We at the HSBT are looking to develop and offer an extensive funeral service to the community. We acknowledge that this is a great time of difficulty for any individual and we aim to fully support our brothers and sisters throughout the entire process.
Please note: the funeral service is yet to be officially launched but we can still facilitate for you guest sittings and Du’a programmes. We do offer a funeral prayer upon request.
For further details please call the HSBT reception desk on 0121 440 4096, email us on info@bahutrust.org or visit us at:
17-21 Ombersley Road, Balsall Heath, Birmingham, B12 8UR.
Here is a short summary and breakdown of what usually takes place at the time of one’s death and funeral prayers. Every step of the process is explained from the very beginning to the end so please feel free to utilize this platform and familiarize yourself with the process.
According to the Islamic perspective, our life on this Earth is merely temporary and every living creature (Soul) must die and extinguish according to Allah’s (Most High) plan. The term death (‘Mawt’ in Arabic) occurs when a person or an animal dies (When the soul departs from the body). The body rots and decays, whilst the Ruh (spirit/soul) departs the body and travels to the ‘Alam – e – Arwah’ (world of souls). This is the beginning of the Akhira (afterlife). This is the beginning of the Alam e Barzakh, the awaiting period until the call to rise for the day of reckoning.
It must be instilled into our minds that the blessed bodies of the Prophets and messengers (peace and blessings be upon them) of Allah (swt) do not rot or decay. Their blessed bodies are preserved intact and are fresh as living beings. This is a unique protection and blessing from Allah (swt) upon his Awliya (Friends/Chosen Ones) and the Martyrs. The Prophets and messenger (peace and blessings be upon them) are always praying in their graves and are given subsistence by Allah (swt).
When it is known that a person is about to die, his/her relatives and family friends should be informed to be at the bedside. They should be there to give their moral support to him/her and to pray for the ill. Those present should recite the following two Kalimahs (Articles of Faith):
“Laa ilaaha illallahu Muhammadur-Rasoolullah”
(There is no God but Allah (swt), Muhammad (saw) is the Messenger of Allah)
“Ash-hadu Allah ilaaha illallahu wahdahu laa shareeka lahu wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadanabduhu wa rasooluhu”
(I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, He is alone, He has no partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad (peace be upon him) is His Servant and messenger)
If the Muhtadar can recite the Kalimas easily then this is good otherwise one should not force him to recite them. Making the Muhtadar aware of the Kalimas is called ‘Talqeen’. It is imperative that the Talqeen is done before the person dies.
When a person is about to die, his/her body should be laid on the back with the face turned towards the Qibla (direction of Mecca). The people who are present may use a pleasant scented incense stick or an air freshener to fragrance the room where the Muhtadar is lying down. Once the Muhtadar has died, his/her eyes and mouth must be closed and the jaws tied to the head with a piece of cloth. It is also preferable to tie the legs/toes together and to place a clean sheet or cloth over the body. When it has been confirmed that the person has died, it is recommended to recite prayers/invocations for the deceased like, ‘Innaa lillaahi wa innaa ilaihi raajioon’ (To Allah we belong and to Him is our return); to recite ‘Ayatul-Kursi’; ‘Fatihah’, and other passages of the Qur’an. Then one should announce the death of the person in the local Masaajid (Mosques) and to his/her relatives. They should start making preparations for the Ghusl, Kafan, Salatul-Janazah, and the final Dafn (burial)
Before the corpse can be brought for the Janazah Salah, it is obligatory to wash and also to shroud (clothing) it according to the Sunnah (Way of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon Him)). Washing is called ‘Al-Ghusl’. The Shaheed (Martyr in Islam) is neither washed nor shrouded, but is buried in the clothes he/she died after the performance of the Janazah Salah. There are certain restrictions in the Shariah (Islamic Law) as to who can wash the corpse. The person(s) who are to perform the Ghusl must be honest, trustworthy and have knowledge of Al-Ghusl. A wife can wash her husband’s body whereas a husband cannot wash his wife’s body. If the deceased is a male then only males can wash him. Likewise, if the deceased is a female, then only females can wash her. If the deceased is a child then both males or females are permitted to wash. Two or more persons can do the Ghusl.
