ICGA Muslim Cemetery
Guidance for Families

Burial Procedure

Islamic laws govern all matters concerning the cemetery. This guide walks families through what to expect, in order.

These times are difficult with the loss of your loved one, and our goal is to expedite the process. Please fill out the Burial Intake Form as soon as possible — from there, we will contact you for the next steps. If you need to reach someone during daylight hours, the best contact number is (512) 666-3389.

1. Contact ICGA and meet with a cemetery representative

The next of kin or legal guardian must meet in person with a cemetery representative at the ICGA Masjid, or another designated masjid, at least one hour prior to the washing of the body. This meeting is required to complete the necessary paperwork and to agree to abide by all ICGA cemetery policies and guidelines before Ghusl can begin. Unless otherwise requested, the default location for all body transportation within the Austin area is ICGA Manor Masjid, located at 5110 Manor Road, Austin, TX.

Forms & information required to assign a grave site

  • Name of the legal guardian and their relation to the deceased
  • Name of the deceased
  • Social Security number
  • Place of birth
  • Place of death
  • Death certificate, or a Ghusul request, or verification that Ghusul was performed according to Islamic teachings
  • A completed and signed Muslim Cemetery Usage Agreement (form linked below)

Muslim Cemetery Usage Agreement

Next of kin or the legal guardian must complete and sign this agreement, confirming they will abide by all ICGA cemetery policies and Islamic burial guidelines.

Download the Usage Agreement (PDF)

State of Texas Death Certificate

Download, complete, and return this form as part of the required paperwork to assign a grave site.

Download the Death Certificate Form (PDF)

Body Release Form

Please complete this form and send it to cemetery@austinmosque.org.

Download the Body Release Form (PDF)

2. Ghusl, Kafan, and Janazah

The entire process — Ghusl, covering the body in a Kafan, and the Janazah prayer — is led by the ICGA imam or an appointed designate.

Ghusl — Washing

Performed by qualified ICGA volunteer Ghusul team members, including trained sisters for deceased Muslimah. Participation of family members is optional and should be requested in advance.

Kafan — Shrouding

After Ghusul, the body is wrapped in a Kafan and placed into a temporary casket for transport to the cemetery.

Janazah — Funeral Prayer

Salat-ul-Janazah is prayed on the body at the masjid. To ensure greater attendance, all efforts are made to schedule the Janazah prayer to coincide right after a regular prayer time.

3. Grave assignment and burial

Once details are finalized, an ICGA volunteer coordinator will assign a grave site and arrange for the grave to be dug and prepared. After Salat-ul-Janazah, the deceased is transported for burial to the ICGA Muslim Cemetery in Dale, Texas, approximately 30 miles outside of Austin. Grave digging is performed by a third-party digger, and this cost is paid directly by the family.

Policies, rules, and procedures

The ICGA volunteer coordinator keeps a record of all burials and follows all state and local laws and regulations. ICGA strictly enforces the following policies for any and all burials at its site:

  • If the family wishes to perform Ghusul and the Janazah prayer at a site other than the Manor mosque, the family is still required to provide all of the information listed above.
  • A donation to the cemetery operation fund is appreciated.
  • Guardians or next of kin must agree in writing to abide by ICGA Cemetery Policies prior to any action, and attendees of funeral sessions are also asked to obey all ICGA policies.
  • Unauthorized burial at the Muslim cemetery will be dealt with swiftly. All costs associated with remediating an unauthorized burial, including attorney fees and additional ICGA charges, will be billed to and collected from the persons responsible.
  • The ICGA Muslim Cemetery is reserved for residents of the Central Texas region. Please reach out to the ICGA Muslim Cemetery Committee with any questions in advance.

Unauthentic & prohibited beliefs and actions

In keeping with authentic Islamic practice, ICGA asks families and attendees to avoid the following before, during, and after burial:

  • Putting the Qur’an under the head of a dying Muslim
  • Putting flowers or candles in the deceased’s room
  • Use of Zamzam water on the deceased’s body
  • Making special Zikr during the ghusul, or before, during, and after burial
  • Writing on the shrouds
  • Putting a picture of the deceased, their clothes, or flowers in front of or around the Kafan (shroud)
  • Revealing the face of the deceased after placing the body in the grave
  • Planting or placing flowers, food, water, money, or anything around the grave “to benefit” the deceased
  • Slaughtering an animal during or after burial
  • Staying in a state of sadness for one year
  • Wearing black clothes
  • Visiting the grave of parents every Friday
  • Visiting graves on special days, such as Eid, Ashura, or during Ramadan
  • Wiping hands over the grave or kissing the grave

Supporting the cemetery

A donation to the cemetery operation fund is appreciated as part of the burial procedure. Community donations are essential to running the ICGA non-profit cemetery and allow us to maintain our tax-exempt status while offering these services at reduced cost. In-person donations can be made at ICGA, NAMCC, Nueces Mosque, and GIC on their kiosk under “ICGA Muslim Cemetery Donation.” Donations can also be made through Feeling Blessed, PayPal, company matching programs, credit cards, Zelle, or Venmo.

For questions about any step of this process, please see our Contact & Directions page.