Covering the head of a deceased person in ihram
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The first question of Fatwa number ( 17172 )
Q 1: We receive in hospitals people who are injured while in the state of ihram for Hajj or 'Umrah, and Allah takes their souls. The hospital then places them in a morgue freezer or hands them over to their families or otherwise, after wrapping them in sheets or cloth and covering their faces and heads with it. Is this action correct? What is prescribed in this matter, and do the man and the woman share the same ruling? Some of the deceased in ihram are wearing the ihram garments for Hajj or 'Umrah, and the cause of their death is either a fire, being run over, or something else that causes disfigurement to the face or skull, which leads those in charge at the hospital for such cases to cover their faces and heads. Is this action correct, and what is prescribed in this matter?
A 1: It is not permissible to cover the head or face of a deceased person in ihram, even if he has been run over or burned; due to the generality of the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) regarding the person in ihram whose camel gored him while he was standing at 'Arafah : Unless there is a need to wrap his head with something because it is severed, in which case there is no harm
in preserving the parts of the deceased. As for the woman, her head and face are covered like the rest of her body; because the prohibition for the woman in ihram is specifically regarding the niqab (face veil), whereas covering her face with something other than the niqab is commanded when a non-mahram is present. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q 1: We receive in hospitals people who are injured while in the state of ihram for Hajj or 'Umrah, and Allah takes their souls. The hospital then places them in a morgue freezer or hands them over to their families or otherwise, after wrapping them in sheets or cloth and covering their faces and heads with it. Is this action correct? What is prescribed in this matter, and do the man and the woman share the same ruling? Some of the deceased in ihram are wearing the ihram garments for Hajj or 'Umrah, and the cause of their death is either a fire, being run over, or something else that causes disfigurement to the face or skull, which leads those in charge at the hospital for such cases to cover their faces and heads. Is this action correct, and what is prescribed in this matter?
A 1: It is not permissible to cover the head or face of a deceased person in ihram, even if he has been run over or burned; due to the generality of the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) regarding the person in ihram whose camel gored him while he was standing at 'Arafah :
Wash him with water and sidr, shroud him in his two garments, do not embalm him, do not apply perfume to him, do not cover his head or his face, for he will be raised on the Day of Resurrection calling out the talbiyah.
اغسلوه بماء وسدر وكفنوه في ثوبيه ولا تحنطوه ولا تقربوه طيبًا ولا تخمروا رأسه ولا وجهه فإنه يبعث يوم القيامة ملبيًاin preserving the parts of the deceased. As for the woman, her head and face are covered like the rest of her body; because the prohibition for the woman in ihram is specifically regarding the niqab (face veil), whereas covering her face with something other than the niqab is commanded when a non-mahram is present. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.