How do I make an Islamic will in Ottawa?
The same way as anywhere in Ontario — and that is the point worth understanding. There is no Ottawa will law. Wills are provincial, so the rules that decide whether your will is valid are Ontario’s. What is genuinely local is everything around the will: which mosques here can perform a janazah, where they bury, and what it costs.
- Work out the shares. The faraid calculator gives every heir’s fraction under the school you follow, with a written report you can hand to a drafter.
- Meet Ontario’s formalities. This is the part that decides whether the document works at all — valid (the Ontario formalities in full).
- Check your beneficiary designations. An RRSP, a TFSA or a life policy with a named beneficiary may pass outside the estate under Canadian law — whether it also sits outside the tarikah is disputed among contemporary scholars, so do not assume it escapes the shares.
- Have it drafted. The Registry does not draft wills. Treadstone Law, an independent Ontario firm, handles the drafting side.
- Record where it is kept — free, and it is what lets your executor find it.
Municipalities have no jurisdiction over wills or estates. Under s. 92(13) of the Constitution Act, 1867 that is provincial. Any page promising a “Ottawa Islamic will” is selling you a Ontario will.
The Ontario rules that decide whether it works
| Governing statute | Succession Law Reform Act |
| Court | Superior Court of Justice |
| Handwritten (holograph) wills | Valid |
| Probate cost | Estate Administration Tax: nil on the first $50,000, then about $15 per $1,000 of value above that (roughly 1.5%). A Small Estate Certificate is available for estates of $150,000 or less. |
| Spouse’s share if there is no will | $350,000 for deaths on or after 1 March 2021 ($200,000 before that date). |
| Challenges to the will | Dependant support claims under Part V of the Succession Law Reform Act. Ontario does not have a BC-style wills variation regime for independent adult children. |
Deeper: making a valid will · dying without one · probate · challenges.
Mosques in Ottawa with janazah services
An Islamic will usually records burial wishes — ghusl, kafan, burial without delay. A janazah needs physical facilities: a mortuary, cold storage, a washing room. Not every mosque has them.
These are the 5 Ottawa mosques with a confirmed service, from each organisation’s own published information.
| Mosque | Funeral line | Mortuary | Cold storage | Ghusl facilities | Women’s ghusl | Kafan | Burial coordination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assalam Mosque (The Ottawa Islamic Centre) | (613) 265-9041 | ||||||
| Jami Omar | (343) 999-3481Dedicated funeral contact line operates 24/7 (343-999-3481). Temporary | ||||||
| Masjid Bilal (Islamic Society of Cumberland) | (613) 277-4423 | ||||||
| Ottawa Muslim Association (Ottawa Mosque) | (613) 858-2729Funeral office hours Mon-Fri 8:30am-4:00pm (613-722-8763). Site lists | ||||||
| South Nepean Muslim Community (SNMC) | (613) 713-9850General office hours Mon-Thu 8am-3:30pm; separate dedicated 24/7 emerg |
The other 6 Ottawa mosques we list have not published a funeral service. A blank is not a no — it means we could not confirm it.
Where Ottawa’s mosques bury
Ottawa’s mosques name 1 burial ground on their own funeral pages. That is confirmation from the masjid, not from the cemetery.
Burial grounds in Ottawa
Beechwood Cemetery - Muslim Section (Section 21) — a Muslim section within a wider cemetery. Ottawa's OTHER Muslim burial option, and one many families do not know about: Beechwood is a large non-denominational national cemetery, but its Section 21 has been set aside for the Muslim community since 2008 under an agreement between the Ottawa Muslim Association and the Beechwood Cemetery Foundation. On-site the cemetery provides clean facilities where families can carry out the ritual washing and wrapping themselves, and it stocks simple caskets and white traditional cloth; the National Memorial Centre has large prayer rooms with dividers for the janazah prayer. Beechwood does NOT publish plot availability, prices, the size of Section 21, or whether graves face the Qibla - all of that needs a phone call. Distinct from the Ottawa Muslim Cemetery in Greely, which is entirely Muslim.