It is permissible to perform Ghusl in a clean room of the Masjid, dedicated for such use and for nothing else, or some other place that has been cleaned, e.g. a washing room in a funeral centre. Ideally, it would be appropriate to have a bath fitted in the Ghusl room, or a special bath-shaped platform made of aluminum, with a wooden board on the top to place the corpse, with a waste disposal pipe attached to it. Before washing the body, ensure that you have these: clean water, gloves, pieces of cloth, pieces of cotton, cotton buds, tissues, soap, waste disposal bags, lote-tree/lotus leaves (if possible), and camphor.
The method of Ghusl is mentioned clearly in the Hadith Book of Sahih Al-Bukhari, in the Book of Funerals (Al-Janaiz). In order to obtain guidance on the method of Ghusl, one can read the Ahadith in detail from Sahih Al-Bukhari. We have given a brief summary of it here:
Say: “Bismillahirrahma-nir-raheem” – “In the Name of Allah, Most Beneficent, Most Merciful.”
Place the body on the bath/platform and remove all clothing.
Place a cloth over the private parts (male: from the navel to the knees, female: from the neck to the ankles).
Raise the head slightly so that when washing the body, bodily waste and dirty water flows down instead of remaining in one place or covering the body.
Wearing gloves and/or tie your hand with a piece of cloth, press the chest to expel any waste from the stomach, and begin cleaning and washing the body with warm soapy water. Dispose the cloth then get a new one and tie it around your hand (repeat the process again if need be)
Start with the body from the right side including the parts which are washed in Wudhu (ablution)
Wash private parts, wash hands up to the wrists, clean the mouth with cotton (do not pour water into the mouth), clean the nostrils with cotton (do not pour water into the nostrils), wash the face from the forehead to the chin, wash the right arm and then the left arm up to the elbows. Then do Masah (wiping) of the head and of the neck. Finally, wash both feet up to the ankles, firstly the right foot and then the left foot.
Wash the body thoroughly from the head to the feet three times, wash the front and then invert the body and wash the back (ensure washing the beard of a male).
When completing the washing of a female’s body, it is permitted to comb her hair and to divide them into three braids and placing them on her bosom (as in Hadith 642, Book of Funerals, Sahih Al-Bukhari).
Dry the body with a clean or new towel.
Next the jaws are tied to the head with a string to prevent the lungs from inflating and pieces of cotton are inserted into the nostrils.
Then the body is covered completely with a clean cloth before shrouding.
Finally, camphor is applied to the body and incense is lit to eliminate any remaining bodily smell. It is essential that the person(s) who perform the Ghusl should take a bath and also do the Wudhu to purify themselves.
Once the body has been washed thoroughly, it is ready to be shrouded according to specific manner as below, which is called ‘Al-Kafn’.
For the male, three pieces of white cotton is used. One is used to cover the private parts, the second is like an unsewn shirt with a slit at the top for the head and slits for the arms, and this piece covers the body from the neck to the below knees. The third is a large piece that covers slightly beyond the whole body from the head to the toes, and can be tied from above the head and below the feet. The larger sheets of cloth are the 2nd and 3rd pieces should be about 7 feet long and 7 feet wide. It is possible to have the larger sheets of cloth measuring up to 8 feet long and 8 feet wide.
First of all, the winding sheets should be spread out on top of each other. The body being covered with a sheet is then placed on top of the winding sheets lying on his back. Some perfume is then applied on to the body especially those parts, which touch the ground during Salah: the hands, forehead, nose, knees, and feet. One can place both hands of the deceased on the chest just as in Salah. Then the edge of the top sheet is folded over the body’s right side and the remainder over the left side. The second sheet is also folded in the same manner. The third being the largest sheet is also folded in the same way. Then the three sheets are tied with strips of cloth (tying ropes) – one at the head, one under the feet, and two are tied around the body.
