FAQ
Q: What are the steps I need to follow after my loved one has passed away?
A: Call us at: 949-923-1008 to discuss the entire procedures.
Q: Can the deceased be buried in a non Muslim cemetery?
A: It cannot be buried in non-Muslim cemetery unless a portion of that cemetery has been specifically allocated and reserved for Muslims.
Q: Which direction should the deceased be buried?
A: The deceased body should be laid in the grave on its right side so that the face remains towards the Qibla. In California the body has to be perpendicular to the North East almost 19-21 degrees.
Q: What are the mandatory steps that must be taken before the deceased is buried?
A: There are five mandatory steps need to be covered: Ghusl (washing); Kafan (shrouding); Salat al-jenazeh (praying for deceased); Talqin (reading / responding on behalf of deceased); Dafn, (burying). Basically, these are Wajib (obligatory) acts for all of us done by a professional Muslim service director.
Q: How soon should a Muslim Burial take place?
A: In theory, a deceased Muslim should be buried as soon as possible. Many believers try to have the burial take place within 24 hours of the person’s passing. During this time, the body will never be left unattended. Muslims must make sure that certain pre-burial rituals are completed before the burial occurs, so it is not always feasible to bury the deceased immediately. The time frame is not set in stone, but the sooner the burial happens, the better.
Q: What does a funeral cost?
A: Basic Services of Funeral Director, Washing and shrouding will be $1000-$1200. The purchase of grave and use of equipment and staff for graveside service in cemetery, transportation, and Mortuary expenses depends on the places chosen and may vary in price.
Q: What happens if a family member touches the deceased before washing of the body?
A: As long as you have not touched the Deceased with any part of your body, there is no need to perform Ghusl of Maseh Meyyit, otherwise Ghusl is mandatory.
Q: Can the body be cremated?
A: Cremation is forbidden for Muslims.
Q: Is it permitted to use a casket?
A: Yes, some restrictions may apply.
Q: Can a plot be double digged?
A: There is nothing against of this.
Q: What should you expect when someone dies?
A: Please provide us with your email and we will send you a detailed respond.
Q: Is it obligatory to accord the dead body a proper Ghusl before its burial? Should it be buried without Ghusl for any reason?
A: It is mandatory (Wajib) to exhume it and give it the appropriate Ghusl where possible, i.e. barring any encroachment on the body’s sanctity and precipitating discord or quarrel among the dead person’s relatives. Otherwise, Tayammum should be performed to the body, in a manner that will be discussed.
Q: Who should carry out Ghusl?
A: It is obligatory on every adult who is capable of carrying out this religious obligation. The type of obligation here is that of Wajibun Kifa’i. However, if none, among Muslims come forward to discharge it, all shall be deemed sinful.
Q: After death has occurred how relatives preparing The Body for Burial?
A: To prepare the body for burial, it must be washed (“Ghusl”) and shrouded (“Kafan”). Close same-sex family members are encouraged to give Ghusl, though in the case of spousal death the spouse may perform the washing. The body should be washed three times. If, after three washings, the body is not entirely clean, it may be washed more, though ultimately the body should be washed an odd number of times. The body should be washed in the following order: upper right side, upper left side, lower right side and lower left side. Women’s hair should be washed and braided into three braids. Once clean and prepared, the body should be covered in a white sheet.
To shroud the body, three large white sheets of inexpensive material should be laid on top of each other. The body should be placed on top of the sheets. Women should, at this point, be dressed in an ankle-length sleeveless dress and head veil. If possible, the deceased’s left hand should rest on the chest and the right hand should rest on the left hand, as in a position of prayer. The sheets should then be folded over the body, first the right side and then the left side, until all three sheets have wrapped the body. The shrouding should be secured with ropes, one tied above the head, two tied around the body, and one tied below the feet. The body should then be transported to the mosque (“masjid”) for funeral prayers, known as “Salat al-Janazah.”
Q: How we perform the Ghusl?
A: It should be three different washes to be carried out: Once using water with Lotus (Sidr) leaves. The second using water with Camphor. The third using just pure water.
Q: What are the requirements for Deceased Prayer (Salaatol Jenezeh)?
