by Dr Fahmi Haniffa at the official launch of the Western suburbs Janaza Scheme on 8 March 2008 – Errington Community Centre, St Albans

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakathahu.

Thank you to all the Sri Lankan Muslim brothers and sisters for having organised and invited us to participate in the proceedings today.  We understand that this is the official launch of the Janaza Scheme in the Western suburbs and an information evening.

Let’s focus on the reasons why we are all gathered here tonight.  Brother Nawaz has just spoken to you about the duties and obligations relating to a Janaza.

As we all know, a Janaza immediately affects the family in so many ways.  One is the Janaza itself which has to be attended to immediately.  It has to be attended to either by the Family, Friends or the Muslim Community.

· Family:  small migrant communities.  Inexperienced and don’t know what to do.  Go to a service provider.  Costs.

· Friends: Possibly can.  But again inexperienced and time factors.  So will hand over to a service provider.  Costs.

· Muslim community:  Can do and will do if organised.

In the case of Janaza services there are three options:

1. Insurance:  Islamic?  You decide.

2. Family spends:  burial and service costs.

3. Community based: community steps in immediately to bear the burial costs and service costs and family repays shortly thereafter.

For Sri Lankan Muslims (in general) this is where USMAA steps in.  Brother Aqa Tokhi has just explained to you what USMAA does and has done for the last 20 years in Melbourne.  One of the services that USMAA provides to its members (and to the Sri Lankan Muslim community) is through the work of the USMAA  Permanent Janaza Sub Committee.(‘JSC’).

As you all know the current Janaza Committee has three members:  brother Eddie Dole (Head), Mohamed Najeeb and I.

How does the USMAA Janaza Scheme work?  Procedures are in the USMAA website (in case of a Janaza):

1. Procedures:  See website.  Death certificate. Inform Mosque. Inform JSC. Attend to formalities.  Phone and email members via web manager.  Co ordinate with family.

2. JSC: Sub committee steps in to assist the family.  See JSC Report presented at the 2008 USMAA AGM which will be available on our website next week with our Newsletter, insha allah.

In the case of a Janaza there are two costs involved. 

Example:

1. Burial plot (2 tier costs $3000)  -	$1,500.00
2. Services:
Cemetery $2100 + Mosque $750 -	$2,850.00
Total	$4,350.00

The question is:  who pays the total costs?

Under the existing Janaza Scheme what USMAA has provided is the convenience of a burial site immediately.  Families who have the financial ability must repay the cost of the burial site and for those experiencing hardship the site will be provided free.  The service costs have to be paid by the family (or friends do a collection to assist).

There have been two suggestions which are being seriously considered:

1. For USMAA to have funds to provide for the service charge as well.  We are hoping to experiment that suggestion this year with a donation of around $30 per year.  A second USMAA (Janaza Service) Account was opened last week for this purpose.

2. For USMAA to bear the entire cost of burial and services.  This can be considered in the future, insha allah, if the Sri Lankan Muslim community provides sufficient funds to do so and continues to make contributions to replenish money when funds have been used.  This is not easy and we cannot give any guarantees.

This is the model which was explained to brothers Eshaarc, Areeb and Elyas to start off in the Western suburbs.  This was after a recent janaza in the Western suburbs when an overseas visitor passed away and the USMAA Janaza Committee volunteered to assist.  We are very sincerely happy that you have responded very positively today.

The next proposal is to consider a request to bring the Western suburbs Janaza project under the USMAA umbrella.  The USMAA Committee has discussed this request and hopes to make the proposal at the next USMAA AGM and to expand the members of the Janaza Sub Committee to five by adding two USMAA members from the Western suburbs into the Sub Committee. 

The USMAA Janaza Scheme is simple and easy to administer with your support.  The scheme needs your time, financial contributions and support (volunteers). 

We understand that the Western Suburbs Janaza Scheme has now purchased with your donations and contributions two burial sites and hold funds around $2,900 to pay for services plus today’s income from the fund raising ‘Buriyani Night’ dinner.  It is proposed that these funds will be held a separate USMAA service account.

Please note that a one off contribution will not guarantee a free janaza facility.  Contributions have to be ongoing.  When the facility is used the funds have to be replenished.  If and when used you must contribute to replace the funds and support those who have volunteered to give their time and experience to administer the scheme.

Depending on time, I invite any questions.  Brother Eddie and Najeeb will respond to you.

Thank you.  Assalamu alaikum.