Digital technology has revolutionised many aspects of life, and funerals are no exception. Businesses in Egypt are now incorporating digital technology into funerals and offering donations and prayers for the deceased.
“The traditional image of an undertaker’s office, as it has been known to those who have lost loved ones over the years, will disappear,” says Ahmed Al-Hanash, the owner of an undertaker’s office in Cairo.
“I have worked in this profession for 25 years, inheriting it from my forefathers. Our field has witnessed significant developments in recent years with the emergence of companies utilising the latest technologies to implement professional and advanced standards of funeral services.”
“After a death, families bear the burden of obtaining burial permits, searching for an undertaker’s office, dealing with brokers, and paying gratuities at every step. However, advanced funeral services alleviate the burden on the deceased’s family at a time when they need to grieve,” says Ahmed Gaballah, the founder of a funeral service.
“Our team accompanies the deceased from the moment of passing until their final resting place, which is why we launched our services under the name SOKNA, which means dwelling and tranquillity in Arabic.”
“A member of our team communicates with the family to understand their requirements, then collaborates with the rest of the team responsible for obtaining burial permits, preparing the deceased according to the Islamic or Coptic rites, transporting him to the place of prayer, and then to the cemetery after coordinating the grave and its preparation. We also publish obituaries in the newspapers and reserve a condolence hall, among other services,” Gaballah added.
Gaballah had the idea after assisting his friend with his father’s funeral in Egypt. Things were not well handled, and this led to his avoiding other funerals. Years later, Gaballah found himself having to go to a funeral in the US. It was organised with compassion and peace, showing respect for the family and the deceased, and the experience motivated him to offer enhanced funeral services in Egypt.
He embarked on a journey with the first two members of his team to seven countries, exploring funeral services and practices around the world.
In 2019, he introduced the idea of advanced funeral services in Egypt, and his team expanded to 80 members. “Securing our first client was an uphill battle, but today we proudly hold contracts with 25 hospitals in Egypt, along with numerous unions and other esteemed organisations,” Gaballah said.
“At first, the changes we introduced did not receive a warm reception. There was some resistance, particularly from undertakers. They worried about the competition. However, over time they realised that we are closer to being a platform that enhances their services rather than being a direct competitor with them,” he said.
“This understanding grew, especially after collaborating with some others who had taken similar steps themselves. We found a place for them as part of our team, and now we are advancing as a unified entity.”
“We were apprehensive about people’s acceptance of the services we provide, but their response has been encouraging as they recognised the benefits we offer,” he added.
According to one user of the services, who asked to remain anonymous, they are considerate and supportive, recognising the need for assistance during difficult times, particularly as families are becoming smaller and individuals are increasingly occupied with other things.
“I used their services for a funeral, and they showed their dedication to providing excellent service,” the user said.
DEBATE:
However, some people oppose such services, saying they add additional costs to a funeral and burial.
Ahmed Taha, a Cairo lawyer, commented that “I don’t think I would utilise such a service if it is expensive, especially since if I handle everything myself the expenses will be limited. Those who would use this service are primarily financially capable individuals.”
“The prices of essential funeral services have significantly increased, such as the fees charged for preparing the burial and burying the deceased. These services once cost LE70, but now they cost LE1,200. There are also the expenses for reciters of the Quran and gratuities,” Al-Hanash said.
“All of these costs are separate. We offer varying prices for such services, ranging from LE1,500 to LE2,500. These prices cover the transportation of the body, washing, and providing the shroud.”
However, Gaballah said that “we have created packages to match the users’ requirements and capabilities. Throughout this process, we have been keen on providing a fair service that considers moderation and transparency. That is why we display the prices of our packages online without hidden fees.
“One of the packages offers basic services and requirements at a fixed price of LE5,500. This price can be increased when additional services are requested according to the deceased’s family’s choices.”
Gaballah has customised his services to cater to the needs of beneficiaries. “When dealing with the families of the deceased, we recognise that most of them are grieving and unable to think clearly. They may lack knowledge about the necessary procedures. That is why we have introduced our free 24-hour consultation service, where callers can ask our team for guidance on how to handle arrangements for a funeral.
“There were some difficulties with some of the 5,000 funerals that we have prepared, prompting us to create new services. A significant number of the deceased’s relatives may not be able to recall the place of their family grave, for example. They may lack information about how to contact the caretaker. So, we have added a complete report about graves in our services. This includes a photograph of the grave, the detailed geographical location, and contact information for the caretaker.
