Muslim Funeral Guide
After the death of someone close, there are several legal procedures that need to be done for the burial to take place.
Firstly, the death needs to be registered. A death can be registered by several people:
- A relative
- Someone who was present at the death
- Someone who lives in the same house as the deceased
- The person arranging the funeral with the funeral director
- Someone who is from the hospital/hospice that the loved one passed away at
There are several documents that the person registering the death would need to bring to the registrar. Documents required for registering the death are:
- The medical certificate which states the cause of death, in the case that a post mortem was performed, the coroner will send this to the registrar.
- Birth and marriage certificates, if available.
- Blue badge and bus pass, if applicable.
- Means of payment for copies of the death certificate.
Registering the death is free of charge, however copies of the death certificate can be purchased for £11 each. You will need to produce a copy of the death certificate when sorting out finances for the deceased with banks or insurance companies.
The registrar will ask for many details whilst registering the death. The person registering the death must be ready and aware of all details possible. Information required for the death certificate entry:
- Date and place of death.
- Full name of the deceased at time of death.
- Other names they previously may have used.
- Date and place of birth.
- Occupation and whether they were retired at time of death.
- Current home address.
- If the deceased was a married woman/widow, her maiden surname and husband’s full name and occupation.
- If the deceased was a married man/widow, his wife’s full name and occupation.
- Your full name, address and relationship to the deceased.
Additional information will be asked by the registrar for government statistics only. Information required for statistical purposes whilst registering the death:
- Marital status of the deceased.
- If the deceased was in a hospital/hospice, how long they were there for.
- Were they under 75?
- The industry they used to work in and their position, if they were employed.
- Did they receive any pension from government funds, this includes civil service, teachers, armed forces and war widows, this does not include state pension or pension credits.
- The NHS number if available.
Registering the death is free of charge, however copies of the death certificate can be purchased for £11 each. You will need to produce a copy of the death certificate when sorting out finances for the deceased with banks or insurance companies.
The registrar will also give you a white BD8 form, this is to be completed and sent by you, with all benefit and pension details to the Department of Work and Pensions if applicable.
If the death occurs at home
Specific procedures need to be followed if the death occurs at home. The local General Practitioner needs to be contacted. In addition to the GP, the police need to be contacted if the death was violent or unexpected and unknown, in this case, you must not touch anything in the home.
You may then contact a mosque to guide you to the right person or a funeral director who will assist you with the further steps to be taken. The death can then be registered at a local Registrar and any will or wishes of the deceased can be followed.
If the death occurs in a hospital/hospice
Normally a relative is close to the deceased, however, if this was not the case at the time of death, the nurse in charge or doctor will contact the next of kin.
If the deceased was not a patient, the next of kin will be asked to identify the patient and will be informed if a post mortem examination is going to take place as per legal requirements, dependent on the nature of the death.
Specific documents will be asked for, to allow you to take any personal possessions. Thereafter, you can contact a funeral director and they will guide you with the following steps.
Burial in the UK
If you are burying in the UK, you will be given a death certificate and a green burial certificate.
You will need to fax or send the green certificate to the funeral director, until then they cannot collect the deceased and organise everything.
Any family members that wish to attend the washing will be informed when this will take place.
The janazah prayer can be held at any mosque and the funeral director can book the cemetery that you prefer, at a date and time suitable to you. Transportation on the day of the funeral for the family can be arranged if required.
Repatriation
If the family wishes to repatriate the deceased relative to their country, we can assist with organising this, all necessary
documentation and regulations for the coffin with the airlines will be met.
Our Services
We have all the equipment and dedicated staff required to provide a full service for men and women in a manner that complies with the Shari’ah.
Our standard service includes:
- Use of the mortuary.
- The washing (Ghusl) of the deceased.
- The shrouding (Kafan) of the deceased.
- Transport for the deceased
- Transport for the deceased from the hospital up to our funeral parlor to the cemetery by a Private ambulance
- If the body will be repatriated, we are responsible to transfer the coffin to London Heathrow Airport.
Additional Charges
- If a coffin/casket is required, you are requested to contact us for other charges, as price is dependent on coffin/casket required.
- Each cemetery has its own charges and is dependent on the borough they are located in.
- If you wish to repatriate the deceased, then charges would be different to burial at home, and are therefore asked to contact us for this.
- The Imam’s services
- If you require a Hearse there is an extra charge
- If you require an Imam to attend the Cemetery there is an extra charge.
- If the body will be repatriated back home and the body has to be delivered to London Gatwick, London City, Luton, Stansted Airport) maybe there is an extra charge will apply.