Frequently Asked Questions
What do I do when a death occurs?
Contact your local mosque or a Muslim funeral home.
The Funeral Director of Tristate will help coordinate funeral arrangements. Tristate will work with your chosen masjid and cemetery.
Report a death on our page. Don’t forget to have the following information on hand to complete the Vital statistic requirements:
Birth Date
Birthplace
Spouse’s name, if woman her first and maiden name
Father’s Name
Mother’s Maiden Name
Social Security Number
Veteran’s Discharge or Claim Number
Education
Marital Status
All information must be according to the state ID.
You will receive Authorization forms the next of kin needs to sign electronically.
Contact your desired mosque. Decide on time and place of funeral. Chose your cemetery. This can be done with the help of Tristate Islamic Burials.
Tristate Islamic Burials will provide you with an announcement, which you can share with others.
Thereafter, Tristate Islamic Burials will coordinate with the masjid, family, and/or shrouding team all funeral preparations.
What does a funeral director of Tristate do?
Pick up the deceased and transport the body to the funeral home (anytime day or night)
Notify proper authorities, family and/or relatives
Arrange and prepare death certificates
Provide certified copies of death certificates for insurance and benefit processing
Work with the insurance agent, Social Security or Veterans Administration to ensure that necessary paperwork is filed for receipt of benefits
Prepare and submit obituary
Arrange for the deceased body to be washed and shrouded
Assist the family with funeral arrangements and purchase of casket and cemetery plot
Schedule the opening and closing of the grave with cemetery personnel
Coordinate with clergy regarding funeral services
Provide Aftercare, or grief assistance, to the bereaved
When I call, will someone come right away?
If a death occurred at home, and if you request immediate assistance, Tristate Islamic Burials will come and pick up your loved one. If the family wishes to spend a short time with the deceased to say good-bye, that’s perfectly acceptable.
If your loved one passed away at the hospital, the procedure requires that the body is released by the hospital, which can take only a few hours (depending on the case).
If your loved one passed away by a violent, sudden, or suspicious death and he/she is taken to the medical examiner, the Funeral Director must await the release by the medical examiner which could take anything from couple of hour to a couple of days.
Regardless, the Funeral Director can proceed with the arrangements only after he is in the possession of your departed loved one.
Is there financial help if I need it?
Tristate Islamic Burials is a not-for-profit organization. This means that our prices reflect our expenses. We believe that there are two main life events that should be free or low cost – birth and death. Therefore, our services are not here to drain your wallet but help you honor your departed in most affordable yet respectable way.
However, if even despite our low-cost services you cannot afford funeral services, there are a number of options available, including:
If a person resides in the state of New Jersey and is on Medicaid they might be eligible for Medicaid Burial Benefits. A staff member of Tristate will ask for the deceased’s name, date of birth and social security number. We will call the county office to see if the person is deemed eligible.
- You may open a go-fund-me page.
Determine if the deceased person qualifies for any entitlements. Check with the Social Security Administration, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and with your State Fund. Many people are entitled to get financial assistance with their funeral costs from these agencies if they qualify.
Review all insurance policies the deceased person has, including life insurance. Some life insurance policies have coverage clauses for funeral related costs.
Find local charities providing financial help for funeral expenses. Search for non profit organizations. Ask your local masjid for help.
- Request payment plan option.
Does a dead body have to be embalmed, according to law?
The Federal Trade Commission says, “Except in certain special cases, embalming is not required by law.” Hence, Muslims do not embalm bodies that are being buried within US.
Embalming may be necessary, however, if you select certain funeral arrangements, such as a transporting the deceased overseas.
What do I need to know about income tax when I lose a spouse?
Uncertainty about income tax issues can add to the stress experienced from the death of a spouse. You should meet with your family attorney and/or tax advisor as soon as possible to review your particular tax and estate circumstances. Bring a detailed list of your questions to the meeting. If you do not have an attorney or tax advisor, call the IRS toll-free at 800-829-1040 for answers to specific tax questions.
How do I obtain a death certificate?
What is the Islamic funeral called?
The Islamic funeral system is called Janazah. (Ja naa za) . The Janazah consist of the ritual wash and shroud , prayer and burial of a deceased Muslim man or woman. For more detail description, please read our page on How to – Janazah.
Is there a particular time the Janazah prayers are performed?
It is important to note that Muslim hasten their funerals. It is the Sunnah to bury the departed one as soon as possible. It is not a Muslim custom to wait and delay funerals in order to gather family and friends. If the departed one is from the inhabitants of the Paradise, delaying his burial will delay his rewards.
Furthermore, it is very beneficial for the decease to have a large amount of Muslim to pray the Janazah prayer for them, hence the Janazah prayer might take place at the Masjid right after one of the obligatory prayers (usually the noon or afternoon prayer).
Under no circumstances is it to offend a family and/or friend that is not of the Islamic faith but the Janazah prayer is made for Muslims by Muslims. If you are a not-yet-Muslim, when Muslims stand to perform the Janazah prayer, you are welcome to pray quietly in your seat or just observe.
Is there a particular attire non-Muslim should wear to a Janazah?
If the Janazah service is in the mosque, modest attire is suggested. Modest attire can be loose long pants and or skirt/dress below the knee. Cleavage and chest area covered.
Women do not have to cover their hair to attend a service in the mosque, but it is greatly appreciated.
Men should wear pants that cover their knees, at least.
In general, dress as you would if you were going to a church. A mosque is a house of worship.
Frequently used Islamic words and terms
ALLAH – Muslims believe in the Oneness of God, No Partners, No Sons, No daughters
JANAZAH – Islamic Funeral system; including washing and shrouding, prayer, and burial
GHUSL – Major ritual bath also known as the washing the body. Muslim men wash and shroud the men and the Muslim women wash and shroud the women.
KAFAN – the fabric that is used in the shroud. Differs at times, between 3-5 pieces white sheeting fabric. Muslim is only shrouded to this large white cloth and does not wear other clothing.
IMAM- Male religious leader
SALAT- Daily prayer that Muslims make five times a day
IMAN- Means Faith
MASJID/ MOSQUE- Means the same, it is the religious place of worship for Muslims
ALHAMDULILLAH – All praise are for Allah
ALLAHU AKBAR- Allah is Great
SHUKRAN- Thank you
AFWAN- Your welcome
AS SALAAMU ALAYKUM- The Peace be Upon You
WA ALAYKUM SALAAM- Returning the Peace upon you