For a female five pieces of white cotton cloth are used: one piece is wrapped around the waist to cover the private parts; another is a sleeveless unsewn shirt covering the shoulders to the feet, one piece is a head veil and two are winding sheets, which cover the entire body. Additionally a small piece of cloth may be used to cover the private parts and to tie the upper parts of the legs.
First of all, the winding sheets should be spread out on top of each other –
The body being covered with a sheet is then placed on top of the winding sheets lying on her back. Some perfume is then applied on to the body especially those parts, which touch the ground during Salah: the hands, forehead, nose, knees, and feet. Then place both hands of the deceased on the chest just as in Salah. Then the loin cloth is tied around the upper legs. Then the waist sheet is fastened. Next you put on the sleeveless shirt, which covers the body from the shoulders to the feet. Now you fasten the two large winding sheets by folding the edge of the top sheet over the body’s right side and the remainder over the left side. Then, the head is covered with the veil and it is wrapped around the head. Finally, the body is tied with strips of cloth (tying ropes) – one at the head, one under the feet, and two are tied around the body.
When a Muslim dies a Janazah Salah (Funeral Prayer) is performed before burying him/her. The Imam and a few people offer the Janazah Salah (but even one person apart from the Imam would be sufficient for fulfilling this duty). Holding a Jamaat is not required for Janazah Salah. Janazah Salah is called ‘Fardh-e-Kifaayah’, which means that some Muslims from the community should offer this prayer. If some people cannot attend the prayer, then they will be excused or free from this responsibility (‘Bari-uz-Zimmah’) providing others attend. If nobody offers the prayer, then the Muslims living in the town will be sinful in neglecting their obligatory duty.
Janazah Salah cannot be performed for a group of people such as:
A highway robber that dies when robbing somebody
A murderer
A person who has committed suicide
A person who has murdered his parents
A person who dies whilst fighting with an Imam or Scholar of Islam
A child born dead
For these people, you cannot wash their bodies or do the Janazah for them but to throw their bodies in a grave. If a ‘Shaheed’ (Martyr) has died fighting in Jihad his body will not be washed. He will be given the greatest respect by offering a proper Janazah Salah and a burial. When there a number of Martyrs (Shuhadaa), then one Janazah Salah will be sufficient for them, although separate prayers can be offered for them.
There is no Azaan, Iqaamah, or any Rakaats, Ruku or Sujood in the Janazah Salah. First of all, the Imam and the people in the congregation should ensure that the washed body of the dead person (deceased) is present, as you cannot do the Janazah Salah without the body. The Imam should ensure that an odd number of ‘Saff’ (rows/lines) are made by the Muqtadis (people praying behind the Imam) – 3, 5, 7,etc. number of rows. It is customary and also a Sunnah to stand up in respect of the deceased, who is either being carried to the place of Janazah. The body of the deceased should be placed at the front where the Imam usually stands to lead the prayer. The Imam should stand near the deceased’s chest. The body should be placed in such a way that the head is at the right side and the feet facing to one’s left side. It is Mustahab (preferred) that the deceased’s head is turned towards the Qibla. When the body is present, and the Imam and his Muqtadis have made the Saff in odd numbers, then the Janazah Salaat can begin, as follows
The Niyyah (intention) for the prayer is: “I intend to pray Janazah Salah with four Takbirs, Sanaa (Praise) is for Allah, Durood for Prophet Muhammad (saw) and Dua for the deceased, behind this Imam, I am facing the Qibla, Allahu Akbar.”
The Imam says “Allahu Akbar” aloud and folds his hands below the navel – the Muqtadis should do also say the Takbir silently/quietly and fold their hands in the proper manner.
