Washing the deceased (3)

Washing the deceased should be as follows:

1: He washes his head with foam of lotus tree or soap. (This is) because of the Hadith of Um `Atiyyah (may Allah be pleased with her) in which she narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Wash her with water and Sidr (lote tree)"[1] and the Hadith of Ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) about the man whose camel struck him in Arafat so he died. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “water him with water mixed with the leaves of the lote tree”[2]

2: Then a washer should wash his right side, then his left side and then the entire body with water.

Washing the right side is by washing the face and the right side from the shoulder to the foot. When a washer wants to wash the back, he lifts the right side placing him on the left side washing the back, buttocks, and the back foot.

Washing the left side and starting with the right side is a confirmed Sunnah.

Proof to that the previous Hadith of Um `Atiyyah (may Allah be pleased with her) which reads: "Start with her right (side) and the areas of ablution. "

Then he washes his entire body with water. This once of washing removes the trace of the lote tree and detergents from the body.

It is a good sermon to turn a dead body from side to side and remember your future condition.

-It is obligatory to wash once, but the Sunnah is to wash thrice.

He should be washed by water and lote tree, starting with the right side then pours water over his entire body thrice, but as for ablution, it should not be repeated.

Proof to that is the previous Hadith of Um `Atiyyah (may Allah be pleased with her) which states: "Wash her thrice, five or seven times or more than that as you see fit."[3] This proves that the best is to wash three times and if cleaning is achieved, it may be permissible because of the previous Hadith of Ibn `Abbas which states: "Wash him with water and lote tree".[4] The Hadith is authentic and three (times) is better. In most cases, cleaning is not achieved by one-time wash, therefore it is better to make it thrice according to the view of the majority (may Allah be pleased with them). The body may need more than three-times (washes) when needed.

It is better wash the dead odd number washes as was reported in the Hadith: "Three, five, or seven." Likewise if he goes beyond the prescribed numbers, which is the opinion of our Sheikh Ibn Otaimeen (may Allah be pleased with him).

As for if the washing had been completed in three washes, it is not ordained to do more because increasing in washing is based on the estimated needs of the washer as the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "As you see fit " and because he achieved his aim, which is: cleansing.

-In the last wash he uses Kafoor.

Kafoor is a type of fine white perfume and is used in the container during the final wash. Using it in the final wash is a confirmed Sunnah. Proof to that: the previous Hadith of Umm Atiyya (may Allah be pleased with her). In it: "in the final (wash) Kafoor or something from Kafoor."

Al Shokani (may Allab be pleased with him) mentioned regarding the ruling of (using) Kafoor: "it (has) cooling, strengthening oneself, especially in stiffening the body of the dead, getting rid of the impurities in him, removing what he has from faeces and reduces corruption (of the body). If it (Kafoor) has finished, then it is replaced with something with similar properties, or some of the properties.”[5]

3: Then he dries the deceased with a towel or similar, cuts his moustache, cuts his nails and removes his pubic hair, and this is done if it's too long, otherwise he leaves it.

- Women have their hair braided into three quroon and the Proof to that will follow.

Braiding of hair means tying it into itself and three quroon means: (three) braids and this is a confirmed Sunnah.

Proof to that: the previous Hadith of Umm Atiyya (may Allah be pleased with her) "They entwined it in three braids"[6] In the narration of Al Bukhari "made them fall at her back "[7]. In the narration of Ibn Hibban that the Prophet (peace be upon him) ordered them to do that as the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Put her hair into three braids ".[8]

4: After that, you oh deceased person, are made to wear clothes you did not wear before in a different way from how you were used to wearing it as they are clothes that you did not choose and you cannot wear it by yourself. How (can this be)? You have bid farewell to your perishing world for your other remaining (world)!