Is it permissible to shroud the deceased in two pieces of cloth?
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Book of Funerals
Primary text
It is permissible to shroud the deceased in two pieces of cloth. This is supported by the Prophet's command regarding the pilgrim whose mount killed him: "Wash him with water and sidr, and shroud him in two pieces of cloth," narrated by Al-Bukhari. Suwayd ibn Ghaflah used to say that shrouding in two pieces is sufficient, and Al-Awza'i stated that two pieces suffice. The minimum requirement is one piece of cloth that covers the entire body.
Supporting text
Umm 'Atiyyah narrated that when they finished washing the Prophet's daughter, he gave them her lower garment (hawiq) and instructed them: "Wrap her in it," and nothing more was added. Ibn 'Aqil argued that since one cloth suffices to cover the major private parts (al-'awrah al-mughallazah), the deceased's body is even more deserving of sufficiency with one piece.