The washing of the dead body is an obligatory act. In other words, it is a duty enjoined upon all Muslims, but, if performed by one, it is supposed to be performed by the whole Muslim community. The moment we intend to wash the dead body, the wooden bench, meant for washing, should be fumigated with fragrance. In other words, all four sides of the bench should be fumigated with fragrance either once, thrice, or five times, and then the dead body should be placed on it, and, it would be better if a curtain is hung on all sides. Then put off the clothes of the dead and cover the body from the navel to the knee. And a piece of cloth should be wrapped on one hand, and then his private parts cleansed and then his limbs should be washed in the manner as ablution is done. However, if the deceased is a child, then there is no need for the performance of the ablution. How this ablution is required to be performed is given below:—
First, wash the face of the dead person, then wash both hands up to the elbows, then wipe his head with both hands. Lastly, wash both feet, but the right one should be washed first. And don’t pour water into the mouth and the nose. Some scholars are of the opinion that a piece of wet cloth should be put into the mouth and the teeth should also be cleansed by rinsing them. The dirt on the lips should be removed and the inner side of the nose be also cleansed With the cloth:
Hot water should be used for washing, and if possible it should be boiled, after mixing in it the leaves of the ‘‘Lote tree” it should then be filtered. And, if the hair on the head is long, the medicinal seeds should be properly mixed in the water. Both the head and the beard should either be washed with this water or soap may be used. Then turn the corpse over the left side and wash its right side from head to foot. Again, turn it over to the right side and wash it in such a manner that the whole body may be washed with water. After this, it should be laid down»
on its back, by giving it some support; and then the abdomen be rubbed softly from upside to downside. If some filth comes out of it, it should be cleaned. However, the washing and ablution should not be repeated. And the head and the beard should not be combed. Neither the nails should be cut nor the hair in the armpits should be removed.
The washing of a drowned person is also obligatory, but, if it is so much swollen that the washing becomes impossible, then pouring of water over the dead body would suffice.
As regards the child, who died just after his birth, washing him is also essential. We should name him and offer a funeral prayer after washing his body. It is also essential to wash the stillborn child and bury it after. wrapping it in the cloth. No funeral prayer is to be offered over it. The unidentifiable dead body is to be treated as Muslim in case there are some marks of Islam on it—or he is found in the sacred land of Makkah.
« As regards the person, who died during the sea journey, he should be thrown into the sea after washing him properly and performing his burial and offering funeral prayer for him. It is better if the man who performs the washing of the dead, may also take a bath after performing ablution. Ifa polluted man or a woman passing through her menstrual period or a non-believer washes the dead, it is lawful but not desirable. And it is preferable if a relative of the dead washes him and, if he does not know how to give bath to the dead, then, in such a case, a man who wards off evils, should wash him.
A water may reach all limbs of the body. If he sees the good signs on the body of the dead, he should inform about them to others but if he happens to see ugly signs e.g., foul smell of his body, he should not talk about them. The corpse of a man should be washed by the men only and that of a woman by women only. And washing of the infant (male and female) is allowed by both men and women. And in case of an emergency, the wife can wash her dead husband, but the husband cannot wash the dead body of his wife.
In case a woman dies and there is no woman to give her bath for the grave, then if the man present is a “maun rain’, he should perform her ablution with clay or dust and if he is a stranger, he should perform “Tayammum” and when giving ‘““Tayammum to her hands, he should keep his looks downward. The order is one and the same both for an old and young woman. And if a man dies and there is no man to perform washing a ‘““mahram” woman is allowed to give him a bath and, if this is impossible, then a female stranger is allowed to Do so by coiling round her hands a piece of cloth.
If the son of a non-believer dies, that non-believing father is not allowed to wash him for the grave. A Muslim should give him his last bath. In case someone dies during the journey and water is not available there, his funeral prayer can be observed after giving him ‘““Tayammum” but, if subsequently water is found, then his funeral prayer should again be performed after washing the dead body properly.and the man performing the washing of the dead should do so properly.
Allah
/ Prophet /Rasulullah/ علیہ السلام /رضي الله عنه /رَحِمَهَا ٱللَّٰهُ
Allah/ Prophet /Rasulullah/ علیہ السلام /رضي الله عنه /رَحِمَهَا ٱللَّٰهُ
Allah/ Prophet /Rasulullah/ علیہ السلام /رضي الله عنه /رَحِمَهَا ٱللَّٰهُ
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