Which monument is better to put on a Muslim grave? Muslim funeral traditions and grave monuments
The multinationality of Russia in general and Moscow in particular is reflected in the ritual sphere. In addition to Protestant tombstones, modern workshops produce Muslim gravestones that are specific and unlike other designs.
Muslim monuments: photographs, epitaphs and symbolism
Muslims are a religious and pious community that regulates not only their actions, but also their thoughts in accordance with the most important scripture - the Koran. The canons described in this book decide to decorate the graves of the deceased in a special way, giving preference to rigor and modesty. However, there are practically no structural differences between tombstone structures for Muslims and ritual items for Orthodox believers.
Most often these are granite or marble steles, which can be decorated with carved and contrasting color bas-relief. Obelisks or columns are often made, but sculptural compositions are almost never installed as Muslim gravestones, as evidenced by numerous photographs of Muslim cemeteries.
If the base of the tombstone is made according to a simple and strict sketch, the craftsmen can offer a laconic and simple decoration in the traditional style of Islam. This can be a shape of the product, carved in the form of an arch, a dome or a sharp end, the top of which is the traditional Muslim crescent.
Despite the fact that in recent years there has been a kind of relaxation in Sharia rules and canons, the application of photographs of the deceased on any part of the monument is still prohibited. The same rule applies in principle to any images. The only pictures and inscriptions that can decorate a Muslim monument on a grave are not photos, but religious symbols or geometric designs and edging. However, for grave goods intended to be placed on the grave of a deceased woman, decoration in the form of carved flowers or floral designs is permitted.
As for epitaphs, when choosing their style, it is best to focus on the words of the Muslim Prophet or speeches from the suras of the Koran. It must be remembered that these should not be words of sorrow or love, since the Muslim faith has a different attitude towards death - it is approaching Allah, therefore it is wrong to grieve for a believer who has moved to another level of existence.
Traditions of decorating a Muslim grave
Islam is a fairly strict religion that does not imply any pomp or pretentiousness. This rule applies to absolutely all ritual Muslim aspects - funeral ceremonies, paraphernalia, purchasing and making monuments, designing a burial site in a cemetery, and even the last attire of the deceased.
Most often, graves in Muslim cemeteries look strict and laconic. There are no grave flower beds, no ritual fences, or other other attributes at the burial site. For the most part, compared with the traditional Christian ritual method of decorating a resting place, Muslim gravestones, both in photographic (visual) characteristics and in design parameters, are more reminiscent of European tombstones.
The granite workshop “40 Days” provides services for the production of Muslim monuments for graves of all sizes and options at low prices.
Muslim monuments for the grave are chosen very carefully. This is the only thing that relatives and friends of the deceased can do for him. When equipping a grave and designing a tombstone, Muslims are guided by Sharia laws, which clearly regulate funeral rites. The faithful prepare for death in advance, realizing its inevitability and making peace with it. They collect money and select things necessary for the burial ritual. It is believed that if a person takes care of his funeral in advance, he will be granted the highest grace.
Ancient burial traditions in Islam
At the dawn of the spread of Islam, performing ritual ceremonies during the burial of Muslims, visiting and honoring their graves were prohibited. Funeral traditions were characteristic of Arab culture during the times of paganism (jahiliya). Despite the ban, ancient pagan rituals penetrated Islam. They are intertwined with religious elements and have become an integral part of the culture of many Muslim communities.
As the position of Islam strengthened, fears about the revival of paganism and polytheism began to gradually dissipate. Therefore, the attitude towards funeral traditions has become less strict. The ban on visiting Muslim graves was lifted by the Prophet Muhammad himself. He believed that going to the cemetery would remind people of death and make them think about their lives. Although visiting graves was no longer frowned upon, veneration of the dead remained prohibited.
Muslim theologians of the early period condemned any manifestations of veneration of the dead. It was forbidden to make pilgrimages to the graves of respected Muslims, to erect mausoleums and mosques over their burial places, to worship them and ask for their protection. According to beliefs, large and richly decorated monuments cause discord among the dead, depriving them of well-deserved bliss. Therefore, all previously created buildings in cemeteries were destroyed.
