Frequently Asked Questions

The following residents of South Australia who are Muslim can be a member of SAMFS: 

• Australian Citizens
• Australian Permanent Residents
• Australian Temporary Residents ( Excluding Visitor Visa )
• International Students

In Australia, funerals and burials can be an expensive exercise. By becoming member of SAMFS will help the family of deceased with burial & funeral costs. 

• Make funeral costs affordable by eliminating the overbearing financial burden for the families.
• Remove the anxiety and stress for the grieving families.
• Promote and encourage self-funded funerals.

At this stage, SAMFS is providing assistance with the funeral process including information to the family and supporting the burial costs up to a capped amount as specified in consideration and understanding.

Your contribution and donations will help in reducing the costs of Muslim funerals for all the SAMFS members.

In Islam the entire funeral process is a community responsibility, so you will note significant close family and community assistance during the entire process and the family may do as much or as little as they prefer. The entire process is intended to be very simple, with plenty of support from family and friends. There is no extravagance in any aspect of the funeral process.

First, the body is washed and covered in white cotton or linen (unstitched) cloth. A funeral prayer (janazah prayer) is held and the Muslim is buried in a cemetery with the face facing in the direction of Makkah (Mecca).

Some of the common Islamic terms used are:

GHUSL = washing and shrouding process

KAFFAN = white wrapping shroud

JANAZA = Body of the deceased

JANAZA SALAH = Funeral prayer for the deceased, takes place after ghusl and before the burial process

DAFAN = Burial process

Yes, a non-Muslim may attend the funeral.

As in any other faith it is expected that anyone attending the mosque / funeral is dressed modestly as per Islamic dress code and this applies to both men and women and the men may attend the cemetery to observe the burial process.

In Islam, the deceased are only buried and there is no cremation at all. Also there is no requirement to bury the deceased in a coffin. However depending on where in the world we bury the actual internal grave may vary slightly. In Adelaide once the grave is dug, then the local burial committee arranges to prepare the grave internally with concrete blocks on the four sides. The body is then lowered into the grave by the close family members or friends and then covered by concrete blocks and eventually covered by soil. The grave is filled by the family and mourners who wish to do this using shovels. The body of the deceased MUST always be buried directly on the ground.

The grave is usually designed / dug so that the deceased is usually laid in the ground and slightly tilted towards the right and the body faces towards the direction of the Qibla (Makkah / Mecca in Saudi Arabia) which in Australia is west of north west. So the direction of the grave in Australia is north->south with the head of the deceased lying on the northern end.

It is not customary to have the coffin to be draped / decorated with floral arrangements. However some cultural practices do place flowers on the grave and the family may take this to the cemetery if they so choose.

Most of the mosques (Masjids) do have a ladies section and the close family female members may come to the mosque, where they will congregate in the female section. It is not obligatory for females to perform the funeral prayer.

However, it is not customary for women to attend the cemetery or graveside burial. Women are encouraged not to attend the cemetery.

This may take place in the main section of the mosque, or in an open courtyard, or the car park to accommodate the congregation or even at the cemetery before burial.

Eulogies are not usually done during a Muslim funeral.