Reference: al-Bid’u wal-Muhdathaat wa maa laa Asla lahu – Page 303
Fataawa at-Ta’ziyyah – Page 22
Question: In some places, when the people carry the deceased to the prayer and then from there to the graveyard, they cover the body (coffin) with a cloth upon which is written Aayatul-Kursee or other different verses from the Noble Qur.aan. Does this act have any basis in the Sharee’ah?
Response: There is no basis for this act in the Sharee’ah, i.e. there is no basis for covering the body (coffin) with a cloth upon which are written verses from the Qur.aan. Rather, in reality, it is in contempt with the Speech of Allaah (‘Azza wa Jall) by placing a cover over the deceased as it has no benefit for the deceased at all. So, based upon this, it is obligatory to avoid this [for a number of reasons]:
Firstly: Because this is not from the act of the Pious Predecessors;
Secondly: Because there occurs therein contempt of the Noble Qur.aan;
Thirdly: Because in this there is a wrong belief that this [act] will benefit the deceased [while in actual fact] it will not benefit him.