The laws of Islam also strictly regulated the actions of the faithful in relation to their deceased relatives. They forbade Muslims from gathering near the burial site and performing sacrifices in cemeteries. Muslim authorities condemned the design of tombstones with materials that used fire (gypsum, cement). Fire is the most famous form of punishment in Hell. It can bring hellish torment on the deceased.
A memorial sign in the form of a stone or tombstone was allowed to be placed on the grave of a Muslim.
Islamic traditions prescribe not to leave inscriptions, images or patterns on a tombstone.
The surface of the grave mound or gravestone can be above ground level at a height of no higher than 4 fingers. This height is enough to reveal the grave. The covering of the grave must be perfectly smooth.
Place for a Muslim grave
The grave (kabr) is dug in the Muslim cemetery closest to the place of death. It is impossible to bury a Muslim among people of other faiths. If the wife of a believer belonged to a different faith, she is buried separately.
The burial place is selected taking into account that the face of the deceased is turned towards Qibla. Qibla is a symbol of monotheism and Islam. Directing the face of the deceased towards the Holy Mosque is a sign of his worship of Allah. The tradition of pointing the face of the deceased and the front part of the tombstone towards Mecca is strictly observed to this day.
The grave must be located in such a way that one can freely walk to it without stepping on or stepping over the graves of other people.
Islamic laws prohibit stepping not only on someone else's grave, but also on the place where a relative is buried.
Islam allows two dead people to be buried in one grave. Repeated burial is carried out when the corpse in the grave has completely decayed (after 50 years). Between the bodies you need to make a partition of earth or stone slabs. Unless absolutely necessary, deceased persons of the same sex or a woman and a man who are each other's mahrams are not buried in the same grave (marriage between them is prohibited).
How Muslim graves are built
The traditional Muslim grave contains a depression in which the body is placed (lyahd). The depth of the grave should be such that a person with his arms raised up can completely fit into it (about 225 cm). However, if it is not possible to dig such a hole, you can use a less deep one. The main thing is that its depth is sufficient to prevent animals from reaching the body.
The length of the grave should slightly exceed the height of the deceased.
The width of the pit is usually half its length (80–100 cm). The pit must be wide enough so that the people carrying out the burial can descend into it.
On the side that is closer to the Qibla, the lahd is placed. Its height is 55 cm and its width is 50 cm. Part of the lakhda is located in a niche outside the burial pit. The niche is 25 cm deep into the wall. The lyakhd is also 20 cm below the floor of the grave.
If the soil is loose, the wall of the lakhda is reinforced with a stone or wooden wall. It is also necessary to strengthen the ceiling in the niche. The corpse is covered with a thinner slab so that the earth does not cover the body. Stones or earth are placed under the head and back of the deceased so that his face is directed towards the Qibla. In this case, the right cheek of the deceased should be pressed tightly to the ground.
Instead of a lyakhda, a shikka is built. Shikka is a recess at the bottom of a pit, reminiscent of a ditch. Stone or wooden walls are installed on its sides. The top of the shikku is covered with slabs and the grave is covered with earth.
The surface of the tombstone should not be below ground level. If the soil is loose, you need to pour more soil onto the grave. When it subsides, the hill above the grave will remain.
2 stones are placed on the grave - at the level of the head and feet.
The top of the tombstone is sprinkled with crushed stone, then water is sprinkled on it so that the pebbles are pressed tightly to the ground. This will make the surface of the grave even.
Modern funeral traditions in Islam
Although inscriptions on gravestones are prohibited in Islam, it is permissible to mark the grave with the name of the deceased so that his grave can be located. In the modern world, Muslim theologians are less strict about the prohibition of using images of people and photographs on tombstones.
According to Islamic beliefs, images of people and animals make believers forget about God and provoke madness. The faithful begin to worship not Allah, but the depicted people and animals. But recently, the mosque began to allow images of people to be made on tombstones and their photographs to be installed. At the insistence of relatives, even images of animals can be made.
Despite the relaxation of the rules of the funeral ritual, most Muslim monuments have a laconic appearance. The most common is a monolithic slab, the top of which is made in the shape of a mosque or minaret dome. In addition to the name and date of death of the deceased, the words of the prophet or excerpts from Muslim surahs in Arabic script are engraved on the stone.
The monument to the deceased woman depicts modest floral ornaments, as well as thematic compositions characterizing the type of activity of the deceased.
