Janazah guide · 4 min read
The final moments, and the first
Being present as death approaches — the talqeen — and what to do in the minutes just after.
On matters of religious practice, your own masjid and scholars are the authority. This guide covers the process around them.
Being present as death approaches
To sit beside a dying loved one is a weighty moment, spiritually above all. The duty traditionally fulfilled at this point is the talqeen: gently prompting the dying person towards the kalimah — Laa ilaaha illallahu Muhammadur Rasulullah — so that these are their last words of this life.
- Those present should recite the kalimah clearly, slowly and audibly near the dying person — continuing until they utter it themselves.
- Never instruct or pressure them to recite it. A person in great discomfort may refuse if pushed, which is exactly what the gentleness of talqeen avoids.
- Once they have said it, stop. If worldly conversation then draws them in, the talqeen may be softly repeated so their final thoughts return to it.
- Keep the room calm: no distressing conversations or distractions around them.
Practice varies between communities. Your own masjid's guidance takes precedence in the room.
Immediately after death
The moments right after passing matter practically as well as spiritually — the body loses its flexibility within minutes, so these gentle steps should be done straight away by the next of kin or someone close:
- Gently close the eyes, and then the mouth.
- Bring the feet together (traditionally tied lightly at the big toes).
- Straighten both arms alongside the body — not folded on the chest or abdomen.
- Where possible, position the body so the right side or the feet face the Qibla (south-east in the UK).
- Cover the body with a clean sheet, leaving only the face, hands and feet unexposed.
If the death may involve the police — for example a suspected crime — do not move or touch anything until they give permission.
On hearing of a death
It is customary on hearing of any Muslim's passing to recite: Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un — "Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we will return" (Qur'an 2:156).
Adapted, with gratitude, from “What to Do When Someone Dies — A Practical Guide for Muslims” by the Rochdale Council of Mosques (Registered charity no. 1148918), generalised for families anywhere in the UK.