Islamic people believe in a peace from "total submission to and acceptance of the One and Only God (Allah) and His will" (Sedki Riad, 1). People who submit themselves to Allah are called "Muslims". Muslims believe that their lives on this earth are only a transition that precedes their afterlife.

Muslims ancestors were ancient Arabs. "The ancient Arabs had no conception of either resurrection or the existence of another life after death" (Said Ennahid, 1). Even so, they seemed to believe that the dead continued on after death. It has been shown that they had ideas of wandering and thirst associated with dying. They believed that the dead who were left without burials and those whose death was not avenged were left with their spirits wandering and thirsty (Ennahid, 1). With the advent of Islam, they believed that life and death were divine decrees, given by god, not by events or parents (Ennahid, 1). They also believe that their God judges them after death and that the spirit continues on after death. Said said, "by embracing Islam, Arabs substituted the notion of community of faith to the previous notion of community of blood".

When death approaches, the close family and friends try to support and comfort the dying person through supplication as well as remembrance of Allah and His will.  The attendance is to help the dying person to iterate his commitment to unity of God. "According to the Sunna, it is preferable to whisper the shahada in the ear of a dying man whose face is turned to Mecca" (Ennahid, 2). The "Sunna" is the teachings of the Islamic prophet Mohammed, and the "shahada" is an Islamic prayer (Ennahid, 4). This act is similar to the sacrament of anointing of the sick, which is practiced in the Catholic and other Christian religions (The anointing of the sick was traditionally known as the "Last Rites").

Upon death, the eye lids are to be closed, the body should be covered, and preparation for burial takes place as soon as possible.  The body must be placed on its sides and washed with warm water and soap, generally by a member of the same sex, with the final washing having scented water. There must be an odd number of washings (a trend against odd numbers is also visible in the Hindu faith), some of the stomach's must be pushed out, and the teeth and nose must be cleaned on the outside as a form of ablution (spiritual cleansing). 

Burial prayers are then said facing Mecca before a silent procession takes the corpse to its burial, where everyone shares in filling the grave with soil and a second pit with bricks while saying additional prayers. The wrapped body is to be laid directly at the bottom of the dug grave on its right side facing the direction of Makkah.   A ceiling is attached to the grave and then covered with dirt.

The grave is to be marked by raising its top level of dirt above surrounding grounds.  A stone may be used to mark its location, but no writings are allowed. Buildings or other forms of structures are not allowed on top of the grave. Charity, fasting, prayers, and pilgrimage is often performed on behalf of the dead. Visiting the graves is recommended for the living to remember death and the day of judgment.

The family of the dead has a responsibility to fulfill any debts he had as soon as possible. They have the commitment to maintain contacts and courteous relationships with close relatives and close friends. They frequently pray and supplicate for him.