Washing the deceased
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Q: It has spread in Makkah al-Mukarramah and through some Islamic recordings, recorded tapes of some of the washers of the dead and some printed papers on computers, in which the washers of the dead mention what they find
regarding the condition of the Muslim deceased. For example: what has spread recently about some of the washers of the dead is that when he was washing a young man and had finished washing him, pus came out of his ear, and the washing hall was filled with it, despite the attempts of those present to stop the outflow of this pus, but to no avail. And the washer, after shrouding this deceased, went and asked about the condition of this young man. And, according to him, some of his close ones informed him that this young man, before his death, used to listen to singing, and when he was given some Islamic tapes, he would record songs on them, and all the ringtones on his mobile phone were songs, and attached below is a picture of this paper. And my question is: Is it permissible for the washers of the dead to mention all the differences in the conditions of the dead that they see , such as the darkness of color or the emission of a foul smell from him, whether from his mouth or any part of his body, or as this washer mentioned, the outflow of pus from the ear of the deceased? Is it permissible to search and investigate the condition of the deceased before his death to know the cause of the appearance of such signs? And does the condition of the deceased before his death have a relation to what appears on him after his death or during the washing or shrouding or during the funeral, in terms of heaviness or lightness, or what?
A: It is obligatory for the one who washes the deceased to wash him well in the prescribed manner by being knowledgeable about the rulings of washing, and he must also cover up what he sees on the deceased of signs that are not desirable; because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1425Sahih (Darussalam) . It was narrated by the Imam Ahmad , al-Bukhari , and Muslim , and because
mentioning what appears on him of that is backbiting about him and harm to his family. Therefore, the Committee sees that it is not permissible to distribute the tapes and papers that contain anything of what was mentioned.
regarding the condition of the Muslim deceased. For example: what has spread recently about some of the washers of the dead is that when he was washing a young man and had finished washing him, pus came out of his ear, and the washing hall was filled with it, despite the attempts of those present to stop the outflow of this pus, but to no avail. And the washer, after shrouding this deceased, went and asked about the condition of this young man. And, according to him, some of his close ones informed him that this young man, before his death, used to listen to singing, and when he was given some Islamic tapes, he would record songs on them, and all the ringtones on his mobile phone were songs, and attached below is a picture of this paper. And my question is: Is it permissible for the washers of the dead to mention all the differences in the conditions of the dead that they see , such as the darkness of color or the emission of a foul smell from him, whether from his mouth or any part of his body, or as this washer mentioned, the outflow of pus from the ear of the deceased? Is it permissible to search and investigate the condition of the deceased before his death to know the cause of the appearance of such signs? And does the condition of the deceased before his death have a relation to what appears on him after his death or during the washing or shrouding or during the funeral, in terms of heaviness or lightness, or what?
A: It is obligatory for the one who washes the deceased to wash him well in the prescribed manner by being knowledgeable about the rulings of washing, and he must also cover up what he sees on the deceased of signs that are not desirable; because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
And whoever covers (the faults of) a Muslim, Allah will cover (his faults) for him in the world and the Hereafter.
من ستر على مسلم ستره الله في الدنيا والآخرةmentioning what appears on him of that is backbiting about him and harm to his family. Therefore, the Committee sees that it is not permissible to distribute the tapes and papers that contain anything of what was mentioned.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.