"It is prescribed for you, when death approaches one of you, if he leaves behind wealth, that he bequeaths unto parents and near relatives in goodness; that is a duty on those who safeguard themselves with full awareness of divine laws." - 2:180

Have you written your Will? If not, please visit http://www.muslimcongress.org to download an Islamic Will.

Does your Will include a funeral and burial clause? Contact a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for guidance before including a funeral & burial clause in your Will.

SAMPLE FUNERAL & BURIAL CLAUSE:

1.1 Burial. No autopsy is to be performed on my body nor my body embalmed unless required by law. Without unjustified delay, my body is to be washed, shrouded in white cloth, prayed for and buried, all in accordance with Islamic Jurisprudence based on Ja’fari fiqh [Add any specific requests you have here, including a scholar to contact, or an item to be buried with].

1.2. Burial Site. It is my desire to be buried in the city where my surviving spouse or children reside [change if not applicable or name specific city]. I ordain that except for the purpose of transporting my dead body to the nearest Muslim cemetery, or to respect the desire of my serving Muslim family, my body should not be transported over any unreasonable distance from the locality of my death [Specify where you want to be buried here].

1.3. Grave. I ordain that my grave be dug in accordance with Islamic Jurisprudence based on Ja’fari fiqh, without any casket or encasement that would separate my shrouded body from the surrounding soil, such that my body faces the direction of the Mecca, Saudi Arabia. In case the local law requires a casket encasement, it should be simple, plain, modest, inexpensive, and made of wood. Furthermore, it should be left open during burial. Moreover, I shall be buried in a Muslim graveyard to be supervised by [insert name of individual, community center or organization]. Note: A personal representative or executor must be a Muslim and should know about your desire to be buried in accordance with Islamic jurisprudence.

The author of this article can be reached via email at Justice360@muslimcongress.org. For more information about Justice360, visit http://www.muslimcongress.org/360.