Ahmad Hraichie | Islamic Undertaker & Washer
The Death Letter
My name is Ahmad Hraichie and I'm known as the Islamic Undertaker. I started in 1996, 18 years old, picking up deceased as a 'Mortuary Removal Guy'. I would get $30 per pick up after hours and 9am – 4pm I would assist in the funeral home—prepping bodies and cleaning the funeral and morgue. I was paid $150 / pw.
1998 I learned to excavate and was given the job as the grave digger at Rookwood Cemetery. I loved my job. I would dig graves and also jump in the grave and bury the body. In Islam we wash and shroud the body and bury without a coffin. I did this job for 15 years—eventually digging for all the cemeteries: Rookwood, Liverpool, Narellan, Riverstone and burying the Muslim deceased.
I was once digging at Rookwood Cemetery a spare grave after burying a man we knew, when a tall man stood near my excavator and asked me "is there another funeral?". I said "NO! It's just a spare grave". I remember he was wearing a black leather jacket and had two men with him who called him by the name "Ali". He was real tall too. Two days later I was called by the funeral director to dig a grave and make it tall. When the funeral arrived I jumped in the grave and buried the man—he was tall and I had to bend his legs to fit in. After the funeral I was at the cemetery digging in the morning early and there was a lady at the previous days grave. I used to turn off the machine for respect and ask questions about "how did the deceased die? Did they say anything etc etc". The lady who was his wife said "he was here 2 days ago for his friend's burial. She said he went to sleep and never woke up. He was 41 years old. She said he had 2 friends with him and he was wearing a black leather jacket. I then remembered the man that day was tall and had 2 friends with him and was wearing a leather jacket. They called him Ali. I looked at the name plate on the grave and it said "Ali". I realised it was the man who asked me that day "IS THERE ANOTHER BURIAL?".
Death to me means the beginning of the END…the end of mortal life and beginning of the next world…
Death is also a DOOR that everyone will go through "Every Soul Shall Taste Death" it's a guarantee. Also Death means "The Destroyer of Pleasure" *[it could also be described as the beginning of endless unimaginable pleasure for the righteous soul and also could be the opposite where death could be the beginning of endless unimaginable punishment and torment].
I believe as my faith Islam teaches me that we will only taste death once…the only things that will benefit me when I die is my GOOD DEEDS. I believe this life is a test to see whom of us does good and who does evil. Who remains patient.
We will all be tested on this Earth…some of us will have bigger tests than others—but we always live with the reminder that "God will not burden a soul more than it can handle!!!
Patience is a VIRTUE. Peace & Blessings.
Thank you.
—Ahmad Hraichie (2023)
Islamic Funeral Service
*Amendment to original letter.
Editor’s note: Ahmad can be followed on Instagram @aussiemammoth and/or TikTok @aussiemammoth1 “The Muslim Undertaker” where you can listen to Ahmad reflect and teach on life and death from his unique perspective and learn more about the Islamic funeral process.
The Death Letter Project welcomes your comments and feedback. Please feel free to leave a comment on our Facebook page or alternatively submit a message below.