Is it permissible for a stranger to wash the deceased and pray over him, despite the presence of his relatives?
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The questioner : Is it permissible for a stranger to wash the deceased and pray over him, despite the presence of his relatives?
The Shaykh : Is it permissible?
The questioner : Is it permissible for a stranger.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : To wash the deceased and pray over him, despite the presence of his relatives?
The Shaykh : Washing the deceased is a collective obligation (fard kifayah). If enough people perform it, that is sufficient. The deceased is washed by his executor if he bequeathed that a specific person should wash him. If he did not make such a bequest, the people most entitled to do so are his relatives. If they do not know how to perform the washing, it is done by the one who usually takes charge of it, which is well known. In some countries, municipalities have designated people to wash male deceased for males and female deceased for females. In some countries, this is not the case, but there are known people in the neighborhood whom people recommend for washing their male and female deceased. Is it only the washing, or the rest of the preparation?
The questioner : No, just the washing.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you. Regarding, O esteemed Shaykh, the bequest of Muhammad.
The Shaykh : Is it permissible?
The questioner : Is it permissible for a stranger.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : To wash the deceased and pray over him, despite the presence of his relatives?
The Shaykh : Washing the deceased is a collective obligation (fard kifayah). If enough people perform it, that is sufficient. The deceased is washed by his executor if he bequeathed that a specific person should wash him. If he did not make such a bequest, the people most entitled to do so are his relatives. If they do not know how to perform the washing, it is done by the one who usually takes charge of it, which is well known. In some countries, municipalities have designated people to wash male deceased for males and female deceased for females. In some countries, this is not the case, but there are known people in the neighborhood whom people recommend for washing their male and female deceased. Is it only the washing, or the rest of the preparation?
The questioner : No, just the washing.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you. Regarding, O esteemed Shaykh, the bequest of Muhammad.