FUNERAL SERVICE
Every soul will taste death, and you will only be given your [full] compensation on the Day of Resurrection. So he who is drawn away from the Fire and admitted to Paradise has attained [his desire]. And what is the life of this world except the enjoyment of delusion.
Quran 3:185
It is requested that Muslims become familiar with these issues at all times since death can approach anyone at any given time or place.
When a Muslim is Dying
It is recommended by the prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) to do the following:
The dying person should be asked to pronounce, "Laa ilaaha illal Lah." (There is no God but Allah.) before death. The prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) said: "Ask your dying fellows to pronounce, "Laa ilaaha illal Lah." (There is no God but Allah.)" [Reported by Imams Muslim, Abu Dawood, At-Tirmithi, An-Nisa'I and Ibn Majah]
The prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) said: "The one whose last words are "Laa Ilaaha Illal Lah." (There is no God but Allah) will enter Paradise." [Reported by Imams Abu Dawood]
When a Muslim has Died
When the person is confirmed dead, family members or those who are present should:
Close the eyes of the deceased
The messenger of Allah went to see Abu-Salama after he died; he found his eyes open, so the prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) closed them and said: "When the soul is retrieved, the sight follows it." [Reported by Imam Muslim]
Bind the lower jaw to his head so that it does not sag
Cover the body completely with a clean sheet
The prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) upon his death was wrapped with a piece of striped cloth. [Reported by Imams Bukhari and Muslim]
Make Du'a to Allah to forgive him.
They should hasten to prepare the body for washing, shrouding and burial.
Pay his debts from his money, or if there is not enough, then from any family member, this matter is important.
The prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) said: "The believer's soul is attached to his debt until it is paid," [Reported by Imams Ahmad, Ibn Majah, and At-Tirmithi] meaning that the dead person's soul will not rest until his debt is paid.
Procedure
Preparing the dead for burial is a "Fard Kifayah" duty, meaning that if some Muslims properly carry out this duty, then other Muslims are exempt from the responsibility. Preparing the dead for burial consists of the following: Bathing the dead, wrapping the body with a shroud, praying for the dead, and burying the body. Here at Goldsboro Islamic Center, the Cemetery and Burial Committee will make all the necessary arrangements in consultation with the family members of the deceased.
1. Contact Imam Ali Ayub @ (919) 429-1229 and/Or Dr. Bhatti @ (919) 440-2284 as soon as possible to make the necessary arrangements for preparing the dead for burial.
2. Next, call the Funeral home to make arrangements to pick up the deceased from the hospital and transport to the Funeral Home for washing and preparing the body for burial.
The funeral director will take the following information from the family member:
Name and phone number of informant
Name and location of decease
If hospice/doctor has been notified
Location of deceased
3. After receiving authorization from a family member, the funeral director will arrange removal of deceased from place of death.
4. The family members and/or next of kin will come into the funeral home to make funeral arrangements and give information for the death certificate:
Name
Social security number
Address
Date of birth
Birth place
Father name
Mother maiden name
Race
Level of education
Occupation
5. The ritual bathing and preparation of the body is done by Muslim Brother(s)/Sister(s) in conjunction with a funeral home. Men for the men and women for the women. It is permissible for either spouse to wash the other after death.
6. The funeral director and staff will take deceased to the masjid for the Janazah Prayer then to the cemetery for the burial.
7. Imam will lead Janazah prayers, unless a family member of the deceased wants to do it; and will be done only in accordance with Islamic Traditions.
The cemetery is a two
acre fenced land designated and approved by the city government and currently
operational for burial.