Is the full ritual bath obligatory for one who washes a dead body?
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The questioner:
Yes. In our case, there was a small child, and my mother washed him and shrouded him. When it was time for the prayer, she performed the ablution for prayer and prayed. After the prayer, it was said to her that she is required to perform the full ritual bath, and that the ablution is not sufficient?
The Shaykh:
The ablution is not sufficient; the ablution is sufficient, and the full ritual bath is recommended but not obligatory. The full ritual bath for one who washes the dead body is recommended, and the ablution is sufficient and is not obligatory according to the correct view, if the washer did not touch the private parts of the deceased and did not come into contact with the private parts of the deceased. In that case, the ablution is prescribed. Some scholars of jurisprudence said, but if the washer did not touch the private parts, there is no evidence for its obligation. So if he performs the ablution and the full ritual bath, that is better; because Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to perform the full ritual bath after washing the dead body. And it was known among the Companions that the full ritual bath was performed after washing the dead body. As for the ablution, there is a difference of opinion regarding it. Some said it is obligatory, and some said it is not obligatory.
The correct view is that it is obligatory if he touched the private parts, if the washer touched the private parts of the deceased. But if he did not touch them, it is not obligatory. However, if he performs the ablution as a precaution to avoid the disagreement among scholars, that is better.
Yes. In our case, there was a small child, and my mother washed him and shrouded him. When it was time for the prayer, she performed the ablution for prayer and prayed. After the prayer, it was said to her that she is required to perform the full ritual bath, and that the ablution is not sufficient?
The Shaykh:
The ablution is not sufficient; the ablution is sufficient, and the full ritual bath is recommended but not obligatory. The full ritual bath for one who washes the dead body is recommended, and the ablution is sufficient and is not obligatory according to the correct view, if the washer did not touch the private parts of the deceased and did not come into contact with the private parts of the deceased. In that case, the ablution is prescribed. Some scholars of jurisprudence said, but if the washer did not touch the private parts, there is no evidence for its obligation. So if he performs the ablution and the full ritual bath, that is better; because Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to perform the full ritual bath after washing the dead body. And it was known among the Companions that the full ritual bath was performed after washing the dead body. As for the ablution, there is a difference of opinion regarding it. Some said it is obligatory, and some said it is not obligatory.
The correct view is that it is obligatory if he touched the private parts, if the washer touched the private parts of the deceased. But if he did not touch them, it is not obligatory. However, if he performs the ablution as a precaution to avoid the disagreement among scholars, that is better.
Source
قناة «فضيلة الشيخ ابن باز Alsheikh Binbaz»، 111 هل يجب الغسل على من غسل ميتًا؟ للإمام ابن باز — youtube.com
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.