An Exploratory Study of Muslim Girls' Understanding of Death

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between age and the understanding of death and its various components. The sample consisted of forty Muslim children who were divided into two groups according to age. The subjects, all girls, were given a biographical inventory, classification and conservation tasks, and an author constructed a death understanding questionnaire. Significant differences were found in the children's understanding of life in the hereafter and in their ideas regarding recognition of death, premonition of death, mortality of individuals, and the finality of death. The significant and non-significant relationships were discussed with respect to the aims of this study. Practical implications and suggestions for further research were discussed.