When a Muslim passes away: the first 24 hours
Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi rajiʿun — to Allah we belong and to Him we return. When it happens, families need to act quickly and calmly. Here is what to do, in order.
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In the first moments
- Say “Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi rajiʿun” and make duʿa for them.
- Gently close their eyes and mouth, straighten the limbs, and cover the body with a clean sheet.
- Keep calm around the body; crying is natural, but wailing and tearing clothes are forbidden.
Make the death official
In a hospital or hospice, staff pronounce the death and prepare the paperwork. At home, call the doctor, hospice nurse or 911 so the death can be pronounced. If the death was sudden or unexplained, the medical examiner may need to be involved, which can delay burial — tell them early that the family is Muslim and wishes to bury quickly, and ask what accommodations are possible.
Call the masjid or a Muslim funeral home
Most Muslim communities have a masjid committee or a funeral home that handles everything: collecting the body, ghusl (the ritual washing), the kafan (shroud), the janaza prayer and burial. Islam asks for a prompt burial, without embalming or cremation. Find places near you with our Muslim burial and ghusl finder.
Paperwork the funeral home usually handles
- The burial permit, so the body can be buried.
- The death certificate — ask for several certified copies; banks, insurers and government offices each need one.
- Reporting the death to Social Security.
Tell the community
Let family, friends and the masjid know when and where the janaza prayer will be, so people can pray for them. You can post a free death notice with the time and place, and share its link and QR code.
In the days after
- Find the wasiyya (will) and give it to the executor.
- Pay the debts from the estate before anything is shared.
- Contact life insurance, banks and employers with the death certificate.
- Share the estate by the shares of the deceased's school.
- Continue duʿa and charity on their behalf — sadaqa jariya keeps reaching them.
Post a free death notice with the janaza time and place, and find Muslim burial and ghusl near you.
Post a free death noticeQuestions people ask
How soon must a Muslim be buried?
As soon as reasonably possible, ideally within a day. Paperwork, a medical examiner's review or travel can delay it; the family should not rush in a way that breaks the law.
Is embalming allowed in Islam?
Embalming is generally avoided. No US state requires it in every case; some require embalming or refrigeration if burial is delayed or the body is shipped. Check with your funeral home.
Who performs the ghusl?
Usually close relatives of the same sex or trained volunteers at the masjid or Muslim funeral home. In most schools a spouse may wash a spouse.
Who pays for the funeral?
Funeral costs come from the deceased's estate first, before debts and inheritance.
This guide explains general rulings by school and general US practice. It is not a fatwa and not legal advice. For your own situation, ask your scholar or marjaʿ, and a licensed attorney in your state.