Ottawa Muslim Cemetery — an entirely Muslim cemetery, about 13 acres, plots available. Ottawa's first and only dedicated Muslim cemetery, serving the Ottawa-Gatineau region. A registered Canadian charity and not-for-profit (Charitable Registration No. 894375187RR0001) with no shareholders or profit motive. Community fundraising began in 1994, land was acquired in 2005, a provincial cemetery licence under Islamic law was granted in 2008, and the first burials took place 4 January 2013. Phase I opened with approximately 5,000 grave spaces; Phase II opened January 2024 with 4,500 more (300+ burials in its first year); Phase III of 4,500 spaces is planned, with roughly 13 acres to be developed in phases - enough capacity for about 60 years allowing for population growth. Burial rights are exclusively for Muslims who testify to the Shahadatain, and graves are aligned to the Qibla (57 degrees true north). IMPORTANT for families: the cemetery itself does NOT perform ghusl (washing) or kafan (shrouding) - those are done at the mosques' own funeral facilities, and the FAQ names Jami Omar (Masjid Omar), Masjid Bilal, SNMC, Masjid Salaam and the Ottawa Muslim Association masjid as the five organisations that provide funeral preparation and coordinate with the cemetery. The cemetery handles the grave, interment, Qibla alignment, community Janaza alerts, grave registry search and memorial markers, and will help coordinate the janazah prayer with the family's preferred masjid. Lots are currently sold mainly at time of death because of limited availability; a limited number become available for pre-purchase as new sections are completed, and pre-ordering locks in the current price. Jami Omar's funeral page notes that the cemetery keeps an administrative office at 467 Laurier Ave West, Suite 216, separate from the burial grounds at 1668 Manotick Station Rd.
Mosques that name it on their own funeral pages: Assalam Mosque (The Ottawa Islamic Centre) · Jami Omar · Masjid Bilal (Islamic Society of Cumberland) · Ottawa Muslim Association (Ottawa Mosque) · South Nepean Muslim Community (SNMC).
What a burial costs here
The order of payment matters for a will: funeral expenses come out first, then debts, then any bequest — capped at one third — and only then are the fixed shares calculated. A large funeral bill shrinks every heir’s share. See the itemised costs for this region, with the plot, the grave opening and the mosque’s own fee separated.
Islamic schools, for the guardianship clause
A will names a guardian for children under 18, and families often want that person to keep the children in Islamic education. We list 12 schools in Ottawa: Abraar Elementary School · Abraar Secondary School · Ahlul Bayt Islamic School. All Ottawa listings ›
The organisations in Ottawa
Each account below is drawn from the organisation’s own published information, checked on the date shown in its directory entry. We record what they say about themselves; we do not assess it.
Assalam Mosque (The Ottawa Islamic Centre)
The Ottawa Islamic Centre and Assalam Mosque is a registered charity (CRA-registered effective 2009) and describes itself as having one of the largest prayer halls for men and women in Ottawa. It offers daily and Friday prayers, nikah (marriage) services, Ramadan programming, and a Quran and Arabic program for children, alongside full janazah service including ghusl, funeral prayer, and burial coordination.
Listed services: nikah, janazah/funeral services, Quran and Arabic program for children.
Assunnah Muslims Association (Masjid Ar-Rahmah)
Assunnah Muslims Association (AMA) is a registered charity, effective 2004, that operates Masjid Ar-Rahmah (Mosque of Mercy) in Ottawa. Its roots trace to 1992, when a small group of volunteers began organizing community activities before the association was formally established; AMA also runs a community-services arm (now Sawmill Creek Social Services, formerly the AMA Community Centre).
Islam Care Centre
Islam Care Centre began in 1992 as a storefront 'Dawah Centre' in downtown Ottawa and has operated since as the city's downtown Muslim social-service organization and mosque. It was federally incorporated as a registered Canadian charity effective November 18, 1999 (a date confirmed by CRA's Charities Listing), and later moved to a Lisgar Street building with expanded prayer space including a sisters' prayer area. It offers Quran classes for children, support for new Muslims, women fleeing violence, isolated seniors, and people experiencing homelessness.
