Why Muslims Do Not Use Coffins

When Nigeria’s former president, Muhammadu Buhari, passed away, the world witnessed something profound. Despite his global stature, immense wealth, and decades of influence, he was not buried in a golden casket, nor surrounded by grandeur. Instead, he was wrapped in a simple white cloth and laid to rest just as the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) had been, more than 1,400 years ago. No marble tomb, no lavish ceremony. A life of prominence ended in a burial marked by absolute humility.

This is a stark reminder: no matter how high we rise in life, death levels all. Below are a few reasons why Muslims are not buried in coffins.

A Return to Simplicity and Faith

In Islam, burial without a coffin isn’t just tradition  it’s a deeply spiritual act rooted in prophetic example and timeless values. It is an intentional rejection of excess, a return to what matters most: the soul’s journey back to its Creator.

The Prophet Muhammad himself was buried in this exact manner wrapped in a plain shroud known as a kafan, placed directly in the ground. His companions continued this practice, and to this day, it remains the Islamic standard. It reflects not only devotion but a clear acknowledgment that we leave this world with nothing.

Equality Through Death

In a world obsessed with class, power, and status, Islam reminds us that the grave recognizes none of these things. Whether president or peasant, the same earth receives us. That’s why the burial shroud is simple, identical for all: three white pieces of cloth for men, five for women. No jewelry, no designer fabric, no distinction.

For a man like Buhari who once commanded armies, led a nation, and was known across continents to be buried in this manner is not a loss of dignity. Rather, it is the ultimate return to it. It is proof that, in the end, only humility remains.

The Earth as Our Final Bed

The Qur'an says in Surah Taha (20:55):
"From the earth We created you, and into it We shall return you, and from it We shall bring you forth once more."

This verse guides the Islamic burial philosophy. Placing the body directly in the soil  without a wooden or metal barrier  honors the natural cycle of life. It allows the body to decompose naturally, fulfilling the divine order.

Using coffins is often avoided because it delays this process and symbolizes a kind of resistance to returning to the earth. Where legal or logistical requirements like international transport necessitate a coffin, Muslims use it only as a necessity  not as a mark of prestige.

The Vanity of Possession

In witnessing Buhari’s burial, we are forced to confront a powerful truth: everything we accumulate, every title we bear, every luxury we enjoy  none of it follows us to the grave. The billions, the fame, the security convoys all stop at the cemetery gate. What remains is a body, a cloth, and the earth.

This is not just a religious teaching; it's a reality. And it speaks louder than any sermon about the emptiness of worldly pursuit and the fleeting nature of human glory. As the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, “Visit the graves, for they remind you of death.”

The burial of former President Muhammadu Buhari without a coffin, in accordance with Islamic tradition, was more than a ritual. It was a profound lesson: in death, as in life, true honor lies in simplicity, humility, and faith.

Islam teaches us that our final journey should be a return  not just to the earth, but to God  without the noise of pride or the baggage of possessions.