Is cremation allowed in Islam?

No - burial is the established practice in Islam, agreed across the schools. UK cemeteries widely accommodate Muslim burial.

When Someone Dies · A Practical Guide for UK Muslims

What To Do When a Muslim Dies, Step by Step

Q: Can the burial be delayed by a coroner?

Yes, when a death is referred to the coroner the burial waits until the body is released. Tell the coroner's office early that the family seeks a quick burial on religious grounds; many offices prioritise these cases where they can.

Q: Who can register the death?

Normally a relative registers the death at the local register office. If no relative is available, someone present at the death or the person arranging the funeral can register it.

Q: What is the green form?

When you register the death the registrar issues a certificate for burial, widely known as the green form. The funeral director or cemetery needs it before the burial can go ahead.

If you are reading this in the first hours after losing someone, may Allah grant them mercy and give your family strength. You do not have to know everything right now - and you do not have to do this alone. This page walks you through what happens next in the UK, in order, one step at a time.

Two promises: nothing here is complicated, and the people around you - your mosque, the funeral director, the hospital - do this every week and will carry most of it for you.

The first hours UK paperwork explained Arranging a quick burial Free & complete guide

The short version

Say "Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un" - to Allah we belong and to Him we return.
Contact a Muslim funeral director and your mosque as soon as you are able - they take over most of what follows.
The hospital or GP issues the medical certificate of the cause of death.
Register the death at the registrar - in England and Wales this is normally done within 5 days.
The funeral director arranges ghusl (washing), shrouding, the janazah prayer and burial - Muslims aim for burial as soon as possible.
Afterwards: condolences, dua, and the ongoing good you can still do in their name.

That is the whole shape of it. The rest of this page goes through each step in detail - including what to do if the death was unexpected and a coroner is involved.

The first hours

At the Bedside

Whether at home or in hospital, the first steps are gentle and simple.

The words Muslims say

إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ

Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un.

"To Allah we belong, and to Him we return." (Qur'an 2:156)

It is also from the sunnah to make dua for the one who has passed and for those left behind. If you can, gently close their eyes, and cover them with a clean sheet.

If the death was at home

Call the GP surgery (or 111 out of hours). A doctor or paramedic needs to confirm the death before anything else can happen. If the death was sudden or unexpected, the police may also attend as a matter of routine - this is normal procedure, not an accusation.

If the death was in hospital

The hospital confirms the death and can keep your loved one in their mortuary while arrangements are made. Tell the staff early that the family wishes to have a Muslim burial as soon as possible - hospitals in areas with Muslim communities deal with this regularly and many have processes to release the body quickly.

Make two phone calls

A Muslim funeral director and your local mosque. Between them they will arrange the washing, the shroud, the janazah prayer, the grave and the transport - and they will chase the paperwork with you. Many mosques have a burial committee that handles everything. You do not need to organise this alone, and you should not try to.

Hands raised in dua - the first thing, and the thing that never stops

The official part

UK Paperwork, In Plain Words

Three documents matter. Your funeral director will walk you through all of them - this is just so nothing surprises you.

The medical certificate

A doctor issues the medical certificate of the cause of death. In England and Wales this now normally passes through a medical examiner - an independent doctor who reviews the cause of death - before it goes to the registrar. Usually quick; the hospital or GP handles it.

Registering the death

A relative normally registers the death at the local register office - in England and Wales this is usually done within 5 days. Book the earliest appointment you can and tell them the family is arranging a Muslim burial; registrars in most areas understand the urgency. You will receive the death certificate and the certificate for burial (often called the "green form") which the funeral director needs.

Ask the registrar about the government's "Tell Us Once" service - it informs most official bodies (DWP, HMRC, passport, driving licence) in one go, and saves the family many painful phone calls later.

If the coroner is involved

When a death is sudden, unexplained, or the doctor cannot certify the cause, it is referred to the coroner. This can delay the burial - which is distressing when the family wishes to bury quickly. Two things help: tell the coroner's office early and clearly that the family seeks a quick burial on religious grounds - coroners' offices in most areas are familiar with this and many will prioritise where they can - and let your funeral director push on your behalf; they know the local process. If the family has concerns about any procedure, raise them with the coroner's office; there are often alternatives they can consider.

Morning light in the prayer hall - the community carries this with you

The farewell

Ghusl, Janazah and Burial

From here, the community carries it with you.

The washing and shrouding

Your loved one is washed (ghusl) and wrapped in simple white cloth (kafan). This is normally arranged by the funeral director or mosque, performed by Muslims of the same gender - family members may take part if they wish, and many find it a profound final act of love. No one is obliged to.

