Section
The deceased is to be shrouded in garments that were lawful for him to wear in life; the minimum is a single cloth, and any bequest to forgo the shroud is not carried out. For a man, the optimal number of pieces is three, though a fourth or fifth is permissible. For a woman, five pieces are recommended. If either of them is wrapped in three, they are plain sheets. If a man is wrapped in five, a shirt and a turban are added beneath the three sheets; if a woman is wrapped in five, the pieces are a lower wrap (izār), a head-cover (khimār), a shirt, and two sheets. Another opinion states: three sheets together with an izār and a khimār.

White cloth is recommended. The cost is charged to the principal of the estate; if there is no estate, it is borne by those who were obliged to maintain the deceased—such as a relative, a master, and, according to the sound view, the husband as well.

The finest and widest sheet is spread out first, the second on top of it, and likewise the third. A little ḥanūṭ (aromatic mixture) is sprinkled on each sheet. The body is then laid upon them on its back, with ḥanūṭ and camphor placed on it. The buttocks are secured with a band, cotton is placed over the bodily openings, the sheets are wrapped around the body and tied, and when the corpse is set in the grave the ties are removed.

A male in iḥrām must not wear any sewn or enclosing garment, nor may he cover his head; a female in iḥrām may not cover her face.

Carrying the bier between the two side poles is, according to the sound position, better than the four-corner (tarbīʿ) method. This means the bearer places the two front poles on his shoulders with the head of the deceased between them, while two other men carry the rear poles. The tarbīʿ method is for two men to take the front and two the back. Walking in front of the bier, close to it, is preferable, and the procession should move briskly unless there is fear of the body’s deterioration.

Section
The funeral prayer has essential pillars. The first is the intention, whose time is the same as in other prayers. It is sufficient simply to intend the obligatory act; some hold that one must explicitly intend that it is an obligatory duty.