Islamic Society of Augusta
Steps for Funeral Arrangements:

1- Family of the deceased should call the Masjid (706)868-7278 or the Imam.
2- The Imam or Family of the deceased should call brother Taufiq Lakhany (706)863-4353 or brother Shariq Hashmi (706)650-9959
3- Brother Lakhany will notify Elliott Sons Funeral Home (706)868-9637. Contact the manager Phillip Byrd (706)564-9895 who will make arrangement to bring the body either from the hospital or home to proceed for washing the body at their facility.
Brother Lakhany will provide Kafen for male or female. Brother Lakhany, bother Shariq or brother Omer Sheikh will contact the volunteers of the Janaza team. Some of family members can attend the washing of the body.
$50 donation for the kafen to replace for future need is recommended.
4- The family should decide where they want to bury their relative. They can choose Hillcrest Cemetery or Edgefield Cemetery.
Note: The cost of a grave site at Hillcrest is $700. The cost of a grave at MCC Cemetery is $300.
5- Brother Lakhany or the Imam will call Hillcrest Cemetery (706)790-1185 or the Imam of the Muslim Community Center for a space in the cemetery.
A family member will go with Brother Lakhany or the Imam to the assigned space at the cemetery. If there was no reservation was made previously one of the 5 emergency sites will be chosen.
The charge for opening and closing the grave will range ($700-$900)
Hillcrest Cemetery have their own equipments for the opening and closing.
Brother Haleem will help arranging for opening and closing the grave at the Edgefield Cemetery.
6- Family and the Imam will decide the time of the burial and the time for Salatul Janazah. Proper announcement (Email – Phone) will be made by the Imam to the members of the community.
7- Funeral home will bring the Janazah in their car about 15 minutes before the Salat. And they can be requested to call for police escort from the Masjid to the cemetery at an extra cost of about $25.
8- After the Salat the group will proceed to the burial site. The members should leave their headlight on when proceeding to the cemetery.
9- Georgia law requires a concrete vault to be placed over the body inside the grave. This will have extra cost of about $700. This is not required in South Carolina.
10- The Imam should supervise the burial procedure which includes the placing of the body, the prayers and filling the grave with dirt.
11- ISA committee should be contacted to make a decision about paying the costs in case of emergencies where the family cannot afford the costs of the burial.