ِإﱠﻧﺎ ِﻟ ﱠﻞِٰه َوِإﱠﻧﺎ ِإَﻟْﯿِﻪ َر ِاﺟُﻌ َﻮن Surely we belong to and to Him shall we return

The NIA Masjid & Community Center wishes to express its sincerest condolences to you and ​ your family.

The loss of a loved one is always unfortunate and is now more difficult due to the current COVID-19 pandemic as we are unable to come together as a family and as a community to mourn our loss.

To make the process easier, please find attached is the current jannazah (funeral prayer) ​ process, directions for observing the prayer in absentia, and a list of resources.

We pray that Allah provides ease and comfort to your family.

"O Allah, forgive them and have mercy on them and give them strength and pardon them. Be generous to them and cause their entrance to be wide and wash them with water and snow and hail. Cleanse them of their transgressions as white cloth is cleansed of stains. Give them and abode better than their home. Take them into and protect them from the punishment of the grave and from the punishment of the fire."

229-231 Roseville Avenue Newark, NJ 07107 T: (973) 482-8996 T: (973) 482-6944 www.niamasjid.org #NIAmasijd

Jannazah (Funeral Prayer) Process During the COVID-19 Crisis ​ End of Life Wishes said, "It is not permissible for any Muslim who has something to will to (ﷺ) Allah's Messenger stay for two nights without having his last will and testament written and kept ready with him." [Sahih al-Bukhari 2738]

We strongly encourage everyone, in consultation with their family, an Imam or other religious authority, and legal representative to prepare a will and advance medical directive to reduce the burden placed on your family at a most difficult time.

Preparation of the Body – Funeral Home Please contact the funeral home directly as they will make all arrangements and follow strict protocols:

The process of preparing the body will be different than you may expect, but will fulfill all requirements, Islamic and otherwise.

Jannazah (Funeral Prayer) ​ ● The jannazah will be held at the funeral home instead of at the NIA Masjid & ​ Community Center. Only three individuals may be present. ​ ​ ● We encourage friends and family to perform the jannazah (see attachment) in absentia ​ from the safety of their homes.

Burial Like funeral homes, cemeteries have strict protocols to follow: ● Only 10 individuals, including any funeral directors may accompany the casket to the ​ grave. ● Others may attend the burial but cannot exit their vehicles for any reason. Violators may be subject to criminal charges.

Funeral Announcement If you wish for us to inform the community please send the following information to [email protected] (Subject: Funeral Announcement): ​ ● name of the deceased ● picture of the deceased ● name and relationship of the immediate family ● e-mail address for which community members can send condolences

Jannazah (Funeral Prayer) Steps

The jannazah is comprised of four takbeeraat (say: “Allahu Akbar”) each followed by short ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ recitations or supplications then concluding with a single tasleem. ​ ​

st rd 1 ​ Takbir: Surah al-Fatiha 3 ​ Takbir: Du’a for the Deceased ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ While saying “Allahu Akbar” during the first ​ ​ takbir only raise your hands to the earlobes then place the right over the left.

recite: Surah al-Fatiha ​

nd 2 ​ Takbir: Darood ​

th 4 ​ Takbir: General Du’a ​ ​ ​ ​

Tasleem Say: “As Salaamu Alikum” ​ turn your head to the right

Related Resources

Funeral Homes

Islamic Burial Services Firdous Funeral Chapel Hawwah A Karim-Smith Khajida Samad 279 Roseville Avenue 579 Grove Street Newark, NJ 07107 Irvington, NJ 07111 O: 973-484-1494 O: 973-399-8400 C: 973-687-1494 [email protected] [email protected]

Cemeteries with Islamic/Muslim Section

Forest Green Park Laurel Grove Cemetery Rosedale & Rosehill 525 Texas Road 295 Totowa Road Cemetery & Crematory Morganville, NJ 07751 Totowa, NJ 07512 355 East Linden Avenue (732) 591-1501 (973) 956-0711 Linden, NJ 07036 (732) 862-4990 Hollywood Memorial Park Marlboro Memorial Inc. 1621 Stuyvesant Avenue 361 Route 79 Rosemount Memorial Park Union, NJ 07083 Morganville, NJ 07751 Association (908) 688-4300 (732) 970-9000 1109 Neck Avenue Elizabeth, NJ 07201 Jersey State Memorial Restland Memorial Park (973) 824-6871 Park 77 Deforest Avenue Conover Road East Hanover, NJ 07936 Millstone, NJ 07726 (973) 887-2050 (732) 740-5070

Other Resources

Muslim Mental Health Providers of NY/NJ www.haqqer.com

NJ Mental Health Cares 1-866-202-HELP