Book on Funeral (Washing)
410. What Should Be Done Prior to Death? The Messenger of Allah (SA) said:
“Instruct your dying ones to say: Lâ ilâha illâ Allâh (There is none worthy of worship except Allah).” (M – from Abu Hurayrah)
لَقِّنُوا مَوْتَاكُمْ لَا إِلَهَ إلا الله.
This must be done gently; for example, you may simply say it in front of the dying person. (A/SM): It is also recommended to remind them of writing or indicating their will and to make them face the qibla while lying on the right side, but if there is no room, to position their feet towards the qibla while lifting their head up a little to make them face it with their faces. It is also recommended to give them sips of water or any other drink, as needed, and to moisten their lips with water.
411. This is what the Prophet (SA) did to Abu Salamah (RA) when he died. (M)
412. Wrapping a bandage around his head to keep his mouth closed.
413. This is to prevent the swelling of the abdomen by placing on it something heavy, whether it is a mirror or something else. All the above measures are to honor the deceased and ensure the body will not look disfigured.
414. What Should Be Done to the Body
They should also cover the entire body (unless the person died in iḥrâm, the state of consecration for Hajj or ‘umrah) since that was done to the Prophet (SA) when he died. (Ag) If relatives or friends want to uncover the head and even to kiss the deceased, they may do this, for Abu Bakr (RA) did so to the Prophet (SA) after he died. (B)
[Washing]
When they start to wash him, his ‘awrah should be covered;415
إذا أُقِيمَتْ الصَّلَاةُ فلا تَأْتُوهَا تَسْعَوْنَ وَأْتُوهَا تَمْشُونَ وَعَلَيْكُمْ السَّكِينَةُ والوَقَارُ فما أَدْرَكْتُمْ فَصَلُّوا وما فَاتَكُمْفَإِذَا أَخَذَ فِيْ غَسْلِهِ سُتِرَت عَوْرَتُهُ.
Then his abdomen should be squeezed gently.
The one doing the washing should wrap his hand with a cloth and wash the private parts.
ثُمَّ يَعْصُرُ بَطْنَهُ عَصْرًا رَفِيْقًا، ثُمَّ يَلُفُّ عَلَى يَدِهِ خِرْقَةً فيُنَجِّيْهِ.
Then he should make wuḍoo’ for him. 416
ثُمَّ يُوَضِّئُهُ.
Then he should wash his head and beard
ثُمَّ يَغْسِلُ رَأْسَهُ وَلِحْيَتَهُ
They should start the process of washing and burial promptly, because the Prophet (SA) said:
“Hasten with the funeral (quickly get the body to the grave).” (Ag – from Abu Hurayrah)
أسْرِعُوا بالجَنَازَة.
This means that it is preferable to bury the deceased where they die and not to move the body to a different town or country, unless this was part of the person’s will. In that case, his or her wishes should be respected, as long as there will be no undue hardship incurred and they left enough to cover those expenses. It is also important to pay off his or her debts as soon as possible. The Prophet (SA) commanded this in many reports, including one in which he refused to pray over someone who had died with debts. (B)
415. Washing, shrouding and praying over the dead are all communal obligations. This type of obligation takes precedence over all supererogatory deeds. Some, including the Imam of the two Holy Mosques, considered it even more worthy of reward than are individual obligations.
416. The Messenger of Allah (SA) instructed the women who washed his daughter Zaynab (RAH):
“Start with her right parts and the parts washed in wuḍoo’.” (Ag – from Umm ‘Aṭiyah, Nusaybah bint Ka‘b)
ابْدَأْنَ بِمَيَامِنِهَا وَمَوَاضِعِ الْوُضُوءِ منها.
with water and the ground leaves of the sidr (lote) tree.417
Then he should wash his right side, and then the left,418 and then the entire body. This should be repeated a second and then a third time.
بِمَاءٍ وَسِدْرٍ، ثُمَّ شِقَّهُ الأَيْمَنَ، ثُمَّ الأَيْسَرَ، ثُمَّ يَغْسِلُهُ كَذٰلِكَ مَرَّةً ثَانِيَةً، وَثَالِثَةً.
Each time, he should press the stomach with his hand, and if something comes out of [the anus], he should wash it [the filth] off. He should then block the anus with a piece of cotton.419 If that does not stay in place, then with clay. Then he should repeat his wuḍoo’ (minor ablution). If washing three times does not suffice in cleaning, he should increase it to five or seven times.420
يُمِرُّ فِيْ كُلِّ مَرَّةٍ يَدَهُ، فَإِنْ خَرَجَ مِنْهُ شَيْءٌ، غَسَلَهُ، وَسَدَّهُ بِقُطْنٍ، فَإِنْ لَمْ يَسْتَمْسِكْ، فَبِطِيْنٍ حُرٍّ، وَيُعِيْدُ وُضُوْءَهُ. فَإِنْ لَمْ يَنْقَ بِثَلاَثٍ، زَادَ إِلَى خَمْسٍ أَوْ إِلَى سَبْعٍ.
Then he should dry him with a cloth. Then perfume should be applied to the folds of his skin and the spots of prostration. 421 If
يُمِرُّ فِيْ كُلِّ مَرَّةٍ يَدَهُ، فَإِنْ خَرَجَ مِنْهُ شَيْءٌ، غَسَلَهُ، وَسَدَّهُ بِقُطْنٍ، فَإِنْ لَمْ يَسْتَمْسِكْ، فَبِطِيْنٍ حُرٍّ، وَيُعِيْدُثُمَّ يُنَشِّفُهُ بِثَوْبٍ. وَيَجْعَلُ الطِّيْبَ فِيْ مَغَابِنِهِ وَمَوَاضِعِ
417. Soap may be used if needed to remove dirt; otherwise, it is disliked. (A/SM)
418. As noted previously, the Messenger of Allah (SA) instructed the women who washed his daughter Zaynab (RAH) to do that.
419. Preferably scented with hunoot, which is a mixture of camphor and sandalwood.
420. The Prophet (SA) instructed the women who washed his daughter Zaynab (RAH) to do so 3, 5, or 7 times, or even more if necessary. (Ag) If anything comes out of his anus after the seventh wash, he will not need to wash him anymore; he will only wash the area that was soiled, block the anus with cotton or clay, repeat the wuḍoo’ only (not the ghusl), and then do the shrouding. Once the shrouding is finished, the ghusl does not have to be redone even if something comes out. (A/SM)
421. The body parts that touch the ground during prostration.