Listed services: Quran classes for children, new-Muslim support, support for women fleeing violence, support for isolated seniors, homelessness support.
Jami Omar
The Ontario Heritage Trust's Doors Open Ontario listing records that 'Established in 1992, the Jami Omar Mosque was located inside a renovated bungalow. But, in 2003, construction began on a new mosque located on the same property. Over the next 15 years, the new and much larger mosque was constructed.' The operating charity, Jamiatul Muslemeen of Ottawa-Carleton (891590176RR0001), was registered with CRA effective 1994-03-02, two years after the congregation's founding, at 3990 Old Richmond Rd - the mosque's own address. Ottawa Muslim Association states on its own funerals page that 'Ottawa Muslim Association and Jami Omar are the two (2) Muslim organizations in Ottawa assisting families with funeral services in the Ottawa region', and Jami Omar's funeral operation is the more fully equipped of the two, with its own mortuary fridge and a 24/7 line.
Listed services: funeral services with a 24/7 line (343-999-3481): pick-up and transport of the body, Form 15 Statement of Death completed with the family, burial permit obtained from the city, ghusl arranged with family participation, kafan and takfeen, low-cost coffin at cost price, cold storage for delayed burial, janazah prayer in the mosque gym, transport to the cemetery, and temporary death certificates prepared by the office within 1-2 days, two Friday jama'ahs, daily congregational prayers with published iqamah times, marriage services, family counselling, zakat and sadaqa administration and 6 more.
Jamia Islamia
Jamia Islamia is run by Darul Uloom Ottawa, which publishes its own registration on its homepage - 'Charity Reg. No:786634881 RR0001' - and which CRA lists as Darul Uloom Ottawa Inc., registered effective 2019-08-02 at 2803 St. Joseph Blvd, Ottawa K1C1G6. Neither the school nor DUO publishes the school's opening year. DUO's director and the school's founder is Mufti Rasheed AlQasmi, a graduate of Darul Uloom Deoband who holds ijaza in hadith from Shaikh Naseeruddin of Deoband and Shaikh Yunus of Mazahir Uloom, Saharanpur, and who is also Imam of Masjid Al-Taqwa (ISOSH) and founder of the Al-Aqsa Centre. DUO's own tally of what it has achieved includes 61 students who have completed hifz, 123 people who have taken shahadah, 179 nikah marriages performed, 250+ children in its weekend and weekday Qur'an programs, and '450+ Friday attendees each week. We're over our current accommodation capacity.'
Listed services: full-time elementary Islamic day school, JK and SK through Grade 8, described by itself as the '1st Elementary Islamic School in Orleans', Ontario curriculum delivered through the 'Ummati School syllabus which is in accordance with the Ontario Curriculum', Islamic Studies program, Quranic program, through the parent body Darul Uloom Ottawa: daily prayers and Friday sermon, taraweeh, qiyam-ul-layl, Eid salah, a daily Tahfiz-ul-Quran program, weekend children's Qur'an classes, daily hadith halaqa, weekly tafsir, a five-year Alim course, Darul Ifta (fatwa) services, religious guidance, family consultation and nikah services.
Kanata Muslim Association (KMA)
KMA's own about page states: 'Our organization was founded in 2004 to serve the needs of the growing Muslim community in Kanata. For over a decade, Friday prayers and activities were held in rented facilities such as churches, schools and community centres. Alhamdulillah, we finally purchased a property in 2016 for Kanata's first Masjid.' CRA registered KANATA MUSLIM ASSOCIATION (859651275RR0001) effective 2006-01-01 at 351 Sandhill Rd SS 102, Kanata - the association's own address - two years after it formed and ten years before it owned a building. It describes its community as 'over 6,000 Muslims, making up about 8% of the population', many working in 'Canada's largest tech park' and the federal public service, and says it is 'trusted by over 1000 satisfied donors'. Resident imam Sikander Ziad Hashmi has served since 2014.