On women's tombstones, a design in the form of a hat or scarf is carved. They often depict a bouquet containing as many flowers as the number of children the woman gave birth to and raised.
Tombstones of deceased men have images of minarets, mosques or thematic pictures related to the occupation of the deceased. The upper part of the tombstone on a man’s grave can be made in the form of a man’s headdress - a turban. It indicates the high social status of the deceased. A sign of wealth is the decoration on the plate in the form of a fez.
Tombstones often depict religious symbols and amulets, symbolizing the deceased's commitment to Islam. The symbols of Islam - a crescent and a star - are installed on funeral slabs. In this case, the rays of the crescent are directed from right to left. Oriental-style geometric patterns and frames are often used when decorating funeral slabs.
It is not typical for the Muslim tradition to write words of love and sorrow on monuments. When a Muslim dies, he returns to Allah. Therefore, expressing regret over death is frowned upon in Islam. It is regarded as dissatisfaction with the will of Allah.
Making a tombstone
The finished monument will be made to order by employees of companies that provide various funeral services. Wealthy Muslims order monuments made of granite and marble. Preference is given to black slabs. In Islam, black has a special status as it is the color of the Sacred Stone of the Kaaba. Prophet Muhammad wore black clothes. This is exactly the robe he wore on the day of the conquest of Mecca. Black is the color of the Abbasid caliphs. It symbolizes strength, greatness and power. Muslims try to make the tombstone resemble the monolithic stone of the Holy Kaaba, which serves as a reminder of the eternity of the afterlife.
Inscriptions on stone are made manually, using a laser or on a milling machine.
Hand engraving is the most labor-intensive and expensive. Its undoubted advantage is durability. It will be possible to read what is written on a tombstone using the manual method of applying phrases even after several thousand years. Laser engraving allows you to quickly and easily create complex images with fine detail. It takes a little longer to cut out the inscription and image on a milling machine than with a laser. However, what is written after milling engraving lasts much longer than with laser processing.
A cheaper option for a Muslim tomb structure is a metal cone with a crescent moon on top. A plaque is placed on it indicating the name and date of death of the deceased.
Installation of a tombstone
The company that makes the gravestones usually installs them. Installation work is included in the cost of manufacturing services. However, you can install the headstone yourself.
To carry out construction work, you must obtain permission from the cemetery management. The most suitable period for installing a gravestone is the warm season from April to October. However, in some cases it is necessary to carry out work in winter. In this case, you need to contact specialists who have experience installing monuments in the cold season.
To ensure that the tombstone stands for a long time and does not fall or tilt, a cement base is created on the grave. At least 1 year must pass after the funeral. During this time, the earth will subside and become stable.
The larger the stone, the more material will be required to create a massive frame.
Grave monuments, even of very modest size, are very heavy. The weight of an average-sized tombstone ranges from 120–200 kg. Therefore, the installation of a gravestone requires the work of several people.
The burial site is cleared, a depression is made and a concrete cushion is formed in it. You can use cement, crushed stone and sand. If the structure is large, the cushion is reinforced with reinforcement. When making a cement or concrete base, vertical pins are placed in it. Later, a monument is fixed on them.
When installing a memorial tombstone, be sure to use a building level.
Muslim mazars
The grave of a Muslim saint (avliya) is called a mazar. The culture of worshiping the graves of saints and revered people began to develop in Islam in the 10th century thanks to Sufism. Sufism is an esoteric movement in Islam. It preaches asceticism and spirituality. The path to spiritual perfection of a Sufi lies through complete submission to the teacher and implementation of all his instructions.
Sufis believe that prayers transmitted through spiritual guides-intermediaries have greater power than those addressed directly to Allah. Trying to show maximum honor to their deceased mentors, their followers build mausoleums (mazars) on their graves. The tradition of building religious buildings at burial sites appeared in Islam due to the influence of Tengrism - the ancient pagan culture of the Turks. The modern symbol of Islam - a crescent with a star - also has pagan origins.
The traditional Muslim mazar is a room with a quadrangular base. It is crowned with a spherical dome. The building can be very large, consisting of several rooms. It is surrounded by a fence. Next to the mazar there is a vertically installed pole (tug). At the top of the tug there may be a figure of an open palm, a bud, or a crossbar with a triangular piece of material attached to it. Since especially revered mazars are located far from populated areas, thugs are used as a landmark. They help travelers find the mazar. Mausoleums serve as mosques.
