When someone in your family passes away
Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un. We are sorry for your loss. You do not have to work out what comes next on your own. Call the masjid first and we will guide you through each step.
Call the masjid first(732) 363-1940Tap to callWhat happens, step by step
1. Make sure the death has been pronounced
In a hospital, nursing home or hospice, the staff take care of this. If someone passes away at home unexpectedly, call 911. Then call the masjid.
2. Call the masjid
Tell us the name of the person who passed away, where they are now, and how to reach you. We will explain how the washing (ghusl), shrouding (kafan), Janazah prayer and burial are arranged, and help you with the next steps.
3. A licensed funeral director files the paperwork
In New Jersey, the funeral director in charge of the burial is responsible for filing the death certificate and getting the burial permit, so a funeral home is always involved. Tell them it is a Muslim burial. Ask the masjid which funeral home to use.
4. Ghusl and kafan
The body is washed and wrapped in a simple white shroud by Muslims of the same gender. The masjid will tell you where and when this happens and who will do it.
5. Salat al-Janazah
The funeral prayer is held at the masjid. We post the time on our Announcements page as a Janazah notice so the community can attend.
6. Burial, as soon as it can be arranged
The nearest Muslim cemetery we know of is Jersey State Memorial Park, 13 Conover Road, Millstone, NJ 08535, phone (732) 977-0280. It asks families to fill in a burial registration form. Burials on weekends, holidays or outside its hours cost more (see the table below).
7. Afterwards: copies of the death certificate
Banks, insurers and Social Security will ask for certified copies. You can order them from the town where the death happened or from New Jersey Vital Statistics. A spouse, child, grandchild or sibling can order them with ID. Order several at once: extra copies at the same time are much cheaper.
What it costs
These are the published prices we could find. Confirm them when you call, since they can change.
| What | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Grave at Jersey State Memorial Park | $1,300 | Muslim cemetery in Millstone, NJ |
| Opening and closing the grave, Monday to Friday | $1,500 | $1,750 on Saturday, $1,950 on Sunday or a holiday |
| Same-day burial requested after noon | +$500 | added to the opening and closing fee |
| Placing a grave marker | $1,000 | flat, slant or upright; can be done later |
| Death certificates from the State | $25 | for the first copy, $2 for each extra copy ordered at the same time |
| Funeral home services | Varies | ask for the written price list; see below |
Funeral homes are required by law to give you a written, itemized price list, and you can buy only the services you need. Ask for it before you agree to anything, and tell them which items a Muslim burial does not use.
If the cost is a hardship
Please talk to us before you commit to anything.
For a Muslim who has no family or friends to make the arrangements, the Muslim Free Burial Association serves New York, New Jersey and Connecticut: (718) 989-2901.
Where these facts come from
- Funeral director files the death certificate and burial permit: New Jersey Department of Health, Electronic Death Registration guide for funeral directors.
- Cemetery prices (effective October 1, 2024) and address: Jersey State Memorial Park.
- Death certificate fees and who may order: NJ Vital Statistics.
- Written price lists and buying services separately: Federal Trade Commission.
- Free burial help: Muslim Free Burial Association.
- Checked September 22, 2026.