What is the reason for burying the person who passed away within 24 hours?

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions.

The Sunnah urges Muslims to wash their dead, enshroud them and bury them as soon as possible.

Al Bukhari and Muslim reported that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) said: "Hasten to bury the dead (person). If he/she is good it is better that you bring him/her forward quickly. If he/she is otherwise, it is an evil you take off your necks."

In addition, the faster the dead is buried the less likely it is that he/she will decompose. As for limiting the period to 24 hours, we do not know any evidence supporting that.

Allah knows best.