Funeral Service [JANA'ZAH]

The religion of Islam has not forgotten death, nor has it forsaken the rights of the dying. Islam provides us with a complete set of instructions for the one who is dying, those who are present at the time of death and those responsible for burying the deceased individual. “Everyone shall taste death.” (Qur’an 3:185).

Funeral, which is the ceremony of service held shortly after person’s death in Islam also called “Jana'zah” in Arabic. It follows specific rites in Islam though this may be subject to variation in custom or regional interpretation. However, sharia (Islamic religious law) calls for burial of the body as soon as possible, preceded by the following simple set of ritual:

• Collective bathing of the body, except in extraordinary circumstances, as in the battle of Uhud
• Enshrouding the dead body in a white cotton or linen cloth 
• Funeral prayer 
• Burial of the dead body in a grave 
• Positioning the deceased so that the head is faced towards Qiblah 

The burial of the dead in Islam is usually is within 24 hours of death to protect the living from any sanitary issues, except in the case a person killed in battle or when a foul play is suspected; in those cases, it is important to determine the cause of death before burial. Cremation of the body is strictly forbidden in Islam. It is worth mentioning that the rites of burial are not constituted in the Qur’an. The consensus held amongst great Muslim Jurists is that funeral prayer for the deceased person is a collective obligation or “Fard Kifayah”. The Prophet (P.B.U.H) commended the Muslims to offer it, and they have been doing so ever since they received this commandment. 

Abu Hurairah narrates that the Prophet, peace be upon him, said: “Whoever follows a funeral procession and offers the prayer for the deceased, will get one kerat 68 of reward”. And whoever follows it and remains with it until the body is buried, will get two kerats of reward, the least of which is equal in weight to ‘Mount Uhud’ or he said ‘one of them is like Uhud. Try and attend the prayer of a deceased even if you do not know him/her. Remember that the entire Jana'zah Prayer is said standing only. Like any other prayer, this prayer is also offered facing Qibla.

NIMAB Welfare Trust provides assistance and arrangements for funeral services to its members and the Muslim community within its local area (Birmingham, UK). It also has a Funeral Scheme established in May 2017, after it was identified that the huge amount of money required to perform Jana'zah within the 24hours of death is not always readily available by the family or associates of the deceased. The scheme however, is put in place to provide the funding required should the event occur. It is strongly recommended to everyone who is a member of NIMAB to be part of the scheme and ensure they read, understand and agree to the terms and conditions by completing and signing the application form and the Policy Statement. The Scheme is solely run by a Funeral Scheme Committee set up by the NIMAB’s Executives on behalf of the Trust.

Jana'zah Scheme Application Form is available for download at the bottom of this page.

For details on making funeral arrangements for a departed one or joining the Jana'zah Scheme as a member of Nimab, please contact the office administrator between the hours of 12noon and 6:00 PM from Monday to Friday at Nimab Welfare Trust, Great Francis Str. Nechells, Birmingham. B7 4QN. Tel: 0121 406 7588; Mobile: 07538281085; Email: janazah@nimabwelfare.org.uk