Beyond mourning: A qualitative exploration of the psychosocial effects of muslim death rituals in contemporary Turkey

The loss of a loved one can cause intense grief, and religious rituals play a significant role in coping with this pain. This study explores the psychosocial impact of religious rituals on grief within Turkish-Islamic society. Twenty-two participants who had lost a close relative were selected through purposive sampling on Instagram and Twitter. The average age was 33 ± 9.1; 68.2% were female, and 72.7% were single. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) focused on individual experiences, while Thematic Analysis (TA) identified shared themes. Three main themes emerged: social unity, confronting death, and family cohesion. Participants highlighted the importance of funeral prayers, Mevlid, and Quran recitation during mourning. Collective rituals were found to strengthen social support, while family-based rituals promoted emotional sharing and stronger family ties. The findings show the positive effects of religious rituals on grief and emphasize the need for spiritually informed approaches in mental health counseling.