Once the death of the person has been confirmed, you need to take the following steps:
If the
death takes place at home – call the family doctor or Paramedic.
Until the emergency service/doctor arrives, the family members and those around
them should start recitation of Yaseen Sharif. If the death was sudden
(unexpectedly), the paramedic will contact the police, who will
in most cases, conduct an interview with the family member, taking details of
what they witnessed, the police will then inform the Blackburn coroner.
The coroner would decide to a post-mortem process. A post-mortem, also known as
an autopsy, is the examination of a body after death. The aim of a post-mortem
is to determine the cause of death.
Documents
required
After the body is taken for examination/scans, it will be sent to the mortuary,
(a temporary storage of dead), the following documents will be required to
release the body:
* Deceased persons passport
* A photo ID is also required for the family member collecting the body .
* A green certificate is also required. (provided after death registration
certification has been issued)
A grave service fee must also be paid at the cemetery register office (located on the left side, prior to entering the cemetery gates)
Where is the Blackburn mortuary?
The Blackburn mortuary is currently located near Royal Blackburn Hospital (immediately after the main roundabout)
View Map
Additional notes:
Blackburn and Darwen burial society has 4 Councillors, and 9 other members.
Post mortem scan machine is located in Preston, waiting time could be around one day,
Once Musa bhai or any official member confirms, then announce burial of the deceased.
IMPORTANT: To avoid confusion, the announcement of the burial should be made/circulated by the family member(s) ONLY.
Registration
of death can only be made during weekdays
To register the death, a family member should be accompanied with the funeral
committee member. a photo id of this person should be taken
Death registration certificate currently costs £11 and must be paid by card,
a green certificate will then be issued
The burial process is free for members and donated members of Masjid e Raza (Balaclava Street, Blackburn) Standard charges otherwise is approximately £1200, this includes digging the grave and funeral cost.
How to perform Ghusl (demonstration)
Returning
from mortuary
The masjids funeral car will drive the body to the Noorani Education Centre in
preparation for Ghusl, the Ghusl (bathing) should be performed by someone with
knowledge of Ghusl, family or close friend only. Note, having too many people
surrounding the body is not advisable and can delay the process.
Preparing body for Ghusl
1. Knot a wide strap from under the jaw to the head so that the mouth does not
remain open. (do this as soon as possible, as later this can become difficult
due to stiffness)
2. Close the eyes, straighten fingers hands and legs
3. Clear any outstanding debt of the deceased, announcements should be made
publicly
4. Perform the following without delay: ghusal (ritual bath), kafan (shrouding)
and dafan (burial), if anybody of knowlege of ghusal is present then it should
commence as soon as possible.
Remember: Ghusal, kafan and dafan, are Fard al kifayah. (at least one person in the community must perform, else all the community will be sinful)
Hadith:
“Whoever washes a deceased person, shrouds him perfumes him , carries him and
offers the funeral prayer for him and does not disclose any details of the
deceased, then the he will emerge from his sins as on the day his mother bore
him” (Ibn Majah).
Who
should perform ghusl?
. One who has knowledge of it
. close relative of the deceased, if not then any pious person can
. any trustworthy and reliable (must not disclose any observations /defects of
deceased to others)
. one who is in not impure himself
. male performs ghusl to males only
How to
lay the body during ghusal?
In a manner where the feet face the qibla or whichever is easier
Family members of the deceased should be aware that one should not walk under the cofffin, but on the sides only.
GHUSL
. Apply fragrance around the room (i.e incense sticks)
. Cut the
clothes away carefully to remove clothing from the body
(if applicable)
. Cover the deceased from navel to knees first
. Istinja – (clean the private parts), note: you must not touch the private
area, if this is necessary then you must first wear a glove or cloth around the
hand
. Perform wudu (ensure water does not enter the nose or mouth)
(soap can be used if desired)
. Wash body
. Bring deceased to a sitting position if any body fluids are ejected at this
point, then there is no need to redo the wudhu.
Note: fragrance should be applied to the forehead, knees and toes area of the kafan, but stains on the kafan should be minimal,
It is Fard to pour water over the entire body once and sunnah – to do so three times
CLOTH DIMENSIONS
KAFAN (shroud)
Lifafah – (outer covering) – should be length of body, approx 2.25 metres (around 6ft tall)
Izhaar or Tahband (inner covering)
head till feet approx 2 meters
Qamees – (shirt like garment)
from shoulder to below the knees (2.5 meters) should be equal in length both at
the front and the back
3
categories of kafan
. sunnat kafan (all three pieces used as mentioned, most common)
. kifaayat (2 pieces) – lifafah and izhaar
. zaroorat – necessary (one which covers the entire body)
Please be aware, that we should always consider making a will, please seek advise of a qualified scholar in this important regard.
DID WE MISS ANYTHING?
We have collated this article after consulting a few people within and outside of the funeral committee. If you think we’ve missed something or you can help improve the information on this page, please email your amended copy to: maqbul.yusuf@sky.com
Take the Quiz
- What should any family member do around the deceased?
- Who would decide the post-mortem?,
- What should you do after death has been declared by the emergency service or Doctor?
- Where does the body go after the post mortem?
- What is a mortuary?
- What documents are required to release the body from the mortuary?
- Who should inform others about the day and time of the funeral?
- What should you do before preparing for ghusal?
- How should you lay the body during ghusal?
- When carrying the coffin at the funeral where should the family members walk?
- If the deceased was involved in an accident then how to perform ghusl?
- Ghusl, (purifying body) kafan,(wrapping of body) dafan (burial) is what?
- What is lifafah?
- What is approx. size for the lifafah cloth (outer body) ?
- What is kamees?
- What is the approx. length of the kamees?
- What is izhar/tahband?
- What is the approx. length of the izhar/tahband?
- Which order should the body be finally wrapped?
- True or false? All debt(s) of the deceased should be cleared by family member?
QUIZ ANSWERS
- Recite surah Yaseen
- coroner,
- Contact the madrassah funeral committee
- mortuary, return home
- A place where dead bodies are stored in a cooler
- Deceased persons passport
A photo ID of member collecting the body .
A green certificate is also required. - Family members once confirmed by the funeral committee only
- Fragrance
- In a manner where the feet face the qibla or whichever is easier
- On the sides of the coffin
- Just wash full body
- Fard-e-Kifayah
- Outer body sheet
- 6ft
- Shirt like garment (covers shoulder to below knees, front and back)
- 2.5 metres
- Inner covering (head to toe)
- 2 metres
- Kameez, izhaar, lifafah
- True
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