Funeral Planning for Loved One
Everything in the earth and the heavens belongs to Allah (SWT). Our lives, our possessions and our families are Allah’s gifts to us. Death is the definite event that occurs in everybody’s life. Death is inevitable and unpredictable. Nobody knows when death will come to him or her.
Islamic Society of Delaware provides assistance in funeral services. Here we provide you guidance and information for peacefully completing the burial of your deceased loved one.
Call ISD upon learning that your loved one has passed at (302) 357-5917. Masjid will assist in:
- Ensuring the entire process is conducted per the Sunnah
- Ensuring the family has time to grieve and not worry about the funeral arrangements
- Engaging the ISD designated Funeral Director
- Arranging Ghusl (Ritual Washing), Kafan (Shroud), Salat-Al-Janazah (Burial Prayers) and Tadfeen (Burial)
- Arranging for a Grave and coordinating with the cemetery for opening and closing of the grave
Please assign ONE member of your family as a “Point Of Contact” to send and receive communication from ISD, Medical Examiner’s Office, Funeral Home, Cemetery, etc.
Several services are needed to take the body from the deathbed to the grave:
A. Obtaining A “Work Death Certificate”
- If the death took place in a hospital, the hospital will issue a Work Death Certificate (This is different from the Death Certificate issued by the county)
- If the death took place at home, and the deceased was under Home Hospice Care, the Hospice Service Provider has to officially Pronounce the death
- If the death took place at home, contact your family doctor to obtain a Death Certificate
B. Funeral Director
- ISD funeral director will arrange for all needed services
- Arranging to get the body of the deceased released from the institution where death happened
- Transporting the body from the place of death to ISD Funeral Preparation Room. This facility includes cold storage to hold the deceased overnight if the death occurs in such hours that a funeral for the same day is not possible
- Washing the body according to Sunnah, shroud and place in a casket for burial
- It is highly recommended that close relatives of the deceased take part/assist in washing the body. ISD Sympathy Committee volunteers will be there to guide (If needed). But if that is not possible, then ISD volunteers will arrange for the washing of the body
- Transporting the body from the Preparation Room to the Masjid
- Offering Salat-al-Janazah (Funeral Prayers) at Masjid Ibrahim
- Giving oppurtunity to the community to join the Funeral procession to the cemetery and participate in the burial
- Transporting the body from the Masjid to the Cemetery
- Burial of the deceased according to the Sunnah
- Installing a temporary Grave Sign
- “Applying For” and “Collecting” Funeral Home Charges from the State if the deceased is Medicaid Eligible (Conditions Apply For Eligibility)
- Applying for Death Certificate from County
ISD Services, grave site at ISD Al Salaam Cemetery and use of the ISD washing room facilities are all WAQF Li ALLAH and free for cost for all Muslims
ISD Funeral Director fee, Cost of shrouds clothes, head stone for the grave, cost of opening and closing the graves are not free. This cost must be paid by the family from the money left by the deceased as per Shariah principles.
ISD and Muslim community would pay for ALL cost if deceased left no money and the family cannot pay
A. Breakdown of the Possible Cost
- ISD Funeral Director cost = 800 dollars
- Opening and closing the grave = 575 dollars
- Head stones are optional with 3 options available, please see the list below, cost may range from none to thousands of dollars based on the wishes of the family
- Donation to the ISD Cemetery are welcome to cover the cost of those Muslims who cannot pay
B. Head Stone Options
- Ordinary stone for identification with name, is recommended and is Free
- Simple Head Stone, optional and made by a company, cost 300 dollars, is the responsibility of the family
- Bigger and special stones are optional based on ISD criteria. It may cost more and is the responsibility of the family
Contact: Br. Korshed Alam - (302) 203-9552 – 24 hours, 7 days a week
Directions to As-Salaam Garden from ISD
3334 Newark Rd. Lincoln University, PA 19352