Washington ( CNN ) -- Osama bin Laden was buried at sea from the deck of a U.S. aircraft carrier because there was no alternative to bury him on land within the 24 hours required by Islamic law , President Barack Obama 's homeland security and counterterrorism adviser said Monday . `` The disposal of -- the burial of bin Laden 's remains was done in strict conformance with Islamic precepts and practices . It was prepared in accordance with the Islamic requirements , '' adviser John Brennan told reporters at a White House briefing . `` We early on made provisions for that type of burial and we wanted to make sure that it was going to be done , again , in strictest conformance . '' Prothero : Burying bin Laden at sea an elegant solution . The religious rites were conducted on the deck of the USS Carl Vinson in the Arabian Sea , with the ceremony starting at 1:10 a.m. and finishing at 2:10 a.m . ET , according to a senior Defense official . `` The body was washed and placed in a white sheet . A military official read prepared remarks , which were then translated into Arabic by a native speaker , The body of Osama bin Laden was placed on a flat board , which was then tipped up , and allowed to slide into the sea , '' the official said . Planning for bin Laden 's burial began months ago as part of contingency planning that took into account numerous possibilities involving the terrorist leader 's capture or death , Brennan said . A senior Defense official said no country was willing or able to take bin Laden 's body for a funeral . Taking the body to another country and trying to arrange a funeral would have violated the Islamic rule requiring a burial within 24 hours , Brennan said . Opinion : Burial at sea shows compassion of Islamic law . `` There were certain steps that had to be taken because of the nature of the operation , '' Brennan said . `` We wanted to make sure we were able to do that in the time period allotted for it . Going to another country , making those arrangements , requirements , would have exceed that time period , in our view . '' The descriptions of the burial appear to indicate U.S. forces did attempt to follow Islamic burial rules , said Juan Campo , a professor of religious studies at the University of California in Santa Barbara who has studied burial rites in the Muslim world . Questions , however , do remain about the rites , Campo said . For one , Islamic law requires that a Muslim read a special funeral prayer during the ceremony . A Muslim chaplain or even a rank-and-file sailor who practices Islam could read the prayer , he said . U.S. officials ' statements do not indicate whether the native Arabic speaker was a Muslim . Also , an Islamic authority would normally grant authority to bury a body at sea when a land burial is not an option . Campo said he would want to know who , if anyone , gave that authority . In his briefing , Brennan said U.S. authorities did seek guidance on the burial . `` We consulted the appropriate specialists and experts , and there was unanimity that this would be the best way to handle that , '' he said . That the U.S. forces performed a ritual aboard ship instead of dumping bin Laden 's body from an airborne helicopter would mute some criticism of the burial from radical Muslims , Campo said . `` That may temper a lot of that , '' he said . Another concern expressed by U.S. officials was that bin Laden 's grave site would become a shrine -- a practice Campo said bin Laden detested but nevertheless likely would have occurred . Rep. Mike Rogers of Michigan , the Republican chairman of the House Intelligence Committee , said burying bin Laden at sea was `` prudent . '' `` He was given a proper burial . It removes this -- any thought that there 'll be any shrine to Osama bin Laden or grave robbing or any other lasting impact for this death , '' Rogers said . Maher Hathout , senior adviser of the Muslim Public Affairs Council in Los Angeles , said that while the decision was not consistent with Muslim tradition because his death `` did not occur in the ocean , '' the method was pragmatic . `` I do n't think it was meant to humiliate , it was meant as an easy way out so we do n't have a tomb because there are some people who will sentimentally attach to him , and we should not apologize for that decision , '' Hathout said . CNN 's Stan Wilson in Los Angeles contributed to this report .
Administration official says burial conformed to Islamic requirements . Religion professor : Rites followed some requirements , but questions remain . Religious rites were conducted on the carrier USS Carl Vinson . Bin Laden 's body was wrapped in white sheet , laid on a board , and tipped into the sea .