Death is a tragic event.
Allah describes it as such in the Quran. However, one is to truly submit to
Allah and be patient. We all have to remember these principles in these tragic
moments:
1.
One should
be patient and say "Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi raji'oon" (To Allah
we belong and to Him we will return) upon hearing the news
2.
One is not
to cry loudly and utter words that show contempt towards Allah's will
3.
The burial
should be performed as soon as possible
4.
The burial
should be in the same city where death occurred
5.
Expenses
should be kept to the strict minimum. As an example, if a casket is required by
law, then the cheapest casket should be used
6.
Non-Islamic
customs and traditions should be avoided. This includes extravagant dinners and
the "40-day" commemoration
7.
As tragic
as it is, death is a time of reflection and an opportunity to take heed
8.
One is ask
the Imam if one has specific questions
If death occurs after a
serious illness or after the patient was released from the hospital and a nurse
was following up with him/her, then it is usually sufficient to call the
Funeral home (see contact list below) and the Imam of WIA Mosque. If the deceased
is a male, the Imam will contact Dr. Murad Aktas to arrange for the ritual
washing. If the deceased is a female, the Imam will contact Sr. Anis.
Afterwards, the family of the deceased should go to the funeral home as soon as
possible to sign the necessary paperwork.
If death occurs
unexpectedly, such as a sudden collapse, then the Police have to be called to
the scene. The Funeral home cannot take charge of the body until the Police
give them clearance. Once the Police are called, the Funeral home and the Imam
of WIA Mosque should be contacted so that other preparations can be initiated.
If the deceased is a male, the Imam will contact Dr. Murad Aktas to arrange for
the ritual washing. If the deceased is a female, the Imam will contact Sr.
Anis. Afterwards, the family of the deceased should go to the funeral home as
soon as possible to sign the necessary paperwork.
If death occurs at the
Hospital, the family of the deceased should contact the Funeral home as soon as
possible. The Funeral home will contact the hospital to arrange for picking up
the body. The Imam of WIA Mosque should be contacted. If the deceased is a
male, the Imam will contact Dr. Murad Aktas to arrange for the ritual washing.
If the deceased is a female, the Imam will contact Sr. Um Anis. Afterwards, the
family of the deceased should go to the funeral home as soon as possible to
sign the necessary paperwork.
Family members should
meet with the Imam, Dr. Muraad and available WIA board members to discuss the
details of funeral arrangements.
It depends on when the
body arrives at the Funeral home. If it arrives late in the day, then the body
can stay up to a day. In certain cases the body is brought directly to the
Mosque for washing, Janazah prayer, and burial. This usually happens if the
body is ready in the morning and all the paper work is completed.
As mentioned above, the
ritual washing is performed by Dr. Murad Aktas for deceased males and by Sr. Um
Anis for deceased females. The ritual washing can be performed either at the
Funeral home or at the Mosque.
WIA recommends DeMarco
Funeral Home (See contact list below). They have a special fee for Muslims.
DeMarco Funeral Home
charges $1,335.00 + GST. This covers their services from the time the
body is picked up until it is buried as well cemetery costs. Please note,
however, that there is a surcharge for weekend and holidays.
The basic casket costs $220.00
+ GST.
Death registration costs
$25.00.
If the family is unable
to cover the funeral fees, they can apply to Social Services. It might take a
day for them to review the application and they will either approve 100% of the
expenses or nothing at all.
If the deceased has been
paying to Canada pension for a sufficient amount of time, then they are
eligible to a maximum of $2,500.00 Death Benefit. The amount is paid to the
family of the deceased regardless of how much funeral expenses the
incurred.
Autopsy can be initiated
either by the doctor or by the family of the deceased. The doctor might ask for
an autopsy to determine the cause of death, or because s/he suspects that the
deceased had an illness or condition that warrants an autopsy. The family might
also ask for an autopsy. In this case, they have to pay a fee.
Imam
Mosque: 966-2355
Home: 256-1024
Dr. Murad Aktas
Work: 257-2610
Cell: 562-0150
DeMarco Funeral Home
Address: 866 Tecumseh
Rd. E (at Parent), Windsor
Phone: 254-9988 (24/7)