As with any religious funeral, the planning of a Muslim funeral should take place with members and leaders of the Muslim community. Islamic laws and customs will guide this planning process, which begins from the moment it becomes clear that a Muslim is close to death. When it becomes known that a Muslim is dying, family members should be at his or her side. During this time family members should help the dying to think of his or her own transgressions, to ask for forgiveness and then to ponder Allah's mercy and forgiveness.

When a Muslim is nearing death, and during the period in which his breathing is laboured, those Muslims around him including the Sheikh, must recite Surat Yassin. Upon death, those with the deceased should close the eyes of the deceased, bind the deceased's lower jaw to his head and cover the body with a clean sheet. It is the duty of the deceased's family to wash the body in accordance with Islamic rites. Unless a spouse is present, males will only wash males and females will only wash females. The washing should take place in a private place, with water, soap and a cloth, and be carried out three or five times. After washing, the body should be shrouded with white material. Embalming the body of a deceased Muslim is prohibited, and having the body undergo an autopsy is prohibited unless it is required by law.

Funeral prayers (Salat-ul-Janazah) is a collective obligation for Muslims, so the community should perform these prayers with the deceased's family. Often these prayers will take place outside of the Mosque or prayer room, for example in an activity room. The purpose of these prayers is to request pardons for the deceased and all deceased Muslims. These prayers may not take place at certain times of the day (according to the sun's progression) and almost all of them are said silently. The man most closely related to the deceased will lead these prayers, though the Imam or another knowledgeable Muslim may do so if needed.

Only men attend Muslim burials, and only Muslim men should put the body of the deceased in the grave. Females should only be put in the grave by a male relative. After the burial all Muslims may stay and Supplicate for the deceased. Marking the grave is permitted, however decorating the grave or allow constructing on top of it is not. Cremation is prohibited for Muslims, even if it is requested. After the burial loved ones observe a three day mourning period. Widows will observe a longer mourning period.

The preparation and burial of a deceased Muslim occurs according to Islamic law and custom. The family actively participates throughout the preparations, prayers and burial as does the wider Muslim community. Particularly in non-Muslim countries this time can be challenging as obtaining necessary items and following procedures that are not common in particular locations can be difficult. Local Muslim communities and spiritual leaders should be able to help with such funeral preparations. Local funeral directors and the staff of local funeral homes may also be able to give advice on the requirements for Muslim funerals. Looking into such resources if a good idea.

We are also well equipped to conduct repatriation services for those families that request the burial of their loved-one in their native country. We have developed a special working relationship with the Middle Eastern, Asian and North African diplomatic authorities, and airlines serving these areas of the world, meaning that we are well placed to conduct repatriations to even the most remote areas.

MANCHESTER CENTRAL MOSQUE & ISLAMIC CULTURAL CENTRE
20 Upper Park Road
Manchester
M14 5RU
Telephone: 0161 224 4119

MANCHESTER ISLAMIC CENTRE & DIDSBURY MOSQUE
271 Burton Road
West Didsbury
Manchester
M20 2WA

Telephone: 0161 434 2254

AL-FALAH ISLAMIC CENTRE
79 Heywood Street
Cheetham Hill
Manchester
M8 0TX

Telephone: 0161 708 9108

AL-SUNNAH MOSQUE
13 Winterford Road
Cheetham Hill
Manchester
M8 9PB

Telephone: 0161 492 0699

BELLOT STREET HUSSANIA MOSQUE
54 Bellot Street
Cheetham Hill
Manchester
M8 0PP

Telephone: 0161 277 9695

MARKAZ AS SALAFI BI MOSQUE
Dudley Street (Off Waterloo Road)
Cheetham Hill
Manchester
M8 9DA

Telephone: 0161 708 0417

MARKAZI JAMIA MASJID KHIZRA MOSQUE (United Kingdom Islamic Mission)
421-425 Cheetham Hill Road
Cheetham Hill
Manchester
M8 0PF

Telephone: 0161 205 6662 / 0161 740 3351

MASJID BILAL MOSQUE
52 Bury Old Road
Prestwich
Manchester
M25 0ER

Telephone: 0161 740 2125

NORTH MANCHESTER JAMIA MOSQUE
3 Woodlands Road
Cheetham Hill
Manchester
M8 9LF

Telephone: 0161 740 3696

ECCLES & SALFORD ISLAMIC SOCIETY
5 Liverpool Road,
Eccles
Salford
M30 0WB

Telephone: 0161 789 2609

UNIVERSITY OF SALFORD MOSQUE
Newton Annexe (opposite Salford Crescent Station)
Salford University
Salford
M5 4WT

Telephone: 0161 295 4191

DARUL ULOOM AL-ARABIYA AL-ISLAMIA MOSQUE
Holcombe Hall
Holcombe Old Road
Ramsbottom
Bury
BL8 4NG

Telephone: 01706 826106 / 01706 827907

IMAMIA ISLAMIC MISSION
104 Rochdale Road
Bury
BL9 7AY

ISLAMIC CENTRE & CULTURAL ASSOCIATION
Church Street (off Bell Lane)
Bury
BL9 6BN

Telephone: 0161 764 7306

JAMIA MASJID-E-KHIZRA MOSQUE
23-25 Parker Street
Bury
BL9 0RJ

Telephone: 0161 763 6884

KHIZRA MOSQUE
85 Walmersley Road
Bury
BL9 5AN

Telephone: 0161 764 1638

NOOR UL ISLAM MOSQUE
2-4 Yarwood Street
Bury
BL9 7AU

Telephone: 0161 705 2891