The Cost To Manage An Islamic Funeral - The Malaysian Way.

Hj.Mohd Ismail Bin Mohd Hashim
The Islamic Undertaker And Director.

Assalamualaikum. 'Peace be with you on this holy month of Ramadan'.

Dear brothers and sisters of Islam,

The Islamic funeral undertaking in Malaysia which is spurious in nature and the cost keep increasing from time to time and is also difficult to refute. The undertaking cost is basically traditional in practice and non profitable, imposed to a deceased family at one specific area and merely about the same cost apply to the neighboring  district. The cost or charges may differ from one district to another but it is still lower compared to some countries abroad. In my residential district, an assimilative record shows from the year 2005 to 2011, the cost on Islamic funeral has  gradually increased by RM155 or 19% higher. Comparatively, the same experience is happening to other districts throughout Malaysia.

The mosque committee and 

the undertaker's cost.                      2005                2011

1. Administrative Cost                 RM100             RM100
2. Body Wash                              RM160             RM200
3. The Shroud                              RM150             RM150
4. Coffin                                       RM150             RM200
5. Grave Digging                          RM185             RM220
6. Funeral Transport                    RM70               RM100
7. Voluntary Prayer Service            --                       --

                                     Total Cost   RM815             RM970

Other unlisted costs

1. Set of tombstones price ranging from RM150 and above.

The four method of payments on funeral expenses:

1.  The Islamic funeral cost is normally settled in cash or paid up in full amount by the deceased family to 'Mosque Committee' or 'The Undertaker' upon engagement for the funeral service.

2. Deceased and family known with financial constraint, the funeral cost is monetarily aided or donated by relatives, friends, neighbors and lastly the 'Baitulmal' which is in accordance with the Islamic law.

3. The present available 'Islamic Group Bereavement Insurance', 'Association For The Islamic Bereavement', and the 'Government Bereavement Grant' (called 'Bereavement Agency') made the Islamic funeral undertaking possible to help funeral and financial recovery with a greater ease for the facing hard time family. Claim is initiated individually by the deceased family or by 'Bereavement Agency' and normally takes about 30 to 60 days to be duly paid up to the rightful claimant.

4.  'The Undertaker' submitting funeral cost and claim to the family of the deceased.


In Malaysia, the 'Reimbursement Policy', payment made by 'Bereavement Agency' to the rightful claimant is rather vague and debacle. The 'Islamic Funeral Director', 'Islamic Funeral Undertaker', and the 'Islamic Funeral Home' (called 'The Undertaker') with the authoritarian concept as most of them don't participate and practice it within virtue of the law. Though the said policy is in existence, but the answer is 'Yes' only when claim is initiated by the family of the deceased individually or collectively but not 'The Undertaker'.

In due course, such 'Reimbursement Policy' guideline should be made more transparent to 'The Undertaker' who regards claim as payment of funeral expenses as a service 'for the job done', and these has long been practiced overseas but some found running at a loss. In as much 'The Undertaker' will only except to provide funeral services with the clearly understood mode of payment from those deceased known to have bereavement policies endowed that could load to an expectancy rise on the funeral 'Administrative Cost' and other arising cost.

As a non profit making body, the holistic intention is not to burden the family of the deceased, only RM100 is charged for the 'Administrative Cost' which is still at its minimum base. Contrarily  the 'Administrative Cost' on the Islamic funeral undertaking in a foreign country is by far higher between US$1000 to US$2000 charged by 'The Undertakers'.   

                            

May we all have the blessing from Allah swt.

Wassalam.


Refer this web site:
Funeral Arrangement and Burial - IFI Services.
www.islaminireland.com