A sheet of cloth large enough to cover the whole body of the deceased should be drawn over body. This was the approved practise of the Prophet (PBUH) and the recorded practise of the Prophet’s companions. Jaabir said, “After the Battle of Uhud, my father – who had been mutilated – was brought and placed in front of the Messenger of Allaah (PBUH). He was covered in a cloth and I wanted to uncover him, but the people forbade me. The Prophet (PBUH) instructed that he be uncovered and when the cloth was lifted, he heard the voice of a woman crying. He asked, ‘Who was that?’ They replied that it was ‘Amr’s daughter or sister and he said, ‘Don’t cry, for the angels were shading him with their wings until [his soul] was lifted up.’” Saheeh Sunan an-Nasaa’ee, vol.2, p.397, no.1738. ‘Aa’ishah reported that a striped Yemeni cloak was drawn over the Prophet’s body [when he died]. In the case of someone who dies in a state of Ihraam during Hajj or ‘Umrah, neither the head nor face should be covered by a sheet.
Ibn ‘Abbaas said, “While a man was standing at ‘Arafah, he fell off his horse and his horse trampled him to death. The Prophet (PBUH) said, “Wash him with water and lotus blossoms, wrap him in his two sheets of cloth but do not put perfumed oil on him, nor cover his head and face, for verily Allaah will resurrect him on the Day of Resurrection making Talbeeyah ’.”