The Book of Friday Prayer, the Two Festivals, the Prayer for Rain, the Eclipse Prayer, and Funerals-08a
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The reciter: Yahya ibn Yahya, Abu Bakr ibn Abi Shaybah, and Abu Kuraib narrated to us, and the wording is that of Yahya. Yahya said: He informed us, and the other two said: Abu Mu'awiyah narrated to us from Hisham ibn 'Urwah from his father from 'Aishah, who said: Sahih Muslim 941a.
The Shaykh : This also contains evidence: how is the shroud to be, and from what material? 'Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was shrouded in three white, Sahlani cotton garments. "Sahlani" refers to a village or town in Yemen called Sahl, and "kursuf" means cotton. Accordingly, it is recommended that a man be shrouded in three garments; this is regarding the number. As for the color: white, three white garments. As for the type: cotton, because cotton has strength and coolness, making it better than wool. As for silk, it is not permissible.
Now, if a person is shrouded in only one garment, is it permissible or not? It is permissible, but it is contrary to what is best. And if he has poor heirs, is it permissible to shroud him in three garments because this will burden the heirs? The answer is: Yes, and it is the best. It is not said that he has weak heirs; rather, we say that the right of the deceased in his wealth takes precedence over the right of the heirs.
the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was shrouded in three cotton garments of white Yamani stuff from Sahul, among which was neither a shirt nor a turban; and so far as Hullah is concerned there was some doubt about it in the minds of people, that it was brought for him in order to shroud him with it, but it was abandoned, and he was shrouded in three cotton garments of white Yamani stuff from Sahul. Then 'Abdullah b. Abu Bakr got it and said: I would keep it in order to shroud myself in it. He then said: If Allah, the Exalted and Majestic, would have desired it for His Apostle, he would have been shrouded with it. So he sold it and gave its price in charity.
كُفِّنَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي ثَلَاثَةِ أَثْوَابٍ بِيضٍ سَحُولِيَّةٍ، مِنْ كُرْسُفٍ، لَيْسَ فِيهَا قَمِيصٌ، وَلَا عِمَامَةٌ، أَمَّا الْحُلَّةُ، فَإِنَّمَا شُبِّهَ عَلَى النَّاسِ فِيهَا، أَنَّهَا اشْتُرِيَتْ لَهُ لِيُكَفَّنَ فِيهَا، فَتُرِكَتِ الْحُلَّةُ، وَكُفِّنَ فِي ثَلَاثَةِ أَثْوَابٍ بِيضٍ سَحُولِيَّةٍ فَأَخَذَهَا عَبْدُ اللهِ بْنُ أَبِي بَكْرٍ، فَقَالَ: لَأَحْبِسَنَّهَا حَتَّى أُكَفِّنَ فِيهَا نَفْسِي، ثُمَّ قَالَ: لَوْ رَضِيَهَا اللهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لِنَبِيِّهِ لَكَفَّنَهُ فِيهَا، فَبَاعَهَا وَتَصَدَّقَ بِثَمَنِهَاThe Shaykh : This also contains evidence: how is the shroud to be, and from what material? 'Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was shrouded in three white, Sahlani cotton garments. "Sahlani" refers to a village or town in Yemen called Sahl, and "kursuf" means cotton. Accordingly, it is recommended that a man be shrouded in three garments; this is regarding the number. As for the color: white, three white garments. As for the type: cotton, because cotton has strength and coolness, making it better than wool. As for silk, it is not permissible.
Now, if a person is shrouded in only one garment, is it permissible or not? It is permissible, but it is contrary to what is best. And if he has poor heirs, is it permissible to shroud him in three garments because this will burden the heirs? The answer is: Yes, and it is the best. It is not said that he has weak heirs; rather, we say that the right of the deceased in his wealth takes precedence over the right of the heirs.