How I failed my father...

My father was an amazing man; a provider, a phenomenal parent and a husband(to my mother of course). He was everything but a planner. His sudden death hit my family by surprise and despite us being completely overcome with pain, grief and emotion, we had to rely on family and friends to fund my father's Jinaza. The mere thought makes me emotional. Not only because I know that my father was a man of pride, one that would never ask anyone for anything, but because he was my father; and I felt that I failed to provide for him the only time he ever needed me to.

Burials in Islam are simplistic, easy and need to be done within a specific time frame, sound easy enough right? WRONG! From an article by Umarah Hartley " According to Islamic tradition, the highest honour you can give someone in death is a swift burial. In accordance with tradition, Muslims try to bury before sunset on the same day of death where possible, or on the following day if circumstances make same-day burial impossible. A speedy burial is advised, however, if it is not possible then the body can be buried when burial is made possible. This happens when the person might die of illness or unnatural causes and other factors are involved before the body is released for burial."

A burial is considered "the Muslim communities responsibility"...has anyone you know been able to rely on their community? Do you even live in a predominantly Muslim community (does that even exist in South Africa)? Or have you, like me, seen far too many of our #ummah receive an equivalent of what is known as a pauper burial? Do you even know where to start should someone close to you pass away? I didn't know the first thing - Death was an unreal experience to me until it claimed my father.

Look, I know we are not allowed to "worship our dead" as the older folk reference the act of a fancy burial, but what I've seen has made my heart sink. Families had to bury their loved ones later than Islamically required because they waited for money, or the body was transported at the back of a bakkie and buried with no means of identifying the grave later on. If the highest honour you can give someone in death is a swift burial, then I have seen many being stripped of that honour because their family was not in the financial position to bury them in a dignified manner, as originally intended.

Once a Muslim person is buried, another problem arises, as even a small identification tomb is expensive. I remember walking around in a Muslim grave for an entire day as a child, holding my mother's hand and searching for family members I've never met. We struggled to find them because none had even a small identifying tombstone. That memory was the reason I have always avoided graveyards until my dad made one his home.

This "poor man's #jinaza" is so common because who, as minimum or middle-income wage employee, has R10,000 saved for a decent Jinaza? Or can you honestly say that you know someone that has the ability to loan you R10,000 (yes R10,000) to ensure you give your loved one a dignified Islamic burial? A loan from a #bank won't do because they won't payout by the time you need the #money, even #Wonga or any other microlender won't come through in time. If you do have money saved or have family that can help you out, consider yourself fortunate- Alhamdullilah, but I know 90% answered no, and for this very reason, I have created Karama Jinaza Cover #KJC.

This article from the Voice of the Cape #VOC breaks down all the detail and the costs involved, http://www.vocfm.co.za/the-cost-of-death/) - it really is a reality check.

Karama Jinaza Cover #KJC is the only Islamic funeral cover benefit that is registered with the Financial Services Board #FSB as a Financial Services Provider #FSP and underwritten by one of the largest and most reputable Insurance companies in South Africa. This means double the protection and guarantee to ensure that #KJC will deliver in your time of need. #KJC will pay all our service providers to provide you with an end to end service.

Our claims process is as easy as one simple phone call. If you're up to date with your premiums and you have the required proof at the claims stage, we will do the rest.

We launch our business on 1 July 2018 for the Western Cape, and will open our doors in Gauteng and Kwazulu Natal in 2019 (Insha Allah Ameen).

Please contact us via email to info@jinaza.com and we will contact you as soon as possible. www.jinaza.com

#jinaza #janaza #janazah #islam #funeral #funeralcover #kifayat #capetown #muslim #islam #islamicburial