‘Bury me without delay’: Mother’s burial kit and notes stir emotions online

SHAH ALAM – A tender and soul-stirring moment shared by Nor Azzuana Masshar on Instagram has captured the hearts of Malaysians after she revealed finding a bag her late mother had lovingly prepared for her own funeral, complete with personal notes and essential burial items.

The post, uploaded on the @jentikhati account, has since gone viral, reminding many of the quiet, selfless love of mothers and the importance of being prepared for death in both practical and spiritual ways.

While sorting through her late mother’s belongings in Kedah, Azzuana stumbled upon a bag unlike any other.

It was filled with items her mother had gathered in advance, each one chosen not for herself but for the ease of those she would one day leave behind.

Inside were all the necessities for an Islamic funeral: a kain kafan (shroud), cloth mats and even attar oil.

More than just practical, each item came with a deeply personal note in her mother’s handwriting. One read, “The cloth to cover Mak (mother)’s lifeless body.”

Another note, pinned to the mattress liner cloth, read, “The mattress liner cloth used to lay down Mak’s lifeless body.”

More than just practical, each item from the funeral bag came with a deeply personal note in her mother’s handwriting. Photo: Instagram / @jentikhati

But perhaps the most poignant message was her mother’s final instruction, left to ease the family’s burden: “Please bury my body as soon as possible. There’s no need to wait for anyone.”

The post has resonated widely across social media, sparking deep emotional responses from viewers moved by the foresight, grace and love evident in the late mother’s final preparations.

Many commented on how it served as a powerful reminder of a mother’s never-ending care, even beyond her lifetime.

Azzuana’s viral story not only highlights a personal moment of grief but also raises awareness of the cultural and religious preparations that often go unspoken.

Her mother’s bag contained items commonly used in Islamic funeral rites, such as shroud, cotton rolls, attar oil and prayer mats, each vital to ensuring a respectful and dignified burial.

A tender and soul-stirring moment shared by Nor Azzuana Masshar on Instagram has captured the hearts of Malaysians after she revealed finding a bag her late mother had lovingly prepared for her own funeral, complete with personal notes and essential burial items. Photo: Canva

In Islam, preparing for death is considered a spiritual duty and Azzuana’s mother exemplified this with extraordinary detail and humility.

Among the key items used in Islamic burial ceremonies are:

• White cloth, or kain kafan, which is used to enshroud the body.
• Camphor, or kapur barus, an essential substance used to reduce odour and delay decomposition. It is prepared in two forms: powdered camphor is sprinkled onto the cloth and cotton rolls, while camphor mixed with water is used as the final wash after the body is cleaned with soap.
• Cotton rolls, commonly used to protect the body and pad joints during the burial process.
• Attar oil, a fragrant perfume oil, is applied to the cloth and cotton rolls during enshrouding. In Islamic tradition, applying attar oil is part of presenting oneself in a purified state before God.

Through her carefully written notes and deliberate preparations, Azzuana’s late mother offered more than a set of instructions, she gifted her children with peace of mind, a final act of maternal care that spoke louder than words ever could.