Muslim Funeral Flowers: A Respectful Guide for Sydney Families and Friends

If you have been asked to a Muslim funeral in Sydney and are wondering whether to send flowers, the honest answer is: ask the family first, and if they welcome flowers, send something simple and white to the home or the grave rather than to the prayer itself. This is practical guidance from a family florist in Greenacre that has served Lebanese, Turkish, Pakistani, Afghan and other Muslim families for decades. It is not a religious ruling, and practices genuinely differ between families and cultures.

How a Muslim funeral is different

Three things shape everything else about flowers at a Muslim funeral:

• Speed. Burial usually happens within 24 hours of death, sometimes the same day.
• The janazah prayer. The funeral prayer is short, is held at a mosque or prayer hall (or sometimes at the cemetery), and flowers are not part of it. Do not send a wreath or standing spray to the mosque.
• Burial, not cremation. In Sydney that is most often the Muslim sections at Rookwood. The grave itself is kept simple.

Because of this, the moments where flowers do fit are the mourning gathering at the home and, for many families, the grave after burial.

Where flowers are welcome

The mourning gathering at the home (azza or taziya)

After the burial, the family receives visitors for up to three days, often longer for Lebanese and other Arab families. This gathering is called the azza (Arabic) or taziya, and it is where most flowers in Sydney's Muslim communities are received. A vase arrangement or a tall white display in the reception room is normal in many Lebanese, Syrian, Turkish and Bosnian households. Our sympathy flowers and vase arrangements are the styles families ask us for most.

The grave

Some families place flowers on the grave after burial or on later visits, particularly at Rookwood. Others prefer the grave completely bare, following the view that adornment is discouraged. Both are common in Sydney. If you are not sure, a wreath or bunch handed to a family member at the cemetery lets them decide. See our Rookwood Cemetery delivery page for how we deliver there.

Not the mosque, not the prayer

Avoid sending anything to Lakemba Mosque, Auburn Gallipoli Mosque or a prayer hall for the janazah. Mosques generally will not accept deliveries, and the family will not be there to receive them.

Ask the family first

This is the single most important point. Some Muslim families view flowers as a Western or non-Islamic custom and would rather guests give sadaqah (charity) in the deceased's name. Others, particularly from Levantine and Turkish backgrounds, expect and appreciate them. A quick text to a family member resolves it. If you cannot reach anyone, a modest white arrangement sent to the home on the first or second day of mourning is very rarely unwelcome.

What to send: simple, white and green

Keep the design restrained. White is the colour of mourning and purity across the Muslim world, and the arrangements that families receive best are:

• White roses, lilies, orchids or chrysanthemums with plenty of green foliage
• A tall white vase arrangement for the reception room
• A round wreath or a simple bunch for the grave
• A white orchid plant, which lasts through a long mourning period

Avoid these:

• Crosses or any tribute with a Christian symbol
• Bright, celebratory colours, glitter or bows
• Balloons, chocolates or gift add-ons
• Alcohol-containing gifts of any kind

Our funeral flowers and wreaths can be made in all-white on request. Just note "Muslim funeral" in the order comments and we will keep the design appropriate.

Timing and same-day delivery

Because the burial is so quick, timing matters more than at any other funeral. In practice:

• Do not wait for a formal notice. If you hear of the death in the morning, the azza has probably already started by evening.
• Send to the home during the days of mourning, not after they end.
• Order by 3pm for same-day delivery across Sydney Metro. We are open 8am to 8pm, 7 days including public holidays, and our own drivers deliver to Lakemba, Greenacre, Bankstown, Punchbowl, Auburn, Liverpool and the rest of south-west Sydney daily. Details on our same-day flower delivery page.

Delivery is $19.95 within 25 km of Greenacre and $45 for 25 to 40 km.

Card messages

A card in Arabic, English or both is appropriate. Common choices:

• Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un – "Indeed we belong to Allah, and to Him we return" (Qur'an 2:156). The most widely used phrase.
• "May Allah grant him Jannah and give your family patience."
• "Allah yerhamo" (for a man) / "Allah yerhamha" (for a woman) – "May God have mercy on him/her" (Lebanese and Levantine usage).
• "Our deepest condolences to you and your family."
• "Thinking of you all. With love and respect."

Sign with your family or business name so the family knows who to thank once the mourning period ends.

Delivering to Rookwood's Muslim sections and other cemeteries

Rookwood's Muslim lawns are about ten minutes from our shop, and we know the section layout well. Give us the deceased's name, the section if you know it, and the expected burial time, and we will either meet the family there or hand the flowers to the cemetery office. We also deliver to Muslim sections at other Sydney cemeteries, including Riverstone and Kemps Creek; call (02) 9759 7324 if the location is unusual.

A note on respect

If a family says no flowers, honour that and consider a donation instead. If they welcome them, the simplest white arrangement, sent quickly, is the right choice. Questions are welcome via our contact page.

Frequently asked questions

Can a non-Muslim send flowers to a Muslim funeral?

Yes, and it is usually appreciated as a gesture of respect. Send to the home during the mourning days, keep the design white and simple, and check with the family if you can.

Is it appropriate to send flowers weeks later?

Yes. Many families hold a gathering on the 40th day after the death, and flowers to the home before that gathering are welcome in communities that observe it.

Should I send flowers to the mosque?

No. Flowers are not part of the janazah prayer and mosques typically will not accept deliveries. Send to the family home or, if the family welcomes it, the grave.