The janazah prayer

The community gathers - usually at the mosque after one of the daily prayers - and prays the janazah prayer. It is short, prayed standing, and if you have never prayed it before, that is fine: our step-by-step janazah guide explains every word, and you can simply follow the row.

The burial

Muslims are buried, not cremated, and the burial follows as soon as possible after the janazah - often the same day. The grave faces the qibla. Many cemeteries across the UK have dedicated Muslim sections; your funeral director will know the local options and costs, and some mosques hold funds to help families who cannot meet the cost.

Where practice varies

Whether women attend the burial - practice varies considerably between communities; this is a conversation for your family and imam, not a webpage.
Mourning gatherings, reading the Qur'an together, visiting on set days - practice varies between communities, and Aid For Mankind does not take a position. What every community shares: dua for the departed, kindness to the family, and charity in their name.

The days after

Grief, Visitors and What You Can Still Do

The funeral ends. The love does not.

For those visiting the family

Keep it simple: "Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un. May Allah have mercy on them and give you patience." Bring food - the Prophet ﷺ instructed that food be prepared for a grieving household. Sit, listen, and do not stay too long. Say their loved one's name; families often long to hear it.

For the family

Islam gives grief its space - three days of mourning is customary, and a widow observes a longer period (the iddah); your imam can guide on the details. Do not measure your grief against anyone else's. Eat. Sleep when you can. Let people help you.

What continues

It is reported in Sahih Muslim that when a person dies, their deeds end except three: ongoing charity, beneficial knowledge, and a righteous child who prays for them. Dua costs nothing and reaches them. And charity given in their name - a well, water, the care of an orphan - keeps writing reward for them, by Allah's permission, long after the funeral. When Sa'd ibn Ubadah lost his mother, he asked the Prophet ﷺ what he could still do for her, and dug a well in her name (reported in Sunan Abi Dawud).

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Dua and charity keep reaching them, by Allah's permission

Common questions

When Someone Dies - Your Questions Answered

How quickly are Muslims buried in the UK?

Muslims aim to bury as soon as possible - often within 24 hours where the paperwork allows. In the UK the realistic timeline depends on the medical certificate, registration and cemetery availability. With a Muslim funeral director involved from the first hours, burial within one to three days is common; same-day or next-day burial is often achievable when the death was expected.

Can the burial be delayed by a coroner?

Yes, when a death is referred to the coroner - typically sudden or unexplained deaths - the burial waits until the coroner releases the body. Tell the coroner's office early that the family seeks a quick burial on religious grounds; many offices prioritise these cases where they can, and your funeral director can push on your behalf.

Who can register the death?

Normally a relative. If no relative is available, others can - including someone present at the death or the person arranging the funeral. Take the medical certificate paperwork with you (the registrar's office will confirm exactly what is needed when you book), and it happens at the register office local to where the person died.

What is the "green form"?

When you register the death, the registrar issues a certificate for burial - widely known as the green form. The funeral director or cemetery needs it before the burial can go ahead. The registrar will also sell you certified copies of the death certificate; buy several, as banks and insurers each want one.

What is "Tell Us Once"?

A free government service offered when you register the death. In one session it informs most official bodies - benefits, tax, passport, driving licence, local council - so the family does not have to make the same painful phone call ten times. Say yes to it.

Is cremation allowed?

No - burial is the established practice in Islam, agreed across the schools. Every part of the UK has cemeteries that accommodate Muslim burial; your funeral director or mosque will know the local Muslim sections and plots.

What if we cannot afford the funeral?

Speak to your mosque first - many hold burial funds or will make an appeal, and some communities run burial societies where members contribute. If the person received certain benefits, the government's Funeral Expenses Payment may help towards costs. No family should carry this alone; ask.

What can I still do for them after the burial?

It is reported in Sahih Muslim that when a person dies their deeds end except three: ongoing charity, beneficial knowledge, and a righteous child who prays for them. Make dua for them, and give charity in their name - both continue to reach them, by Allah's permission.

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What To Do When a Muslim Dies, Step by Step

The short version

At the Bedside

The words Muslims say

If the death was at home

If the death was in hospital

Make two phone calls

UK Paperwork, In Plain Words

The medical certificate

Registering the death

If the coroner is involved

Ghusl, Janazah and Burial

The washing and shrouding

The janazah prayer

The burial

Where practice varies

Grief, Visitors and What You Can Still Do

For those visiting the family

For the family

What continues

Their kindness. Continued.

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