Burying the deceased in a coffin

Question

Here in England it is the government’s law that the deceased be buried enclosed in a box. Will it be permissible for us Muslims too to do this? And if the government does not give permission, what should be done?

Answer

If the soil of the grave is soft or wet, it is correct to bury the deceased after placing him in a box; without need it is makruh: [ar]وَلَا بَأْسَ بِاتِّخَاذِ تَابُوتٍ عِنْدَ الْحَاجَةِ كَرَخَاوَةِ الْأَرْضِ، أَيْ يُرَخَّصُ ذَلِكَ عِنْدَ الْحَاجَةِ وَإِلَّا كُرِهَ[/ar] “There is no harm in using a coffin when there is a need, such as softness of the ground; that is, it is…

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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