Islamic Funeral Traditions

This article is a part of our religious traditions series. Below we will help you understand the timeline of the services that take place for this religion and clarify any unfamiliar terms. Please note that our timelines start when the deceased is picked up by the funeral home and brought into their care. For information on what happens before a loved one is taken into the funeral home's care, read our article on what to do when someone dies.

Before you continue, we wanted to let you know that After Goodbye works with local funeral homes to list their services on our website. Funeral homes bundle commonly purchased services into packages for your convenience. You can see these packages, compare them across other funeral homes and personalize your arrangements from the comfort of your couch. Our services are completely free, find funeral homes near you now.

Common FAQs regarding Islamic funeral traditions

Can I be cremated if I'm Muslim?

  • For a traditional Islamic funeral, you cannot be cremated. The body must be buried naturally and as quickly as possible after death.

What is Azza?

  • After the funeral, the family will receive mourners into their home. These guests will bring food, flowers and other offerings for the first three days after the funeral.

What is Janazah?

  • The religious funeral service where mourners may gather in prayer for the deceased. This may occur in a mosque but often times will occur in a separate prayer room or common gathering location.

What is Ghusl?

  • Ghusl is the ritual washing and dressing of the deceased before burial. Only men can prepare men and women can prepare women. Ghusl is performed by any close family members of the same sex or by other Muslims in the community.

How soon after death is the burial?

  • The burial should occur within 24 to 48 hours after death. The belief here is that the body should return to Earth as naturally as possible and that it is treated with respect and dignity.

What is the point of a graveside service?

  • The purpose of this service is to come together as family and community to confront the reality of a loss. One the body is laid in the grave and prayers are made, a common tradition is for the mourners to place three handfuls soil into the grave. This is a sign of understanding that the body will now return to the Earth.

Funeral Timeline

Below is a general timeline of the funeral services you can expect when working with a funeral home. Again, these timelines depend greatly on the type of funeral services you plan to hold.

Day 1

  • The deceased is picked up by the funeral home staff and transported to the funeral home.

  • Family, friends and local Islamic organization are notified of the passing.

  • The family gathers the information required for filing a death certificate for the funeral home.

  • A member of the family or another Muslim performs the Ghusl.

Day 2

  • Janazah funeral service is held. Prayers are performed at a local mosque, prayer room or public gathering location in honor of the deceased.

  • The deceased is transported to the cemetery.

  • A graveside service is held for a gathering of family and friends to offer the final rites ceremony and bury the deceased.

  • A reception may be held at the home of the family with a meal for the mourners.

Day 3 to 5

  • The family will receive mourners for three days after burial (Azza).

Day 40

  • The period of mourning ends.

Note - the length of the mourning period may vary by family, and the mourning period be extended for a widow for up to four months and ten days.

If you're looking for more information about funeral costs or planning a funeral, check out our funeral planning page for more articles and answers to your questions.

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