What is the ruling on burying the deceased at night, and is it permissible to bury a person who passed away after Maghrib prayer in the dark, or must one wait to bury them until the morning?

Scholars have differed regarding burying the deceased at night. Some permitted it without dislike (karahah), while others disliked it, and Ibn Hazm went as far as to prohibit it.

Those who permitted it adduced as proof the actions of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and his Companions, such as Abu Bakr, Ali, Uthman, Aishah, and others. They also argued that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, prayed over a man who was buried at night.

Those who disliked or prohibited it adduced as proof the hadith of Jabir, which states that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, forbade burying a man at night until a funeral prayer is performed over him, unless a person is compelled to do so.

The preponderant view is that whenever burial at night does not lead to the forfeiture of any of the deceased's rights or the funeral prayer over him, then there is no harm in it. However, if it leads to the forfeiture of his rights and the funeral prayer, then it is forbidden.

Accordingly, if keeping the deceased overnight does not lead to his decomposition, and it is hoped that doing so will increase the number of those praying over him, then burying him during the day is better. However, if a sufficient number of people are available to pray over him and lighting is available, then it is permissible to bury him at night without dislike.