Then you recite the Sanaa silently/quietly with the Imam: “Subhanak-Allahhumma wabi hamdika watabaraka kasmuka wata aala jadduka wa jallathanauka walaa ilaha ghairuk”
All Glory be to You O Allah! Praise be to You; Blessed is Your Name and Exalted is Your Majesty; there is none worthy of worship except You).
The Imam will say the first extra Takbir “Allahu Akbar”. Keeping your hands folded, you also say the Takbir quietly. Then, after the Imam’s second Takbir, you recite Durood on the Prophet (saw):
“Allahumma salli alaa Muhammadin wa alaa aali Muhammadin kamaa sallaita alaa Ibraheema wa alaa aali Ibraheemainnaka hameedun majeed”
Then after the Imam’s third Takbir, you recite the Dua for the deceased (see below for the Duas for adults and children.)
“Allahummagh-firli hayyinaa wa mayyitinaa wa shaahidinaa wa ghaaibinaa wa sagheerina wa kabeerinaa wa zakarinaa wa unsaanaa, Allahumma man ahyaitahuminnaa, fa-ahyihi alal-islaam, wa man tawaffaitahu fatawaffahu alal-eemaan. Allahumma la tahrimnaa ajrahu wala taftina ba’dahu.”
O Allah! Forgive our living and our dead, our present and our absent, our young and our old, and our males and our females. O Allah! Give to those of us who are living the ability to live in the practice of Islam, and bless those from us who meet with death in a condition of Iman (faith). O Allah! Do not deprive us of his reward and do not make us fall into trial after him.
“Allahummaj-alhu lanaa faratan waj-alhu lanaa ajran wa zukhran waj-alhu lanaa shaafian wa mushaffa’a.”
O Allah! Make him our forerunner, and make him for us a reward and a treasure, and make him for us a pleader and an intercessor, and accept his pleading.”
“Allahummaj-alha lanaa faratan waj-alha lanaa ajran wa zukhran waj-alha lanaa shaafian wa mushaffa’ah.”
O Allah! Make her our forerunner, and make her for us a reward and a treasure, andmake her for us a pleader and an intercessor, and accept her pleading.
Once the Janazah Salah has ended, the Saff (rows) are broken up, the Jamaat (congregation) do the
Zikr of Shahadah (Laa ilaaha illallah) and the Imam prays with the people for the deceased. The Fatiha is recited with Surah Al-Ikhlas, for the
‘Isaal-e-Sawaab’ (sending of rewards) of the deceased. This benefits the dead person very much. The people who are present in the Janazah move nearer towards coffin containing the deceased and pay their respects by seeing the face whilst reciting Zikr. They should form a queue and walk calmly, not gossip, nor push and shove each other. After that, the relatives/friends carry the coffin on their shoulders and proceed to the Muslim cemetery for the Dafan. Where the cemetery is far away, the body may be put in a car or any other conveyance and be taken for burial. It is important for the people to walk behind the Janazah/funeral bier solemnly or by the right or left sides and not to push anyone holding the coffin. We also convey our Ta’ziyyah (condolences, sorrow and support of comfort) to the relatives of the deceased, as it is the Sunnah of the Prophet (saw). However, the relatives of the deceased must not, wail, scream, or tear their clothes, because it is Haraam/forbidden and contrary to the Shariah.
After the performance of the Janazah Salah it is ‘Fard-e- Kifayah’ Obligation to bury the deceased as soon as possible within three days. Muslims must not be buried in a non-Muslim cemetery In the West it is usually difficult for Muslims to have a cemetery solely for their own community. In such a case local authorities reserve a separate piece of land in the cemetery for Muslim burials, thus providing Muslims with the opportunity to purchase their own space for graves. If there is a large cemetery used by Christians and a portion of it is allocated to Muslims, then Muslims may bury their dead there. Normally the deceased should be buried wherever he/she died. The length of the grave/‘Qabar’ is that of the size of the body to be buried and its depth ought to be half the size of the body.
