The path

What happens after a Muslim passes away

Six stages. We carry them out, and you are welcome to be present at each one.

01 · We come

Collection

We collect the deceased from home, hospital or care home. In Hesse, the deceased must be in a mortuary no later than thirty-six hours after death.
02 · Paperwork

The formalities

Death certificate from the registry office, registration with the cemetery and, for repatriation, the corpse passport and customs documents. You sign once, nothing more.
03 · Ghusl al-Mayyit
غسل الميت

The washing

The body is washed while covered, an odd number of times, usually three. Women are washed by women, men by men. Spouses may wash each other.
04 · Kafan
الكفن

The shrouding

White, undyed cloths, without seams and without adornment. Three for men, five for women. In death, everyone wears the same.
05 · Salat al-Janazah
صلاة الجنازة

The funeral prayer

Performed standing, without bowing and without prostration, with four takbirs. An obligation on the community, not on each individual.
06 · Dafn
الدفن

The burial

An earth grave, on the right side, the face towards the Qibla. Three handfuls of earth from those present. Without a coffin where the municipality permits it.

And in Germany

Where German law comes into play

The time limit

In Hesse, burial may take place no earlier than forty-eight hours after death and no later than ten days. The Islamic command to bury quickly and the German time limit cannot be fully reconciled, only brought closer together. We obtain the papers in parallel.
The coffin

According to the Sunnah, burial takes place in shrouds. In Hesse this is possible as an exception for religious reasons; the municipality decides after consulting the public health office. Where it is not possible, a simple coffin is used and the deceased is laid in it wrapped in the kafan.
The mortuary

The deceased must be in a mortuary no later than thirty-six hours after death. We take care of that without you having to arrange anything.

إِنَّا لِلَّٰهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ

We belong to God, and to Him we return.

Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un

In brief

Fard Kifaya فرض كفاية: An obligation on the community. It must be fulfilled, but not by every single person.
Takbir تكبير: The words “Allahu akbar”. In the funeral prayer they are said four times.
Salawat صلوات: The blessing upon the Prophet, recited after the second takbir.
Qibla القبلة: The direction of prayer towards Mecca. The grave is aligned accordingly.
Taziya التعزية: Offering condolences to the bereaved. Customarily three days.
Tayammum التيمم: Purification with earth when washing with water is not possible.

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