Every faith and culture has its way of honouring the dead. The Islamic way — the janazah — is striking for two things: its simplicity and its speed. No embalming, no elaborate casket, no long delay. The body is washed by hand, wrapped in plain white cloth, prayed over by the community, and returned to the earth, usually within a day or two.
If you've been invited to a Muslim funeral, are supporting a Muslim friend through a loss, or are a Muslim family in Gippsland wanting to know how it all works locally, this guide explains janazah step by step.
What Does "Janazah" Mean?
Janazah (Arabic: جنازة) means "funeral" and refers both to the funeral rites as a whole and, specifically, to Salat al-Janazah, the funeral prayer. The rites follow the practice of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and have remained essentially unchanged for fourteen centuries — the same washing, shrouding, prayer, and burial, whether the funeral is in Cairo, Kuala Lumpur, or Warragul.
Underlying everything is one idea: the dignity of the human being does not end at death. The body is treated gently, modestly, and without delay, and the community — not just the family — carries the responsibility. In Islamic law, the funeral rites are fard kifayah: a communal obligation. If a Muslim dies and no one in the community steps up to wash, shroud, pray over, and bury them, the whole community bears the sin. Someone must come — and someone always does.
Step 1: Immediately After Death
When a Muslim passes away, those present are encouraged to:
- Gently close the eyes and cover the body with a clean sheet
- Say inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un — "Indeed we belong to God, and to Him we return" (Quran 2:156)
- Make dua (supplication) for the deceased
- Contact the mosque or Muslim funeral services as soon as possible, because everything that follows moves quickly
In Australia, there are also legal steps: a doctor must certify the death, and in some circumstances (sudden or unexplained deaths) the coroner is involved. This is where a mosque community earns its keep — coordinating between the hospital, GP or coroner, the funeral director, and the cemetery so the family isn't navigating bureaucracy alone in their worst hours. In Gippsland, BINAI handles this coordination 24/7 — the first phone call a local family makes is 0457 643 672.
Step 2: Ghusl — Washing the Body
Before burial, the body is given a full ritual washing called ghusl, performed with warmth and care — an act often described as the last kindness you can do for someone.
Key aspects:
- The washing is performed by Muslims of the same gender as the deceased (a spouse may also wash their partner), usually family members supported by trained community volunteers.
- The body is washed an odd number of times — three, five, or more as needed — with water, and traditionally with lote (sidr) leaves or soap, finishing with a light scenting such as camphor.
- Modesty is preserved throughout: the body is never left uncovered.
- Those who perform ghusl keep confidential anything they see; the dignity of the deceased is protected absolutely.
Many Muslims consider participating in ghusl one of the most profound experiences of their religious life. Mosque communities train volunteers so that no family ever faces it unprepared — BINAI arranges trained brothers or sisters for every ghusl it coordinates.
Step 3: Kafan — The Shroud
After washing, the body is wrapped in the kafan: simple sheets of plain white cloth — traditionally three pieces for a man and five for a woman.
The simplicity is the point. There are no burial suits, no jewellery, no distinction between rich and poor. The wealthiest business owner and the poorest labourer leave the world wrapped in the same few metres of white cotton. It is a final, physical statement of Islam's teaching that we leave exactly as we arrived — and that what counts now is not what we owned but what we did.
The shrouded body is then placed in a simple coffin where local law requires one, as it generally does in Victoria.
Step 4: Salat al-Janazah — The Funeral Prayer
The congregation then gathers — typically at the mosque — for Salat al-Janazah, the funeral prayer. It is short, usually around five minutes, and unlike any other Islamic prayer:
- It is performed entirely standing — there is no bowing (ruku) or prostration (sujud).
- It consists of four takbirs (declarations of Allahu Akbar — "God is Greatest"). After the first, worshippers silently recite Al-Fatiha, the opening chapter of the Quran. After the second, they send blessings on the Prophet Muhammad. After the third, they pray for the forgiveness and mercy of the deceased. After the fourth comes a brief pause, then the closing salutation.
- The imam stands in front, the shrouded body before the congregation.
The heart of the prayer is the third takbir — the community, shoulder to shoulder, asking God to forgive this person, to widen their grave, to wash their sins as white cloth is washed. Islamic teaching holds that a large, sincere congregation praying for a deceased person is itself a means of God's mercy on them — one reason Muslims travel long distances to attend a janazah, and why attending one is considered a duty of high reward.
At Warragul Mosque, the janazah prayer is usually held straight after one of the daily prayers or after Jummah, when the congregation is largest.
