When a person dies in Islam, they must be honoured and buried with dignity and respect. The process of Janazah is based on four immediate rights of the deceased:
- Washing the deceased (Ghusl)
- Shrouding the deceased (Kafan)
- Praying over the deceased (Salat al-Janazah)
- Burying the deceased (Dafn)
These duties are a communal obligation (fard kifayah), meaning it is required upon the living to ensure they are carried out. The responsibility first falls upon the deceased’s family and heirs.
If they are unable or absent, the wider Muslim community of the locality must fulfil these rites.
In addition, Islamic law places the responsibility for shrouding and funeral expenses on the estate of the deceased. If there are no heirs and no Islamic authority present, the obligation still remains with the local Muslim community.
- Washing the deceased (Ghusl)
Preparing the body involves the Ghusl (ritual washing), which is performed according to detailed Islamic guidelines intended to ensure cleanliness, dignity, and respect for the deceased.
The washing is generally carried out by a Muslim of the same gender as the deceased, with men washing men and women washing women.
The process includes:
- Covering the deceased’s private areas and maintaining modesty throughout.
- emoving any impurities from the body.
- Performing Wudhu (ablution) as done before prayer.
- Washing the head and beard, then the entire body.
- Washing the right side and then the left side, ensuring all parts are cleaned.
The body is traditionally washed three times (or another odd number if necessary), following established religious procedures.
- Shrouding the deceased (Kafan)
After the Ghusl (ritual washing), the deceased is wrapped in a Kafan (shroud). The shroud should be made from simple, lawful, and modest material, traditionally white cloth, and must not be transparent or impure.
Following the practice of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, the deceased is wrapped in plain cloth without unnecessary extravagance.
The shrouding process includes:
- Preparing clean white cloths for the shroud.
- Wrapping the deceased in the prescribed number of layers, ensuring the body is fully covered.
- Securing the shroud while maintaining the dignity and modesty of the deceased.
Men are shrouded in three pieces of cloth: an outer sheet (lifāfah), a tunic (qamīṣ), and a lower wrap (izār).
Women are shrouded in five pieces of cloth, consisting of the same three garments with the addition of a chest wrap (khirqa) and a headscarf (khimār) to provide further coverage.
It is also recommended to apply fragrance (ḥanūṭ) to the body and the shroud. This aromatic mixture may include camphor, reed perfume, and sandalwood.
Scented cotton may be placed on the eyes, nose, ears, and the parts of the body used in prostration, such as the forehead, hands, and knees, as a final act of honouring the deceased.
- Praying over the deceased (Salat al-Janazah)
Salat al-Janazah, the Islamic funeral prayer, is a communal obligation (Fard Kifayah) performed by the community, typically in a mosque or an open space such as a burial ground.
After the deceased has been enshrouded, they are prepared for the funeral prayer. The prayer is performed while standing in congregation and consists of four Takbirs:
Step 1: After the first Takbir, Thana and Surah Al-Fatiha are recited.
Step 2: After the second Takbir, Darood Ibrahim is recited, sending blessings upon the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), as in the daily prayers.
Step 3: After the third Takbir, supplications are made seeking forgiveness and mercy for the deceased, as well as prayers for oneself and the wider Muslim community.
Step 4: After the fourth Takbir, one remains silent briefly, and then the prayer concludes immediately with Salam (tasleem).
- Burying the deceased (Dafn)
After the funeral prayer is completed, the burial should take place as soon as possible. The grave should be dug deep enough to fully conceal the body, preventing odour and protecting it from animals or disturbance.
In Islamic tradition, graves are designed as either a laḥd (a side recess at the bottom of the grave, which is preferred) or, where soil conditions do not allow, a shiqq (a trench within the base of the grave).
The deceased should be placed facing the qibla, usually on the right side, with adjustments made using soil or support if needed. Burial is generally carried out by men, and in the case of women, it is preferred that close male relatives take part in placing the body.
Once the body is placed in the grave, those present may say: “Bismillah wa ‘ala sunnati Rasulillah” (In the name of Allah and upon the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah) (Abu Dawud, 3213).
It is also Sunnah to scatter soil three times toward the head of the grave. The remaining soil is then filled in, and the grave is shaped slightly raised, about 15 cm above ground level as it is narrated that the grave of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was raised in this manner.
A grave marker is placed after the burial to help identify the grave, allowing family and friends to visit, make duʿā (supplication) for the deceased, and reflect on the Hereafter.