Travelers can stop and pray at the mazar.
If previously mazars were installed only on the grave of avliya, currently mausoleums are installed on the graves of deceased relatives. Wealthy people order massive structures reminiscent of mosques or palaces. Expensive materials (marble, granite) are used to build tombs. Mazars are decorated with domes, bas-reliefs, crescents, arches, columns, elaborate finials, parapets and mazar slabs.
Although the Koran prohibits spending money on the construction of expensive and massive religious buildings, the faithful try to demonstrate their wealth by showing respect to their deceased relatives.
Muslim sarcophagi
To honor the memory of deceased relatives, richly decorated sarcophagi are placed at Muslim graves. Such a building looks dignified and rich. The installation of a sarcophagus is not condemned by Islamic authorities.
The upper part of the Muslim sarcophagus is given a pointed shape, traditional for Muslim culture. The structure is covered with tiles with elegant and complex patterns. The colors characteristic of Islam are used. The color green is especially revered among the faithful. He identifies the green banner of the prophet. Blue and purple are considered shadow colors. They symbolize mystical contemplation and communion with the divine essence. To decorate sarcophagi, white is used - the favorite color of the prophet.
It is a symbol of holiness and dignity.
When choosing the colors of the facing material, you should give preference to patterns with clean, light and shining shades. Faded and cloudy colors are associated with misfortune and poverty. Brown and gray shades are not used when decorating Muslim tombstones.
The Muslim religion requires strict adherence to ancient traditions and rituals. Muslims respect religious laws and live in accordance with rules and prohibitions. Funeral and memorial rites of Muslims represent various sacraments that have been known and revered since ancient times. Unlike Christian ones, Muslim grave monuments do not contain photographs of the deceased and have a more modest design.
Technology for making Muslim monuments
Muslims who live in strict observance of rituals are also advised to observe modesty and ancient traditions when moving to another world. Monuments of departed people are made according to all the rules of Islam; they demonstrate restraint and dignity. The canonical stela of the product contains sketches and outlines of a mosque or minaret, and its upper part is similar to the dome of a Muslim shrine. According to tradition, all monuments face towards the holy city of Mecca. The shape of the stele can be made in the form of a column, a rectangular obelisk or a flat slab.
On photo of Muslim monuments on the grave you can consider all the main attributes and options for their implementation. The attitude towards death among Muslims differs from other religions, therefore words of grief and sadness for the deceased on the gravestone are not accepted. The deceased returns to Allah, this event awaits any true believer and because of such thoughts in Islam it is not customary to grieve excessively at the time of death. According to this, the front part of the monument is decorated with sayings of great thinkers and verses from the Koran, and is crowned with all the constant symbols in the form of a crescent and a star. The drawings on the stele stand out with special beauty and are applied in accordance with the gender of the deceased. Men's monuments are decorated with more strict patterns with a dominance of straight lines, while women's monuments are decorated with ornaments in the form of flowers.
Materials for making Muslim monuments
The materials used for making Muslim grave monuments are:
- marble;
- granite;
- different types of stone;
- bronze.
Varied Muslim granite gravestones made in different forms, but at the same time fully comply with the strict laws of Islam. As already described above, the burial place of a Muslim should look modest and at the same time dignified. Therefore, granite is most often preferred as a material for creating a monument, and in dark shades.
With the help of black granite, strict and majestic monuments are created that meet all the requirements of Islam. This material best reflects all the sayings and emphasizes the overall style. In addition, granite is reliable and has a long service life. Like any other monuments, Muslim varieties can also be made according to an individual sketch. The burial site can be improved with the help of a fence and a flower bed, doing it all in the same style. Decorative elements are decorated with Islamic symbols and help to describe Muslim rituals and enhance religious motives.
In Russia, people of different religious beliefs live side by side, which is why our cemeteries, from a religious point of view, are mostly mixed. You can often see Christian and Muslim graves nearby. They differ from each other only in some design features, in particular, in how the tombstones look in both cases.
Subtleties of design
First of all, the Muslim monument looks very laconic, because the traditions and laws of Islam do not allow excessive decoration of the grave. According to beliefs, excessive beauty, rich crypts, and diversity in the appearance of tombstones bring discord among the dead believers in heaven and prevent them from enjoying the prosperity bestowed by Allah.