“Another challenge we have faced is that many relatives of the deceased often struggle to find their way to the cemetery for the burial. Cars often look similar, and the cemetery streets are narrow and uneven. To solve this issue, we have implemented clear numbering and organised gathering points where our team gathers people together on a single path,” he added.
In addition to providing the usual funeral services, there has been a surge in the demand for tombs, according to Mohamed Tawfik, the owner of a real-estate office specialising in this service.
“Recently, there has been growing interest in purchasing new graves due to the removal of several as part of development projects in areas such as Al-Sayeda Aisha, Al-Imam, Al-Basateen, and others,” Tawfik said.
“Alongside the demand for purchasing new tombs, there is also the need for replacing graves. Individuals seek to do this when they relocate to new areas and desire a tomb near their new residence. As a result, individuals can exchange their existing burial near their prior home for another near their new one.”
“We assist people who wish to purchase a tomb, either through participating in the Government lottery or directly. In the latter case, the applicant pays around LE30,000. The cemetery plot itself costs LE80,000, with an additional LE80,000 for the construction of a 40-square-metre grave.”
“Alternatively, the applicant can buy a grave in the nearest cemetery to their residence. In this situation, the price for 21-square-metre grave is around LE200,000, while a 41-square-metre grave costs approximately LE300,000. The price of the plot will depend on the cemetery’s location and position. For example, the price rises if it is close to the main road.
“Amidst the rising demand for graves, another trend has emerged. Certain companies are selling unlicensed plots, particularly in the Obour and Salam areas. Most of these were constructed on reclaimed agricultural land without permits, rendering them illegal, so it is important to verify documentation thoroughly and insist on receiving a receipt with matching numbers to those on the license,” Tawfik said.
“Customers should prioritise scheduling an appointment with the licensed undertaker, update the registry accurately, and exchange vital contact information to safeguard the cemetery purchase.”
Assisting buyers in searching for graves and verifying documentation is also a service provided by SOKNA. “We also help in the transfer of the deceased’s remains from existing graves. Moreover, we have introduced a programme to support families without their own tombs in finding a suitable burial site.”
DONATIONS:
Technology can help to provide methods for donations in memory of loved ones. Marwa Awad, a housewife, said that “I heard from a friend that she had organised a fundraising campaign in honour of a dear person through an online platform,” for example.
“The platform enables the selection of one out of 11 NGOs that can receive donations. I was impressed by the simplicity of the concept, so later I initiated a similar campaign to raise donations for the construction of a well in a village through one of these organisations.
“While the organisation responsible for digging the well took longer than anticipated, likely due to high demand, it eventually provided all the relevant details, photographs of the well, and information regarding its location to all the donors of the campaign once the project was completed.”
The online platform has organised campaigns for thousands of people, including celebrities such as actors Samir Ghanem, Dalal Abdel-Aziz, and Haitham Ahmed Zaki through more than 8,000 campaigns, with hundreds surpassing the LE100,000 mark.
Nesma Al-Far, one of the founders, said that “after creating a platform with four friends, Youssef Al-Sammaa, Omar Hamdallah, Con O’Donnell, and Ashraf Maklad, which provides online mourning and condolence services, we were disheartened to discover significant expenditure on items that hold no meaning for the deceased.”
“So, we incorporated a donation feature on the Website in the name of the deceased. This section garnered a positive response, motivating us to establish an In Memory Of website channelling donations towards charitable causes that benefit both the departed and society at large.”
Tarek Adra, a Lebanese software engineer, has created a website that also allows people to repeat prayers and Quranic verses in memory of the deceased. Users can access a page including pertinent Quranic verses and prayers by visiting the Website and entering the deceased’s name. The link can be shared with family and friends, allowing them to join in praying for the departed.
“The idea came to me when my grandmother passed away in 2019. My mother used to praise God, and when I asked her what she was doing, she said she was praying and dedicating the rewards to my grandmother. That is when the idea came to me to create a Web page for my grandmother and share it with our family, allowing all the members of our family to pray for her,” Adra said.
“The idea quickly spread among my family members. After that, many friends asked me to create a similar page for their loved ones too, so I created the website.”
“The primary technology used was the web, as I am proficient in web development,” Adra said.
“To enhance the number of visits, I later established a mobile app and a WhatsApp group as well to keep followers up to date on advances. The website idea spread, and many other people began looking for this service. I currently have roughly 77,000 Facebook followers in Egypt,” he concluded.
* A version of this article appears in print in the 20 July, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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