Resolutions-of-Islamic-Fiqh-Council-1

The Fifth Resolutionon Muslims' Burial in Wooden BoxAll praise be to Almighty Allah.Blessing and peace be on His Prophet Muhammadafter whom there is no prophet, and on all thosewho followed his way of guidance.The Islamic Fiqh Council looked into the question raised bySupervisor-General of Muslim Youth and Head of the delegationfrom the Islamic Society, Victoria, Australia about the burial ofdead Muslims in the wooden boxes as practised by Christians,stating that some Muslims like this method and follow it. This isin spite of the fact that the government of the concerned state hasallowed the Muslims to bury their dead persons in accordancewith the Islamic way i.e. in Kafan (burial clothing) and withoutbox.After having deliberation and discussion on the issue, theCouncil decided the following:1. Any action or behaviour of a Muslim to look like a non-Muslim and imitate him is prohibited in the Islamic Shari'ahand it is forbidden in accordance with hadiths of ProphetMuhammad (peace be upon him).2. To bury the dead Muslim in a box with the intention ofimitating the non-Muslims is prohibited. If such practice isdone without any intention, then it is undesirable, and if thereis a need for this practice, then, it is not objectionable.Chairman, Islamic Fiqh CouncilAbdul Aziz Ibn Abdullah Ibn Baz223