Step 5: Burial
Burial follows as soon as possible after the prayer — Islamic teaching urges the community "to hasten with the funeral." In practice in Australia, burial happens the same day as the prayer, typically within 24–48 hours of the death.
At the graveside:
- The body is lowered and positioned on its right side, facing the qibla — the direction of Mecca, the same direction Muslims face in every prayer.
- Mourners each pour three handfuls of soil into the grave, often reciting the verse: "From it We created you, and to it We return you, and from it We will bring you out once more" (Quran 20:55).
- The grave itself is kept simple and level or slightly raised — no mausoleums or elaborate monuments; a simple marker is typical.
- A final dua is made for the deceased's steadfastness, and mourners disperse quietly.
Cremation is not permitted in Islam under any circumstances, and embalming is avoided unless legally required — both are considered violations of the body's dignity. Earth burial, facing Mecca, is the only practice.
In Gippsland, families typically use the Muslim section at Warragul Cemetery or one of Melbourne's dedicated Muslim cemeteries. BINAI assists with plots and paperwork either way.
Mourning: What Happens Afterwards
Islam gives grief structure without suppressing it.
Three days of mourning follow the burial for family and community. Neighbours and friends visit, bring meals (the grieving family should not be cooking), and sit with the bereaved. Organised dua gatherings and quiet company are the norm — in Warragul, the community arranges meal trains and pastoral visits as a matter of course.
A widow observes iddah — a longer mourning period of four months and ten days, during which she traditionally remains at home and does not remarry.
Tears are allowed; despair is not. When the Prophet Muhammad's own son Ibrahim died, he wept, saying: "The eyes shed tears and the heart grieves, but we say only what pleases our Lord." Quiet grief is human and honoured. Loud wailing, tearing clothes, and rituals of despair are discouraged — because in Islamic belief, death is a return, not an annihilation, and the deceased is going to a merciful Judge. That belief in the Day of Judgement and the afterlife is what gives a janazah its distinctive atmosphere: deeply sad, but composed, and threaded with hope.
Two ongoing practices comfort Muslim families long after: dua — the deceased continues to benefit from their loved ones' prayers — and sadaqah jariyah, ongoing charity given in the deceased's name, whose reward is believed to keep reaching them.
Attending a Janazah as a Non-Muslim
If a Muslim colleague, neighbour, or friend passes away, you are welcome — genuinely — at the funeral. A few pointers:
- Dress modestly — long sleeves and trousers or a long skirt; women may wish to carry a scarf if entering the prayer hall, though it's not demanded of visitors.
- You won't be expected to pray. During Salat al-Janazah, stand or sit quietly at the back. No one will mind.
- Skip the flowers and cards — they're not part of Islamic practice. A sincere word, a visit during the three days, or a meal for the family is worth far more.
- Keep condolences simple. "I'm so sorry for your loss — may God have mercy on them" is perfect. If you'd like the traditional phrase: inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un.
- Expect speed. Muslim funerals happen fast — sometimes the day after death. If you hear late, a condolence visit afterwards is still deeply appreciated.
More general guidance is in our post on visiting a mosque for the first time.
Janazah Services in Gippsland
Until recently, a Muslim death in Gippsland meant everything — ghusl, prayer, burial — had to be organised through Melbourne, an hour and a half away, at the exact moment a family was least able to manage it.
That has changed. Warragul Mosque (BINAI) provides 24/7 janazah support for the Muslim community across Baw Baw Shire and Gippsland:
- Immediate coordination with hospitals, GPs, or the coroner — call 0457 643 672 any hour, any day
- Ghusl and kafan arranged with trained brothers and sisters; the shroud is provided
- Salat al-Janazah held at Warragul Mosque, 72 Victoria Street
- Burial support — help with plots and paperwork at Warragul Cemetery's Muslim section or Melbourne's Muslim cemeteries
- Bereavement care afterwards — dua gatherings, meal trains, and pastoral visits
There is no cost to call and no obligation. This is precisely what a local mosque exists for — and it's a large part of why BINAI is working to build a permanent mosque for the region, so that Gippsland's Muslim community is never without a place to gather, in celebration or in grief.
Support the Warragul Mosque project →
Further reading: What Do Muslims Believe? · What is Jummah? · What is Zakat & Sadaqah Jariyah? · Muslim Community in Baw Baw Shire · Visiting a Mosque
Warragul Mosque 72 Victoria Street, Warragul VIC 3820 Janazah support: 24/7 on 0457 643 672 Jummah: Every Friday at 1:30 PM Email: hello@binai.org.au
Operated by BawBaw Islamic Network Australia Inc. (BINAI), a registered charity in Victoria. ABN: 16 723 284 175.