There are plenty of places for Muslim-Americans to live in the U.S., but only one place to be laid to rest with their own - Islamic Memorial Gardens.
The cemetery in Westland is the first Muslim-only resting place in America. A group of local Arab-Americans started the Muslim-centric cemetery when they took over the adjacent Maple Grove Cemetery in the fall of 2007.
They split 20 acres off of the non-denominational Maple Grove and used that to start Islamic Memorial Gardens. Today six of those acres are ready to service the burial needs of the estimated 300,000 muslims in Metro Detroit. About 45 people, both adult and children, are currently buried in the cemetery.
The owners, all muslims, make sure the ceremonies and graves are laid out in respect of the faith's traditions. For instance all of the graves are pointed east so they are facing Mecca.
"It's a need that has been in the community for years and years," says Yvonne Berry, chairwoman and operations manager of Islamic Memorial Gardens. "Every other religion has a cemetery for its followers. It’s something we have needed for Muslims for years."
Source: Yvonne Berry, chairwoman and operations manager of Islamic Memorial Gardens
Writer: Jon Zemke
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