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Her creed is dignity in death

IT is one of the most ancient yet unusual professions in the world and now Oldhamer Nazia Saleem has taken it up by becoming the UK's first Muslim female embalmer.
The 28-year-old qualified after two years of intensive training to become an expert filling a huge gap in the market, as there is a great demand for Muslim female practitioners.
The mother of four said she was originally studying to become a pharmacist when she changed her mind after assisting an embalming at the funeral parlour run by her husband.
She said: "I was their one afternoon while they were preparing the body of young Muslim women.
"I assisted with the embalming but while I was doing this, I made sure she was covered properly while her body was being prepared.
"I did as much as I could to safeguard her modesty even after death.
"I read prayers beforehand and felt this was the correct way to treat her, with respect according to her religion and I felt her family would have really appreciated it.
"A non-Muslim embalmer would just have carried out their work and would not have thought about the religious and cultural side of things as I did.
"My husband's friend then suggested that as I didn't mind being around dead bodies, that I should consider embalming as a career. So I gave up my pharmacy studies and enrolled on an embalming course."
Nazia told her family about her future plans, they were all surprised but when she explained there were no other Muslim female embalmers they supported her choice of career and she started training with the British Institute of Embalming.
Her achievement is all the more remarkable considering the obstacles Nazia faced.
She held down two part-time jobs whilst studying, as well as bringing up her children.
One of the children was born prematurely part way through her two-year college course, and faced a life-fight that took up much of her time and energy.
Despite this, Nazia was determined to see her challenge through.
She said: "When I look back at the amount of work I had to do, I can't believe I got through it all. But my family supported me hugely."
During her course, Nazia has come across some harrowing and emotional sights, including children who had been in accidents.
"The worst was a young boy who had been involved in a train crash. His body had been badly maimed. It was very difficult to deal with as you can imagine the pain and horror he must have gone through.
"The first time I came across a child's body I had to go home. It was a four-your-old child and halfway through the embalming procedure I couldn't take it anymore and left. It is harder to deal with when they are so young.
"But now that I've completed my training I'm able to cope with all situations and all ages but I guess sometimes I will get emotional."
Nazia will start working in three months time and hopes to open up her own embalming service to cater for the Muslim community.
Embalming has been recorded in history as far back as the Egyptians. Back in those days, only the wealthy were embalmed or mummified, as it was known then. And history has shown that the Egyptian mummies were well preserved for thousands of years.
As part of the embalming procedure, all blood is drained from the body before it is filled with disinfecting fluid to stop it from decomposing.

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