When my Moslem husband died, I had already been to some funerals of family friends at the Mosque so it was not a difficulty for me to arrange for him to be buried according to his Faith. We handed over his body from the hospice where he died to the Islamic undertakers for its ritual washing and preparation. They took it to the mosque for the noon day prayers and then we progressed to the cemetery, where his family owned a plot. When my father-in -law had died the family had bought a large plot there. Now he rests there alongside his father and has been followed by his mother and his sister. Of course I have thought of the fact that when I die I will most probably be buried far away from him and that is a sad thought; but of course I cherish the hope that we may know each other in the next life!

As regards the funeral, I am always moved by the recitation of the Qur'ān, and at the graveside my sons performed what was their duty in burying their beloved Dad. That was one of the most painful moments of my life, and of theirs too I daresay, though I know that they felt proud to have been able to do it. I did regret not being present when his body was being prepared. I never asked to be there and I don't think that the boys really wanted that; but I daresay that it is not the custom for women to be there. My husband was present when his father's body was prepared. His mother didn't go to the funeral but his sister insisted on going and she did, even to the graveside. He came from a very strong and educated family.

I regretted not having been able to see my husband's body after his death. The last time I saw him was on the night of his death; I was with him when he died, thank God! A goodly number of our friends, non-Muslim and some of my own family were present both at the Mosque and at the graveside. No one asked whether they were Muslims or not, and this was rather a lovely sight for me: my sons , my uncle , my boys' young friends who had known him for years, all in the line up following the Islamic prayer movements! Later we had an even more ecumenical Memorial service at the Catholic Church when our Parish priest celebrated a Mass for him, and even allowed a reading from the Qur'ān in English. The two people who gave eulogies, were one a Quaker and the other a Jewish friend of my husband's. Indeed he had several Jewish friends, and one very good friend flew from San Francisco to be present at his funeral, the mosque as well as the grave side. I have been blessed. But it is a witness to my husband's greatness of soul!

My husband died a good death and his Faith in God was strong even at the end. Two days before he died he told me never to be afraid of a loving God. That was his last message to me.