Therefore, Sharia requires that all monuments of the faithful be strict and restrained in design, devoid of excessive beauty.
For example, such tombstones are almost never decorated with drawings. The mosque allows a bouquet of flowers to be engraved on women's steles, in which the number of buds usually corresponds to the number of children in the family. Men's obelisks are marked with a symbolic Muslim crescent. In addition, on modern Muslim monuments there are often images characterizing the lifetime activities of the deceased (if the deceased was a railway train driver, this can be shown through a drawing of a locomotive; the monument of the driver is decorated with a picture of a bus, the owner of a teahouse - with a bowl of steaming tea). On old tombstones, sometimes only a floral or geometric pattern was engraved.
Another subtlety of the artistic design of a Muslim memorial is related to the fact that Islam prohibits placing a photo of the deceased at the burial site. However, the interpenetration of different cultures, characteristic of our days, begins to gradually destroy the strictness of this canon. Therefore, portraits on Muslim monuments can now be seen more and more often. Photographs can be made as engravings on a black gabbro-diabase monument. Medallions made of photoceramics are also often found, especially on marble monuments.
The inscriptions on Islamic tombstones are still more traditional than not. These are, first of all, the names and years of life of the deceased and - sometimes - suras of the Koran, written in Arabic script. Secular epitaphs are not welcomed and are not applied to typical Muslim steles.
Prices
for monuments for Muslims do not differ from the cost of Christian tombstones with the same parameters.
The shape of the obelisk, made according to Sharia law, must be strict and restrained. Usually it is a vertical rectangle with a rounded, turban-like finial with a minimum of decoration. All kinds of bas-reliefs, complex carved models, and other sculptural excesses are excluded. These restrictions make the average price of a monument very reasonable.
For example, a set of such a granite monument with a stele 80 cm high with a pedestal (pedestal) and a flower bed costs about 11,500 rubles. If the height increases to 1 m, then the price will be about 15,000 rubles. For a 120 cm stele with polishing on all sides - about 29,000 rubles. If relatives wish to decorate the burial site with a memorial complex, then the prices for it are negotiated individually.
The company has a well-organized work with the client! I chose everything on the website, made an order, and discussed issues with the manager. I paid via the Internet. Installed on time and with high quality. So I recommend it, and thanks guys for your help.
Andrey 12/12/2018
Many thanks to Ekaterina and Sergei for the wonderful work on the monument to Vladimir Ilyich Soldatov..... From the first telephone conversation with Ekaterina it was clear that she is a professional who can be trusted.... Author's tombstones are not easy to implement as they are intended....
Sergei surprisingly sensitively transferred the drawing and design idea into the material...
The order was completed in a very short time, which we are also very grateful for...
Maria 11/12/2018
I would like to thank the company for its high-quality and efficient work. Thanks to the manager Olga, we immediately drew up the contract, made the necessary changes, and issued an invoice. Excellent work by the artists, the order was completed a week ahead of schedule. The installers arrived exactly on time and at the right address, and installed everything in a couple of hours. I was very pleased, everything was simple, clear, fast, without any complaints. Thank you!
Tatyana 10/29/2018
I would like to thank Postament LLC for the quality work done. The order was not easy, but the result was completely satisfactory. Special thanks to the manager Margarita and the installer Ivan.
Alexey 10/19/2018
Thank you! They did everything as promised, on time. The sketch was sent on time and as we wanted. The installers helped with the paperwork at the cemetery.
Vladimir 10/18/2018
I express my deep gratitude to the manager Ekaterina for helping with the choice of a monument, for her understanding, for her compassion. Special thanks to the artist for capturing the character traits of a person dear to me in the photograph. I also want to express my gratitude to the installer Albert for his work, for his high-quality approach to his work. Many thanks to everyone. Fast, high quality, cheap.
