PERSONALIZATION

Incorporating Personal Prayers and Supplications

In Islam, the funeral prayer (Salat al-Janazah) is the core of the funeral service. However, families can personalize this service by incorporating additional prayers and supplications (du’a) that are meaningful to the deceased and their loved ones. This can include:

• Special Du’a for the Deceased: Family members can recite specific supplications or prayers asking Allah for mercy and forgiveness for the deceased, or they can ask the imam or community members to include particular supplications during the service.
• Reciting Quranic Verses: Certain verses from the Quran can be recited either during the funeral service or privately. For example, Surah Al-Fatiha (the Opening) and Surah Al-Baqarah are often recited, but families may choose additional Surahs that were meaningful to the deceased or that reflect their life and values.

Memorializing the Deceased with Charity (Sadaqah)

In Islam, the act of charity (Sadaqah) holds great significance and is considered an ongoing source of reward for the deceased. Families can personalize the funeral service by creating opportunities for ongoing acts of kindness in the deceased’s name. This can include:

• Sadaqah Jariyah (Continuous Charity): Families can choose to direct charity donations to causes that were important to the deceased, such as building wells, funding education, or supporting medical care, thereby creating lasting good deeds for the deceased.
• Community Involvement: A family may organize community events or collections in the deceased’s name for specific charitable causes, allowing the community to collectively honor the deceased's life and legacy.

Choosing Special Quranic Verses for the Burial

The recitation of Quranic verses and prayers plays a significant role throughout the Islamic funeral process. While the typical practice is to recite specific verses during the funeral prayer and at the gravesite, families can personalize the burial by selecting verses from the Quran that hold special meaning to the deceased or that align with their values and life experiences:

• Favorite Surahs or Verses: If the deceased had a particular verse or Surah that was meaningful to them, family members can request that these verses be recited at the gravesite or at the funeral prayer.
• Surahs of Comfort: Surahs such as Surah Al-Ikhlas (The Purity), Surah Al-Fatiha, and Surah Al-Baqarah are often recited for comfort and protection, and families can personalize the recitations according to what they feel will bring peace to the deceased’s soul.

Involving the Deceased’s Interests and Passions

If the deceased had specific interests or causes they were passionate about, these can be acknowledged through personalized acts of charity or reflection:

• Supporting a Cause: If the deceased was passionate about specific charitable causes, such as education, poverty alleviation, or environmental conservation, the family can organize donations or activities to continue supporting that cause in the deceased’s memory.
• Honoring Personal Hobbies or Contributions: If the deceased had specific hobbies, careers, or community roles that made an impact, the family can incorporate these into reflections or actions that honor the deceased’s life.

Photos and Albums

There are many opportunities to display photos at a funeral service. Poster boards with photo collages can be placed on easels for display. Flat screen TV monitors can be used to display pictures or a slideshow during calling hours or just prior to the services. Photographs can be printed in the memorial folders, registry book or on urns.

Videos

A DVD video is a wonderful way to share your loved one’s life with others. It can be personalized with your special photos and music. These videos become keepsakes that you can share with your family for generations.

Artwork

Artwork of the deceased or art created in tribute is a beautiful addition to a service. Sculptures, a slideshow of drawings or displaying artwork throughout the funeral home helps people learn more about a life that was cherished.

Music

Live or pre-recorded music can be relaxing and comforting to those who have come to the service. Some other ways music can be used, is to record a CD with the deceased’s favorite songs or songs that he or she wrote or to have musically inclined family or friends perform at the funeral service.

Reading of Poetry & Literature

Passages from the deceased’s favorite books or poems that capture the essence of life help create a service infused with wisdom and words to remember. You can also invite friends and family members to read passages or poems of their choice or write their own pieces to share.