February 14, 2008
Source: The Courant
http://www.courant.com/news/local/hc-muslimburial0218.artfeb18,0,3501263.story
Muslims bury their dead quickly — within 24 hours. The dead must be interred without a casket, facing the holy city of Mecca.
Before the burial, the body is washed with soap and scented water, then wrapped in a seamless cloth, tied at the head and feet. Cremation and embalming are forbidden.
But the specific burial rites meant to prepare Muslims for the afterlife are in conflict with public health codes and public cemetery regulations, forcing Muslims in the state to compromise the rituals outlined in the Quran.