Life is part of the path towards the hereafter, and a Janazah funeral ceremony is simple, dignified and universal in its principles. Allah ﷻ reminds us in the Qur’an that every soul shall taste death and ultimately return to Him:
“Every soul will taste death. And you will only receive your full reward on the Day of Judgment.” (Surah ‘Ali-Imran, 185)
A Janazah burial therefore follows clear and universal steps in accordance with the Sunnah: the body is gently washed (ghusl), shrouded in a simple kafan, and then taken for the Janazah prayer and burial as soon as possible after death.
However, depending on legal processes, weekends and bank holidays, this can take between 24 and 72 hours.
Many Islamic funeral directors are well versed in handling the process of registering the death, arranging documentation and ensuring that the burial can legally go ahead quickly.
After the Janazah prayer, your loved one is gently placed in the grave, typically positioned on the right side, with the face directed towards the Qiblah (the direction of Makkah).
This reflects the Islamic principle of honouring the deceased and orienting them towards Allah in their final resting place. In the UK, the Qiblah direction is approximately 119° south-east, though this may vary slightly depending on the exact location.
Our burial ground is designed to accommodate this, with bodies perpendicular to Qiblah to ensure proper orientation, while also accommodating kafan-only burial.
All the burial plots are in virgin ground and prepared to meet Islamic requirements for burial depth and dignity. Those attending the burial may also take part in the practice of placing three handfuls of soil into the grave.
It is reported that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ offered the funeral prayer, then he came to the grave of the deceased and scattered three handfuls of earth from the side of (the deceased’s) head. (Sunan Ibn Majah, 1565)
In Islam, graves are to be kept simple and humble, reflecting the equality of all people before Allah ﷻ in death. Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) forbade that the graves should be plastered or they be used as sitting places (for the people), or a building should be built over them. (Sahih Muslim, 970a)