Muslim funeral customs
Islam asks that the dead be buried promptly, simply and with dignity. Here is what to expect, for the family arranging the funeral and for guests.
Timing
Burial should be swift, ideally within 24 hours. One Virginia mosque notes that a death before 8 AM may allow burial the same day, while a later death usually means burial the next day.
Because burial is quick, there is no wake, viewing or extended visitation.
Preparing the body
The body is washed (ghusl) by trusted family members or designated people of the same gender, then wrapped in a shroud (kafan). Trained community members often help.
Cremation is prohibited. Embalming and autopsy are discouraged unless the law requires them.
The service
The funeral prayer, Salat al-Janazah, is held at the mosque or a prayer area. It is brief and performed standing, asking God's mercy and forgiveness for the person.
At the cemetery the person is placed facing the Qiblah, toward Mecca, and those present may place a few handfuls of earth into the grave. In some communities only men attend the burial, though this is not a strict rule.
Mourning
The general mourning period is three days. Community members visit the family, pray with them and bring meals.
A widow observes a longer period, generally four months and ten days (iddah), staying mostly at home and avoiding festive events.
For guests
Crying is natural; loud wailing and expressions of despair are discouraged.
Bringing a meal to the family in the days after the burial is a common way to help.
If you are not sure what is expected, ask someone close to the family. Plain, dark clothes are a safe choice unless the family asks otherwise.
Questions to ask a funeral home
- Can our mosque's volunteers perform the ghusl in your facility?
- How fast can you file the death certificate and permits for a same-day or next-day burial?
- Will you skip embalming unless the law requires it?
- Do you work with our Muslim cemetery or a Muslim section of a local cemetery?
- What does the cemetery require for the burial, such as a casket or vault?
Common questions
- How soon after death is a Muslim burial?
- As soon as possible, ideally within 24 hours. Paperwork and cemetery hours can move it to the next day.
- Do Muslims allow cremation?
- No. Cremation is prohibited in Islam, and burial follows the washing, shrouding and funeral prayer.
- How long is the Muslim mourning period?
- Generally three days, with a longer period of four months and ten days for a widow.
Funeral homes near you
Call two or three homes and compare their written price lists.