Can Muslims be buried without a coffin in the US or UK?

The Islamic ideal

The Sunnah is to wash the body, wrap it in a simple white shroud (kafan) and lay it in the earth, on its right side, facing the qiblah. Burial is meant to be simple and quick, returning the body to the ground it came from.

Most scholars say a coffin is disliked when it isn't needed, but allowed when there's a reason, such as wet or unstable soil, a damaged body, or local law and cemetery rules. A coffin doesn't make a burial invalid. See What happens in the grave in Islam?

England and Wales

There's no legal requirement to use a coffin. Each cemetery sets its own rules, though, and many council and private cemeteries with Muslim sections permit shroud burial. Some still ask for a coffin to carry the body to the grave, after which it's removed. Others may require one for health and safety. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own rules, so check locally.

The US

Most states don't require a casket by law. But many cemeteries require a concrete grave liner or vault to stop the ground sinking, which can make true shroud-only burial difficult. Some Muslim cemeteries and Muslim sections use solutions such as a liner with an open bottom, a liner without a lid, or a plain wooden box, so the body stays as close to the earth as possible. Rules on transport, embalming and timing also vary by state, but embalming is usually not required for prompt burial.

What you can do now

• Find a Muslim funeral service: local mosques usually work with one that knows the cemetery rules.
• Ask the cemetery directly: "Do you allow shroud burial? Do you require a liner or vault?"
• Put your wishes in writing: especially if your family isn't Muslim. See Can I be buried next to my non-Muslim family as a Muslim?
• Rule out cremation clearly: state that you want burial, not cremation. See Can I be cremated as a Muslim?