A: The corpse should be found and made available for prayer, because there is no such a thing as praying for a non-existent corpse. The dead body should be laid on its back, with its private parts covered either with the shroud or any other cover, in the event of non-availability of a shroud. The person conducting the prayer should face the Qiblah, close to the body; the dead person’s body should be to the right hand side of the person conducting the prayer, provided that there is no barrier between the two. The prayer should be conducted in a standing, not a sitting, position, unless there is a good reason for choosing the latter. Taharah is not a condition for the validity of the prayer for the dead. It shall be in order, if it is performed without abulation, by a person in a state of Janabah, or by a person whose body is unclean (Najis) or wearing a garment that is Najis. Neither the clothes worn during the prayer nor the place where the prayer is performed have to be Mubah.
Q: How should Burial be carried out?
A: After the body has been washed, shrouded, and the special prayer performed for the soul of the dead person, it has to be buried in a pit in the ground. This is so as to prevent vultures and animals from devouring it; it is also necessary to insulate the living from the dangers and smell which could be posed by a decomposing body. The body should be laid to rest on its right side with the face and the front pointing towards the Qiblah. Thus, the face should be to the right and the feet to the left in relation to the Qiblah. Should the direction of the Qiblah not be determined due to lack of knowledge, the body should be laid to face any direction the qiblah believed to be in. If this is not feasible too, any direction would do. A seafarer or traveler dying at sea can be buried there. The body could be placed in a solid water-proof container and thrown overboard into the sea, after it has been accorded the required funeral rites. This should however be as a last resort, especially if it is not feasible to preserve the body from decomposing and/or bury it in the mainland.
Q: Who are Munkar and Nakir? What is their job?
A: According to traditions, after one has been buried and those who had come to bury him go away, two angels come into his / her grave. One is called Munkar, the other Nakir. The soul is caused to re-enter the body for questioning. Then the “dead person”’ is asked: Who is thy Rabb (Lord and Sustainer)? Who is thy Prophet? What is thy religion? What is thy Book? What is thy Quibla? Who are thy Imams? It appears from some traditions that questioning of the grave contains questions about Prayers, Zakah, Hajj, Fast and the Love of Ahlul-Bait (A).
Q: Before burial, it is normal for family and close friends to view the deceased. What are the rules governing the viewing of the body e.g. Mahram and Na Mahram?
A: The same rules that apply during ‘life’ also apply in ‘death’. Only the face should be kept open, therefore if a Na-Mahram views the body, he or she should do so without any bad intentions.
Q: Is it recommendation to put flowers, plant rose bushes etc on the grave of the deceased or is it preferable not to do so?
A: There is no recommendation to put flowers nor is there any prohibition.
Q: After death, can a person donate his or her organs to a patient for medical research?
A: You can donate some of your organs (whether minor or major) after death, provided you have expressed your intention clearly in your will. Skin grafting and donating blood would be considered donation of a minor organ whilst kidneys would be classified as a major organ.
Q: What is the effect on the dead person if the body is kept in the mortuary or if a postmortem is carried out?
A: The term ‘respect’ comes into play again. The body should not be kept in the mortuary unnecessarily. If a post mortem is absolutely necessary, then it may be performed.
Q: After death, we normally close the eyelids and mouth of the deceased and straighten the hands and legs. We also ensure that the body is facing the Qibla until Ghusl is performed. Is this part of our religious obligation or is it a tradition?
A: Soon after a person dies, all believers are either required or strongly urged to do the following:
-Close the eyelids of the dead person.
-Close the mouth of the dead person.
-Tie the two jaws so that the mouth does not open.
-Straighten his/her arms and place them on the two sides of his body.
-Straighten his/her legs.
-Cover the dead body.
-Switch on the light in the room where the dead body is kept.
-Arrange the funeral as soon as possible.
-Inform the believers to attend the funeral.
Q: What is the position regarding burial of a person who dies in a foreign country where there are no family members of the deceased? Our community is often divided in such cases, since family members prefer that all burial ceremonies be attended by the kith and kin of the deceased. This naturally delays burial by a few days. What should be done to alleviate this grief, with are not possible during weekends due to public cemetery restrictions thereby causing delays?