Before putting the body into the grave it must be ensured that the body is turned to its right so that the face is in the direction of the Qibla (the direction of the Holy City of Makkah).
Once the grave has been dug the body is then put into the grave by the deceased’s relatives by lowering it delicately with the support of ropes or by hands and saying:
Bismillah-i wa ‘Alaa Millat-i Rasulillah
In the name of Allah, and according to the way of the Prophet of Allah
Only a male can lower a body into a grave. A non-Muslim is not allowed to lower a Muslim’s body. Only the male relatives of a deceased female may insert her into the grave: such as her father, uncle, husband, brother, or son. After the body has been lowered, the grave can now be filled in with earth by throwing in earth from the head side with hands or a spade.
When placing earth/soil in to the grave first time, one should say:
Minha Khalaqna-Kum
Out of it We (i.e. Allah) created you
When placing earth/soil the second time, say:
Wa Feehaa Nu’eedu-Kum
And into it We deposit you.
When placing earth/soil the third time:
Wa Min-Haa Nukhriju-Kum Thaarath-an Ukhraa
And from it We shall take you out once again
Now the grave can be filled in completely by those present who choose to do so in order to gain the Sawaab/reward of Allah. After the grave completely covered
It is desirable to throw three handfuls of earth into the grave. The final shape of the grave should form a convex/curved shape, that is semi-circular. It is permitted to make a mark on the grave by placing a headstone or a wooden slate inscribed with the name of the deceased so that people can recognize the dead person. The Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon Him) practice was that once he broke a branch into two pieces and fixed them onto the grave and said:
“The punishment of the dead would be reduced so long as the branches remained green.”
Flowers may be placed on the grave, as there is neither harm in it nor any prohibition on doing so. After the burial, the Imam or anyone else can make Dua/supplications for the deceased and for all the Muslims who lie buried in the cemetery.
On visiting the cemetery, our Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (peace be upon Him) said:
“Visit the graves, for surely visiting the graves lessens worldly love and reminds you of the Hereafter.”
One can visit the cemetery on any day of the week but it is better to do so on the Yawmul-Jumu’ah (Friday). When you enter the Muslim cemetery, it is Sunnah to say:
“Assalamu alaikum yaaahlal-quboor!”
Peace be upon you O dwellers of the graves!
or
“Assalamu alaikum yaa ahlad-diyaari minal-mu’mineena wal-muslimeena wa innainshaa-allahu bikum laahiqoona nasalul-lahu lana wa lakumul-‘aafiyah”
Peace be upon you, O you of the believers and Muslims dwelling in these abodes. Behold, if Allah Wills, we shall meet you. We beseech you of Allah safety for us and for you.
When one is in the cemetery, one should observe the sanctity of the place and walk with sobriety and not trample over any grave whether Muslim or not and not throw litter/rubbish. One should not shout, laugh or gossip about worldly matters, but rather contemplate death and remember Allah (Most High). It is recommended to pray for all the Muslims buried in the cemetery. Women should not attend the cemetery when men are present and they should not make a regular habit of visiting the cemetery, as forbidden by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon Him):
‘May Allah curse the women who are frequently visiting the cemetery ‘ – (Tirmizi).
Women may visit the cemetery occasionally to pay their respects to their dead and to remember death and contemplate. They should wear simple and decent clothing and must not wear any make up or perfume. They should be calm and patient and not cry out loud or wail or behave in an un-Islamic way. This is also applicable to males too.
It is recommended that people remain at the grave for some time for giving the deceased’s soul moral support and also contemplate their lives, future and about death itself. It is Mustahab (recommended) to recite the Holy Qur’an, especially reading the Fatiha, Al-Ikhlas, Surah Takasur, and Surah Yaseen, doing the Zikr of Allah (swt) and sending Salawaat (blessings) on the Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw).