Imaan Gardens unveils inaugural Muslim burial plots

Imaan Gardens in Surrey has unveiled its inaugural Muslim burial ground, an endeavour aligned with tradition and designed to serve the needs of the Muslim community in Farnham and beyond. 

The opening ceremony, which was held on 16 February, marked a significant milestone in the journey towards providing a sacred resting place for departed loved ones.

Imam Hashmi, leader of the Shah Jaan Mosque in Woking, laid the first stone for the inaugural plots and offered a heartfelt prayer for the site’s sanctity and those who will find solace there. 

The ceremony was also attended by members of the management team, stakeholders, and guests, including Ryan Marshall from Neil Curtis Funeral Contractors.

Central to the ceremony was the ritual of dua, a sacred prayer, seeking blessings for the site and its future occupants. Imam Hashmi underscored the importance of aligning each burial plot with Mecca, the holiest site in Islam, ensuring that the deceased rest facing the sacred city. Through meticulous GPS mapping, the alignment process was verified and sanctified by the Imam and those in attendance.

The unveiling of Imaan Gardens holds particular significance within the Muslim community, where burial shortages persist in many areas. As such, the site will be showcased at the upcoming Imam Conference on Saturday 9 March, hosted at the Shah Jaan Mosque, where it is expected to garner widespread interest and support.

Kamran Salee, managing director of Imaan Gardens, said: “With such a UK shortage of Muslim burial grounds, I am passionate about supporting a community in real need for dedicated spaces to privately lay loved ones to rest.”

With full planning permission, the site has space for 2,500 traditional lawn graves, at single or double depth with memorial stones up to 1m in height. Plots are available to all Muslims with no regional or district restrictions in place.