A: The funeral should be arranged as soon as possible. However it is a matter of personal choice whether the body should be brought back to the country of residence, so that the next of kin may attend the funeral. If the deceased has specified the place of burial in his or her Will, then this should take precedence over personal preferences. With regard to burials being delayed over the weekend due to the cemetery being closed, unfortunately, there is no other option until we have alternative arrangements.
Q: Upon my father’s death, his desire to be buried in the grave of his late mother was fulfilled. I was also informed that in some places, due to a short age of burial sites, the graves are re-used for future burials after many years. What are the rules governing this?
A: The grave can be re-used and 40 years is the general period considered for a body to decompose.
Q: Following the death of my father, I used to attend the graveyard to recite Sura-Yasin at the most peaceful time of the day when there was no one else around. Yet, I am told that it is Makrooh (Not Recommended) for woman the visit the graveyard. Is this true?
A: It is Makrooh (Not Recommended) for woman to attend the funeral or actual burial ceremony but it is okay after burial has taken place.
Q: When family can hold A Muslim Funeral?
A: According to Islamic law (“Shariah”), the body should be buried as soon as possible from the time of death, which means that funeral planning and preparations begin immediately. A local Islamic community organization should be contacted as soon as possible, and they will begin to help make arrangements for the funeral service and burial, assist the family in identifying an appropriate funeral home, and coordinate with the funeral home.
Q: Can a deceased donate his / her Organ(s)?
A: Organ donation is generally acceptable for Muslims, as it follows the Qur’an’s teaching that “Whosoever saves the life of one person it would be as if he saved the life of all mankind.” If there is any question as to whether or not organs may be donated, it is best to consult with an imam (religious leader) or Muslim funeral director.
Q: Is it Autopsies permitted in Islam?
A: Routine autopsies are not acceptable in Islam as they are seen as a desecration of the body. In most cases, the family of the deceased may refuse to have a routine autopsy performed.
Q: What is Islam ideology about Embalming?
A: Embalming and cosmetology are not allowed unless required by state or federal law. Because of the prohibition on embalming and the urgency with which the body must be buried, it is not possible to transport the body from one country to another. Many Muslims living in America have a desire to be buried in the country of their ancestry, and this cultural practice, while acceptable in some communities, is in conflict with Shariah. An imam or Muslim funeral director should be consulted if there are any questions on the matter.
Q: What does Islam say about Cremation?
A: Cremation is forbidden for Muslims.
Q: Is it allowable Viewing, Wake, Or Visitation before a Muslim Funeral?
A: When a Muslim dies, the body should be buried as soon as possible after death, thus there is no viewing before the funeral.
Q: What is Interment?
A: After Salat al-Janazah has been recited, the body should be transported to the cemetery for burial. Traditionally, only men are allowed to be present at the burial, though in some communities all mourners, including women, will be allowed at the gravesite. The grave should be dug perpendicular to the Qiblah, and the body should be placed in the grave on its right side, facing the Qiblah. Those placing the body into the grave should recite the line “Bismilllah wa ala millati rasulilllah” (“In the name of Allah and in the faith of the Messenger of Allah”). Once the body is in the grave, a layer of wood or stones should be placed on top of the body to prevent direct contact between the body and the soil that will fill the grave. Then each mourner present will place three handfuls of soil into the grave. Once the grave has been filled, a small stone or marker may be placed at the grave so that it is recognizable. However, traditionally, it is prohibited to erect a large monument on the grave or decorate the grave in an elaborate way.
Q: What should we do for Post-Funeral Reception?
A: After the funeral and burial, the immediate family will gather and receive visitors. It is customary for the community to provide food for the family for the first few days of the mourning period (usually three days). Generally, the mourning period lasts 40 days, but depending on the degree of religiousness of the family, the mourning period may be much shorter.
Q: What are Muslim Mourning Period and Memorial Events?
A: Widows are expected to observe a longer mourning period, generally of four months and ten days. During this time, widows are prohibited from interacting with men whom they could potentially marry (known as “Na-Mahram”). However, this rule may be overlooked in cases of emergency, such as when the widow must see a doctor. It is acceptable in Islam to express grief over a death. Crying and weeping at the time of death, at the funeral, and at the burial are all acceptable forms of expression. However, wailing and shrieking, tearing of clothing and breaking of objects, and expressing a lack of faith in Allah are all prohibited.
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