Reviewed for accuracy by Carlos Vargas, Texas Licensed Funeral Director (TFSC License No. 119648) · Last reviewed February 13, 2026 ·
The typical cost, for reference
Total cost of an Islamic burial in DFW typically runs $4,500 to $8,500, with the largest variable being the cemetery. Our Vargas-London service fee is $2,495; the cemetery portion (plot, opening-and-closing, required vault) is typically $2,000 to $6,000 depending on the cemetery.
Zakat and zakat-al-mal
Zakat is obligatory annual alms for eligible Muslims. Funeral expenses are not a standard zakat recipient category, but zakat-al-mal (wealth zakat) can be used by the eligible poor to cover their own or a relative's funeral when the family qualifies as a recipient (fi sabilillah or fuqara). Many DFW masajid maintain zakat funds that disburse for funerals in qualifying cases.
To apply: contact your masjid's zakat committee. We can provide an invoice for zakat committee review. IANT, ICI, EPIC, IACC, Dar El-Salam, and Dallas Central Mosque all maintain active zakat funds.
Sadaqah
Sadaqah is voluntary charity, not obligatory. Many families receive sadaqah contributions from community members as word spreads. We welcome sadaqah contributions directly to the invoice and provide receipts for any donor who requests them.
Sadaqah jariyah — ongoing charity — is sometimes dedicated in the deceased's name instead of (or in addition to) funeral contributions. A sadaqah jariyah gift might fund a masjid, a well, a school, or another charitable cause that continues to benefit after the funeral is paid.
Jamaat and community support
In many DFW Muslim communities, particularly among Pakistani, Bangladeshi, and Turkish communities, the jamaat (local congregation or community association) maintains a funeral fund. Members contribute a small monthly or annual amount, and when a member dies, the jamaat covers or substantially reduces funeral costs. This is a form of takaful (Islamic mutual insurance).
Known active jamaats in DFW include the Bangladesh Association of North Texas (BANT), Pakistan Society of North Texas, Turkish American Society of Texas, and several mosque-specific funeral funds. Ask your community leaders whether a fund exists before assuming you need to cover the full cost personally.
Takaful (Islamic insurance)
Takaful is a Sharia-compliant alternative to conventional insurance. A few U.S. takaful operators offer policies that include funeral benefits. Less common than conventional insurance, but growing. Specific providers include FWU Global (through partners) and certain Islamic financial institutions.
If the deceased held a takaful policy, we help the family file the claim. The operator typically pays out within 2–6 weeks, so the immediate funeral cost may still need bridge funding.
Conventional life insurance (a scholarly disagreement)
Conventional life insurance involves elements of riba and gharar that most classical scholars consider problematic. However, contemporary scholars including many from AMJA (Assembly of Muslim Jurists of America) have issued fatawa allowing conventional life insurance in Western jurisdictions where takaful is not practically available, particularly when the policy is employer-provided. If the deceased held a conventional policy, most DFW imams permit the family to accept the payout for funeral expenses. We accept insurance assignment (the insurer pays us directly) as a standard payment method.
This is an issue for your imam, not for us. We do not take a religious position on the life-insurance question; we simply accept the funds when the family has them.
Interest-free payment plans from Vargas-London
When a family needs to pay over time, we offer interest-free payment arrangements. No riba. No hidden fees. A typical arrangement might be $1,000 at the time of service and $500 per month for the remaining balance, zero interest. We structure around the family's situation; there is no template that must fit every case.
We do not offer, and do not partner with, conventional interest-bearing financing. We do not refer families to riba-based funeral loans that are marketed by some third-party financing companies. If a family wants longer-term financing, we recommend they discuss with a Sharia-compliant lender or family member.
Payment methods we accept
- Cash, check, debit card (preferred for Sharia-conscious families)
- Credit card (acceptable if paid in full to avoid interest)
- Insurance assignment (conventional or takaful)
- Zakat committee disbursement
- Jamaat or masjid fund transfer
- Wire transfer from family abroad
- Multi-party payments (different family members covering different portions)
- Sadaqah contributions directly to the invoice
We do not accept cryptocurrency (too volatile and not all tokens are Sharia-acceptable), gift cards (indicator of fraud), or money transfers through apps that have not completed identity verification.
Indigent cases
Texas counties operate indigent-burial programs for families who genuinely cannot pay. Dallas County, Collin County, Tarrant County, and Denton County all maintain programs. We help families apply when appropriate. The programs typically cover a basic burial with a simple marker; Islamic protocols can usually be honored within the program's budget.
No Muslim family should be turned away from Islamic burial because of cost. Between zakat, jamaat funds, indigent programs, and our interest-free payment plans, every case has a path.