then that is good, because it will be more fragrant. However, it should be perfumed with a fragrance that is not hot, for a hot substance may cause the body to split; rather, it should be cool. This was not known in the time of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him, but some of the Companions practised it. (1)

Then the edge of the uppermost wrapping is folded over his right side, and its other edge is folded over him from above. Then the second, and the third likewise. Most of the excess is left at his head; then they are tied, ............

His statement, “Then the edge of the uppermost wrapping is folded over his right side, and its other edge is folded over him from above; then the second, and the third likewise,” means: we fold the edge of the uppermost wrapping—that which lies directly next to the deceased—over his right side. Then we fold its edge from the left side over the wrapping that came from the right. This is how we do the first; then we do the same with the second, and then with the third.

The author stated this so that no one might assume that all three wrappings are folded over at once—that is, that the three are gathered together and folded over the right side, then all three are folded over the left side. Rather, one first completes the folding of the first wrapping: folding over the edge beside the deceased’s right side, then the edge beside his left side; then the second, and then the third, in the same manner.

His statement, “Most of the excess is left at his head,” means that if the shroud is long, its excess should be left on the side of his head—that is, folded back over his head. If it is sufficient to cover both the head and the feet, there is no harm in that, and this also makes the shroud more secure.

His statement, “Then they are tied,” means that the wrappings are tied.