Washing the deceased

This topic is about actions that the deceased does not perform but are done to him. It is better for us to mention them so that the deceased knows what will be done to him in those moments. He should learn the rulings of washing a dead before leaving the world and should know the rulings of what is done with the deceased before placing him into the grave.

Question 6/30: The ruling on washing the deceased, shrouding him, offering the funeral Salah at him, and burying him.

- It's ruling: Fard Kifaya (collective duty). If a sufficient number of people perform it (the duty), there is no sin on others according to the consensus of scholars (may Allah be pleased with them).[1]

- Proof of washing the deceased: the Hadith of Ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) about the one who was struck by his camel on the Day of Arafat so the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Wash him with water mixed with the leaves of the lote tree".[2]

The Hadith of Um `Atiyyah (may Allah be pleased with her) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said to the women who washed his daughter: "Wash her with water and (with the leaves of) the lote tree, three or five times, or more than that if you think fit."[3]

- Proof to shrouding him: The previous Hadith of Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him). In it: “Shroud him in his clothes.”

The reason for causation is: The two previous Hadiths contained the commands of washing and shrouding the deceased but is a collective duty because the intended is to wash and shround the deceased without commanding all people to do so.

Proof to offering the funeral Salah at him: the Prophet (peace be upon him) did it as he always used to pray upon the deceased. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Pray for your (dead) companion."[4] He said: "Today a pious man from Ethiopia (i.e. An Najashi) has expired, come on to offer the funeral prayer".[5] He also prayed upon the woman who had been stoned to death.[6]

Proof to his burial: Allah's Saying:

{ثُمَّ أَمَاتَهُ فَأَقْبَرَهُ}

"Then He causes his death and provides a grave for him." [Abasa: 21]

Allah Almighty has been generous to the deceased by burying him. He did not release lions or birds to eat him or for others to be harmed by him but protected him from that. We previously explained the consensus on washing, shrouding, offering the funeral Salah, and burying the deceased which are collective duties. If some people fulfill these duties, others shall not be sinfull, however if no one fulfills them, all people shall be sinful.