Osama bin Laden Buried At Sea; U.S. Considering Showing Photos Of Body To Prove He's Dead

"Finding a country willing to accept the remains of the world's most wanted terrorist would have been difficult," a US official explained, adding: "So the U.S. decided to bury him at sea."

The burial at sea also prevents a shrine for Islamists being created at his gravesite, although some experts say that would likely not happen since the Wahhabi/Salafi tradition rejects such things. Even Saudi kings are buried in unmarked graves.

And while burial at sea is rare in Islam, it is permitted in certain circumstances.

One is on a long voyage where the body may decay before the ship reaches land. The other is if there is a risk of enemies digging up a land grave and exhuming or mutilating the body -- a rule that could plausibly be applied in Bin Laden's case.

Although the swift burial complies with Islamic custom, the apparent haste could lead to claims that the person killed was not really bin Laden, although U.S. authorities have taken DNA samples and appear to have no doubts.