One very important funeral rite in the Islamic faith is that burial take place as quickly as possible after death. For this reason, there is no viewing, wake, or visitation. Immediately after death, the body is washed and covered with a sheet by family members. The hands are placed as if in prayer. Then the body is transported to the location of the funeral, a mosque. There is rarely an open casket at an Islamic funeral.

The funeral is typically held outside the mosque, in a location such as a prayer room, community square, or courtyard, where members of the community may gather. The body and all attendees are all turned to face Mecca, which is the holy center of Islam. Funeral prayers are led by the Imam, the holy leader. Attendees form at least three lines: men, then children, and women in the back. After prayers, the body is taken to the burial site in a silent procession. Some Muslim communities allow women and children to attend the burial, but traditionally it’s just men. Another important Islamic burial rite is to have each person at the burial throw three handfuls of dirt into the grave.

Since Muslims believe there will be a physical resurrection of the body on Judgement Day, the faith prohibits cremation. Similarly, autopsies are strongly discouraged, since they delay burial and are considered a desecration of the body. Also, Muslims prefer not to move the body away from the site of death, making an autopsy even more unsettling for them. Embalming, considered yet another desecration of the body, is performed only if required by law.

Finally, tradition dictates that flowers are to be sent to the family’s home after the burial of the deceased. There is a 40-day mourning period, during which time not only flowers but also food is appreciated.

Mourners at an Islamic funeral may express grief, but only within certain standards of decorum. Loud wailing, for example, is not permitted. Neither are other outward signs of extreme emotion, such as ripping of clothes, thrashing about, sacrilegious speech, and self-injury. Crying is permitted.

Traditional Muslim funeral etiquette forbids mourners from taking pictures or in any other way recording any part of the funeral prayer service.

After the prayer service and the burial, mourners may gather at the home of the immediate family. This is when it is appropriate to express your condolences to the family and support them in their grief. Plan to stay the entire day. Traditionally, a meal is served. Socializing is believed to help the family cope with their loss.

During the first three days of the 40-day period of mourning, community members should bring food to the family. Many modern Muslim communities observe a shortened mourning period.

Widows will customarily observe an even longer time of mourning. Whatever the time frame, it’s important that the community visits and offers to help in any way they can.

An Islamic funeral is considered a community event. Muslims believe a funeral to be a very spiritual occasion. Everyone in attendance participates in group prayers, in which mourners pray that Allah will have mercy on not only the deceased but also on all deceased Muslims.

Islamic funerals are to help mourners cope with their grief, but are also meant to offer hope for a good afterlife for the deceased. The service lasts 30 to 60 minutes.

Family members of the dying person and their most pious friends should be present at their side to help turn the final thoughts to Allah, reminding him or her of all the good deeds they did, about Allah’s mercy, and Allah’s favors. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: “Let no Muslim die except expecting and hoping the best from Allah” (Muslim).

Family members and friends can advise the dying person very gently (encouragement without insistence) to say the shahada: “La Illaha illallah”, which means there is no God but Allah, in a very kind and sincere manner as these may be their last words. Abu Saeed Al-Khuduri reported that Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: “Help Muslims who are dying to say “La Illaha illallah” (Muslim).

Family members should make Dua (supplication) to Allah to help make the final moments easy, and to forgive them.

Immediately after the death has occurred and it has been verified, close the eyes of the deceased eyes; the mouth and jaws are held gently with broad bands or pieces of cloth so that they do not remain wide open; the legs should be held in the same way. The body should be covered, and must always remain covered, preferably with a white sheet of cloth.

Invoke Allah and say: “Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un” (To Allah we belong and to Him is our return).

Crying with no wailing is permitted. The prophet (pbuh) wept on the death of his son, Ibrahim and said: “The eyes shed tears and the heart feels pain, but we utter only what pleases our Lord. O Ibrahim! We are aggrieved at your demise.”

Contact Islamic Foundation or Islamic International Funeral Services’s funeral Director for funeral arrangements without delay; Relatives and friends should be notified. The body must not be kept waiting unnecessarily. Immediate family and friends are to prepare food for the bereaved family for three days

When you contact the funeral representative to seek advice, arrange for paper work and cemetery plot, please have the following information available:

Determine if the dying person has any preferences for people who will carry out the Ghusl (washing) and Kafan (burial cloth). If there is none, then the next of male kin to males, and next of female kin to females should be available to perform the Ghusl.

Also when you talk to the funeral director, please prepare the following information for the dying person to facilitate the process and help in finalizing the paperwork:

⦁ Current location of Deceased
⦁ Social Security Number
⦁ Address
⦁ Date of Birth
⦁ Date and Time of Death
⦁ Phone Number
⦁ eMail

If the death occurred over the weekend, most cemetery and related offices are open only during weekdays and for a few hours on Saturday. Furthermore, the cemetery does not typically open graves and allow burials on Sundays. As such, in the event of death on Saturday, the burial may have to wait until Monday afternoon.

It typically takes about 3 to 6 hours to make all the arrangements at a minimum (Open/Close the grave, arrange the transportation, set prayer area). As such, a person can be buried on the same day if the death occurred prior to 8 AM. If the death occurred after that time, the arrangements will be typically made for burial the next day.

Typically the Janaza prayer is performed right after the Dhuhr prayer (12:30 PM in winter months or 1:30 PM during daylight savings time) On Friday’s Janaza prayer is always after 2nd Juma prayer at Islamic Foundation. The Ghusl is typically performed before the Janaza prayers (around 10 AM or 11 Noon).