Listed services: five daily prayers, Jumu'ah, taraweeh and Eid prayers, three Friday jama'ahs, Zakat fund and zakat applications, administered by a volunteer committee - '100% of Zakat proceeds go directly to those in need', other assistance: financial support, food, home and hospital visits, spiritual counselling and family support, du'a for the deceased and 9 more.
Masjid Bilal (Islamic Society of Cumberland)
The mosque's about page states: 'The Islamic Society of Cumberland (Masjid Bilal) is a Registered Charitable community-oriented Muslim organization located in Canada's Capital (Ottawa East, Orleans). Masjid Bilal which was established in 1993 to provide the Muslim community of Orleans with resources to meet religious and social needs with the objective of establishing a better relationship with the larger Canadian society.' It adds that 'Masjid Bilal is administered by a Board of Trustees.' CRA's Charities Listing records ISLAMIC SOCIETY OF CUMBERLAND (BN 139837082RR0001, Orleans ON) as Registered with an effective date of status of 1993-08-27 — the same year the mosque gives for its founding, one of the closest matches in this set.
Listed services: funeral services (transport of the deceased to the masjid and on to the cemetery, ghusl and takfeen, burial arrangements, funeral prayer, help completing Ontario Forms 15/16/19), marriage / nikah services, library services, zakat services and zakat distribution, Qur'an programs, summer camp and 3 more.
Ottawa Muslim Association (Ottawa Mosque)
The Ottawa Muslim Association's about page dates the community to the 1940s: 'The story of the Ottawa Mosque starts in the 1940s with the first few Muslim families in Ottawa … the community rented out the basement of Northwestern United Church every Sunday to teach Quran, Islamic studies, and Arabic to the children.' It records that the association 'was founded in 1965', and that 'the Ottawa Mosque, the first in Ottawa and one of the first in Canada, was constructed in 1970' on two houses' worth of land on Northwestern Avenue — chosen partly to stay 'near our longtime friends and neighbors, United Church'. CRA's Charities Listing records THE OTTAWA MUSLIM ASSOCIATION, BN 107806242RR0001, Ottawa ON, as Registered with an effective date of status of 1980-01-01 — fifteen years after the association's own founding date and a decade after the mosque was built. OMA also notes on its funerals page that it and Jami Omar are 'the two (2) Muslim organizations in Ottawa assisting families with funeral services in the Ottawa region'.
Listed services: funeral services (form completion, transport from home or hospital, taghseel/washing, takfeen, casket, kafan and all supplies, cold storage for delayed burial, janazah prayer, transport to the cemetery), licensed Bereavement Authority of Ontario Transfer Service Operator - Class 2 Restricted, licence TSR-1555, marriage, zakat collection and distribution, Ruh Care licensed therapy, spiritual counselling and 6 more.
South Nepean Muslim Community (SNMC)
South Nepean Muslim Community (SNMC) describes itself as a grassroots, non-partisan, non-profit community-oriented Muslim organization serving Ottawa's South Nepean area, and is a registered charity (CRA-registered effective 2007). It runs a dedicated funeral/janazah service with its own emergency line, alongside marriage (nikah), family counselling, refugee support, new-Muslim, and youth programs.
Listed services: nikah, family counselling, janazah/funeral services, zakat/sadaqah assistance, refugee support, new-Muslim (revert) programs and 1 more.
Where to go next
Citations & sources
Every factual claim on this page traces to a source below. Details change — check the original source before relying on any figure, fee or legal position.
- Surah an-Nisa 4:11–12, 4:176 — Quran.com
- Book of Wills (Wasaya) — Sahih al-Bukhari, Sunnah.com
- Succession Law Reform Act, RSO 1990, c S.26 — Government of Ontario
- Estate Administration Tax — Government of Ontario
- Locating wills and documents — Law Society of Ontario