A Muslim funeral, or jenazah, is simple and moves quickly. Islam encourages the family to hasten the burial, so arrangements are usually made within hours rather than days. MUIS (Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura) publishes a guide for families, and your local mosque or a Muslim funeral service provider can take care of most of the steps. Practice can vary between families and communities, so ask your mosque if you are unsure.
What usually happens
MUIS describes four main funeral rites:
- Washing (ghusl or mandi jenazah). The body is washed by family members or trained people of the same gender, with respect and following Islamic guidelines.
- Shrouding (kafan). The body is wrapped in simple white cloth, typically three pieces for men and five for women.
- The funeral prayer (solat jenazah). A special prayer is said for the deceased, usually at a mosque before burial.
- Burial. The body is placed in the grave on its right side, facing the Qibla. Those present may place three handfuls of soil into the grave.
Because the burial is hastened, the time between death and burial is short. Relatives and friends come to offer condolences, and MUIS notes that gifts from visitors are meant to help the family and do not form part of the estate.
Permits and burial
After the death is reported and the death certificate is downloaded, two practical steps are needed. MUIS explains that the funeral company usually handles them, but it helps the family to know them:
- A permit to bury, applied for through NEA’s ePortal.
- A burial slot at Choa Chu Kang Cemetery, booked at the cemetery’s booking office with the death certificate, the deceased’s NRIC or passport, the permit to bury and the applicant’s NRIC or passport. A letter of authorisation is needed if the applicant is not next of kin.
Choa Chu Kang Cemetery is the only cemetery in Singapore open for burials, and NEA lists a Muslim cemetery within it. Burial periods are limited to 15 years, and where religion requires burial, exhumed remains are re-buried in smaller individual plots. Our guide to cremation or burial explains the 15-year rule.
If the death happens overseas, MUIS encourages families to consider burial in that country rather than bearing the cost and delay of bringing the body home.
Getting help
Some mosques offer end-of-life support and grief support; MUIS suggests approaching your nearest mosque. When choosing a funeral service provider, it is worth asking:
- Can you arrange the washing, shrouding and transport today?
- Will you apply for the permit to bury and book the burial slot?
- Which mosque will the funeral prayer be held at?
- What items, such as the kafan, are included?
What a Muslim funeral costs
Muslim funerals usually cost less than other funerals, because burial normally takes place within a day and there is no long wake. Most packages listed by Singapore funeral directors cost between about $1,500 and $1,700, starting from about $1,200. They usually cover washing and shrouding, the hearse, and the burial permit and paperwork. NEA’s burial fee in the Muslim section of Choa Chu Kang Cemetery is $315 at the time of writing, so ask whether it is included, along with a temporary headstone and tahlil prayers.
If you are visiting the family
- What to wear: modest, loose clothing that covers the arms and legs. Women may wish to bring a headscarf.
- When to go: because burial is quick, many people visit the family at home in the days after. Some families hold tahlil prayers for the deceased over several evenings.
- What to say: a few words of sympathy are enough. Muslims often say “Innalillahi wa inna ilaihi raji’un”, meaning “To God we belong and to Him we return”.