Can burial be delayed, or a coffin be used?

“It is Makrooh and inappropriate for Muslims to use a coffin under normal circumstances, but permissible at the time of necessity. However, it is acceptable to sell coffins to non-Muslims as they are not required to adhere to the subsidiary Masaa’il of Shariah. [Fataawa Darul Uloom Zakariyya Pg.136 Vol.5]”

“It is Makrooh to delay the Janaazah Salaah with the excuse of waiting for family members to arrive. Nabi Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam has said in a Hadith: I do not see with regards to Talha except that he will pass away shortly, so inform me of it, and hasten, because it is not approriate to hold back the corpse of a Muslim …”

“It is permissible to bury the deceased in a coffin if there is a genuine need and provided there are no kufr inscriptions upon it e.g. sign of a cross etc. Hence the mayyit will be placed in a coffin and buried. It is mustahab to turn the mayyit on the right side so that the entire body and face are towards the qiblah.”

“Assalaamu `alaykum waRahmatullahi Wabarakatuh It is permissible to manufacture and sell coffins. The Jurists mention that there are certain instances and occasions where it will be permissible for even Muslims to be placed in coffins, as is the case of the earth being too soft.”