE MAGUINDANAON IN BRGY. AMBALGAN STO. NIÑO SOUTH COTABATO

This is a study on the Funeral and Burial Practice among the Maguindanaon of Barangay Ambalgan, Sto. Niño, South Cotabato. It aimed to present how the Maguindananon managed the funeral and burial of their dead. Included in the study are the bases o their practice whether Islamic or local customs, and also the significance of funeral and burial practice among them. Results are: Almost all the Maguindanaon in Barangay Ambalgan practice funeral and burial in accordance with Islam and local customs, though incline more on the Islamic tradition. They also managed to practice all the needed procedure in the funeral and burial practice for the dead, such as talqeen or guiding the dying person to recite the testimony of faith or Shahada before his/her death; closing of eyes, bathing and wudhu, putting camphor or powder or perfume, shrouding, prayer for the dead, and finally burial. In the actual burial, the Islamic and local practice are done. Other practice related to funeral and burial that are not common among other Muslims and in Islam are specifically practice such as commemoration of the 3rd, 7th, 20, 40th, and 100 days anniversary of the dead, among others. The Maguindanaon Practice of funeral and burial of their dead is an evidence of the possible synthesis or mixing of the Islamic rules and the existing local customs among the people.