Reviewed for accuracy by Carlos Vargas, Texas Licensed Funeral Director (TFSC License No. 119648) · Last reviewed January 14, 2026 ·
The imam's role vs. our role
A clean division of labor: the imam leads the janazah prayer and offers spiritual guidance. We handle transport, timing, the masjid's physical setup (opening the bier area, adjusting AC, coordinating with volunteers), and the logistical handoff between masjid and cemetery. Families often don't realize how much behind-the-scenes coordination keeps janazah flowing smoothly; our job is to make sure it looks effortless to the congregation and feels right to the imam.
IANT (Richardson) — Islamic Association of North Texas
IANT is the largest masjid in DFW and we coordinate janazah there several times monthly. Process:
- Call IANT office (or have family call) to request janazah slot
- Typical slot: after Dhuhr (1 p.m.) or after Maghrib (sunset)
- Imam on duty rotates; expect Sheikh Nadim, Sheikh Yasir, or another IANT scholar
- Bier placed in the central prayer area between the mihrab and first row
- Community line up behind the bier in rows facing qibla
- Four takbirs, Al-Fatihah, salawat, du'a, tasleem — approximately 10 minutes
- Family exits first, then the casket (carried by family or volunteer members)
- Transport to chosen cemetery (we handle)
IANT's ghusl room is adjacent to the main prayer hall; families performing ghusl at IANT can move straight into the janazah setup.
Islamic Center of Irving (ICI)
ICI serves the large South Asian and Arab Muslim community in Irving and Las Colinas. Process is similar to IANT. Imam rotation includes Sheikh Zia Sheikh and other ICI scholars. ICI's ghusl facilities are well-established and their janazah protocol is consistent.
EPIC Masjid (Plano) and IACC (Plano)
EPIC (East Plano Islamic Center) and IACC (Islamic Association of Collin County) are the two primary masajid in central Plano. Both have full janazah facilities. EPIC's community is often younger with significant Arab and Pakistani populations. IACC is broader in demographic.
Dar El-Salam Community Center (Garland)
Dar El-Salam serves the Garland, Richardson-adjacent, and northeastern DFW Muslim community. Smaller facility than IANT but active janazah services. The imam personally often accompanies the family to the graveside for the burial prayer.
Dallas Central Mosque (DCM)
DCM serves central Dallas and is the closest major masjid to Restland Memorial Park. If burial is at Restland's Muslim section, DCM is a natural janazah location given proximity.
SIJ (Shia Ithna-Asheri Jamaat of Dallas) and Momin Center (Plano)
For Shia families, SIJ and Momin Center are the two primary centers. Janazah follows Shia protocol with specific du'a and positioning. We coordinate with the appropriate scholar and adjust the protocol accordingly.
Smaller masajid and Islamic centers
DFW has 30+ Islamic centers beyond the large masajid listed above. We coordinate janazah at any of them: Bosnian Cultural Center, Masjid Al-Noor, Al-Farooq Masjid, Masjid Al-Islam, Islamic Center of Lake Highlands, and many more. The process is essentially the same; smaller masajid may need longer lead time (4–8 hours' notice vs. 2–4 at larger centers).
Graveside janazah as an alternative
When the masjid is far from the cemetery, when the timing is tight, or when the family prefers fewer moving pieces, graveside janazah is an option. The imam travels to the cemetery, leads the prayer graveside with community present, and burial follows immediately. This compresses the day significantly and is common for families with cemetery distance from their masjid.
Women's attendance at janazah
This varies by community and the family's tradition. Classical Sunni position permits women's attendance at janazah prayer; the graveside attendance is more debated. Most DFW masajid welcome women in a designated area of the prayer hall during janazah. For the graveside, some families include women, others ask women to stay back. Shia communities generally include women at both. Discuss with your imam and with family; we defer to the family's decision.
Our practical coordination with the masjid
Every time we arrange a janazah:
- We confirm timing with the imam personally, usually by phone
- We brief the masjid office on parking, bier placement, and post-prayer flow
- We arrive 30 minutes before janazah with the casket to allow setup
- We have two staff members present: one inside the masjid coordinating with the imam, one outside coordinating with arriving community members for the transport to the cemetery
- We debrief with the family immediately after prayer to confirm cemetery timing and transport plan
Cost: no additional charge for imam coordination
Masjid janazah coordination is included in our $4,995 base service fee. We do not charge extra regardless of how many masajid we coordinate with or how complex the timing. If the masjid charges an imam honorarium or donation (most do not for janazah, but some do for elaborate services), the family pays that directly to the masjid, not to us.