The ruling on the ties of the shroud

Question

After shrouding, three knots are tied in the shroud of the deceased, whether man or woman: at the head end, at the waist and at the foot end. After lowering into the grave, all three knots of the deceased are untied, but for a woman only the one at the face side is untied, while the knots at the waist and the foot end remain tied as before; and some people [merely] loosen the ties. Is tying the ties, untying the knots in the grave and the like established from hadith and fiqh or not?

Answer

The benefit of tying in these three places is that the shroud does not come open while the janaza is being lifted and carried; after placing in the grave this fear no longer remains, and so they are untied. For women and men alike, all three ties are untied. The reason (maslaha)

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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