Anastasia 10/13/2018
Many thanks to all employees of the company! Especially the manager Olga and the master Igor. Let me start by saying that there were some doubts about ordering a monument via the Internet. But later they all dispersed. When placing an order, Olga gave very competent and professional advice on the size and type of monument. The day before the installation, the master himself contacted me and offered us a choice of a time convenient for us. Our grave was a little neglected and despite the pouring rain on the day of installation, Igor helped in completing all the documents, cleared the entire grave, carried out the installation clearly and very carefully, and gave advice on further caring for the monument. Igor, your work is above all praise! Once again, many thanks to everyone, and many thanks to the company’s managers for selecting such polite, competent, professional employees!!! Good luck, prosperity, success to your entire team. Considering that the prices in your company are an order of magnitude lower than in other similar ones, there were no additional costs, everything was clearly in accordance with the contract, excellent attitude towards the client, which unfortunately does not always happen, I advised many of my friends to use your services!
Elena 09/21/2018
Many thanks to your company and personally to the manager Olga and the foreman who installed the monument, Igor! I was a little worried when ordering online, because... ordering a monument is not buying a one-time item. But all my worries were in vain. Everything was done accurately, on time, Olga gave very professional advice, and Igor’s installation was beyond all praise: he called me in advance, offered me a choice of time for installation, cleared and leveled the entire grave in the pouring rain, removed excess bushes, and carried out the installation very accurately .
And most importantly, such high-quality performance costs much less than many other companies.
Thank you very much again!
Elena 09/17/2018
A year has passed since our beloved daddy passed away. The time has come to erect a monument. We did the math at the cemetery, the prices are steep. We found your company on the Internet, the cost differs significantly. We ordered a monument in the office on Kitai-Gorod from manager Nikolai. The service is excellent, everything is very professional; advice, recommendations, help in choosing. We were very pleased. While waiting, we decided to re-order the fence. There was no need to come to the office again; everything was resolved very quickly over the phone. The order was completed on time, all issues at the cemetery were resolved quickly, and we were satisfied with the installation. Thanks to Vyacheslav's team. The photo on the monument turned out very good, daddy looks like he’s alive. Fulfillment of obligations 100%. We will recommend to friends and acquaintances. Thank you very much!
Elena 09/04/2018
I called, 28 seconds later a girl answered who doesn’t know anything and can’t answer any question.
I dropped some phone number and sit and spend money on a landline phone without knowing what they will answer you and is this a company? Did you write the reviews for the campaign yourself?
Sergey 08/25/2018
I ordered a monument for my parents' grave. When ordering, the manager indicated a maximum period of 30 days, but it was done in 3 weeks. Quality 100%, delivery on time, master Volodya performed the installation VERY quickly and efficiently (1 hour) and was VERY HELPING in resolving issues at the cemetery. I RECOMMEND TO ALL!!! Thanks guys!
Alexey 08/22/2018
Good afternoon. This year I finally had the opportunity to erect a monument to my mother.
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It was very pleasant to deal with the manager Nikolai (office of the Kitay-Gorod metro station), he answers all questions very tactfully and patiently, he will suggest something useful, everything was completed quickly, thank you.
Sent by email. I emailed the project, I saw everything in advance. She expressed her wishes to the artist Nikolai - a great professional, good taste, he helped, suggested what was best, his proposal greatly improved the appearance of the monument. When I saw the monument “live”, I even shed tears, I recognized my own eyes, it is clear that the person works with his soul. I am very grateful to you, thank you.
They installed everything at the Bogorodskoye cemetery on time, without delays. There were no problems with the registration, everything was completed quickly. Installed by Konstantin and his colleague. Everything was also friendly, neat, and fast. Thank you very much for your professionalism, conscientious work and human attitude (a rarity these days). Now my soul is calm, I come to the cemetery to “see” my mother, and not just to the “mound”.
With respect to you.
Irina Vladimirovna.
Irina 08/16/2018
With all my heart I want to thank the employees Ekaterina, Nikolai and the pleasant young installers (unfortunately I don’t know their names), and everyone who took part in making the monument for my mother. Very nice and responsive people who know their business! All work was completed on time and perfectly. A monument, bench and landscaping were installed. Everything I wanted and even better! I will recommend your company to my friends. Thanks a lot!!!
Alexandra 08/14/2018
Today two monuments to my relatives were erected at the Kalitnikovskoye cemetery. Many thanks to the workers Alexey and Vladimir for their professionalism. Everything was done quickly and cleanly, including the dismantling of old monuments. Compliance price-quality 100 percent. Thanks to all the employees of the Pedestal company, in particular Nikolai, who accepted the order in the office for his sensitivity, humanity, and understanding. After all, this is not an easy job with people. Good health to you all
