It is said that a woman died with them during a journey, and they could not find anyone to wash her.
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The questioner : It is said that a woman died with them during a journey, and they could not find anyone to wash her. They took her to a village but could not find anyone to perform the washing. There were two men with her who did not know the method of washing the deceased, so she exerted her effort, washed her, and buried her after she had remained with them for a day and a night. Afterwards, she realized that she had not followed the correct method in washing her. Is there an expiation on her for this? This happened thirty years ago.
The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds. Washing the deceased is not a difficult matter, for the obligatory requirement is that the entire body of the deceased be washed with water, and this is something that does not pose a difficulty for anyone to do.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : It is easy.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : However, the prescribed method for washing the deceased is to place her on the washing bed on her back, lying flat. Then she is to be cleaned—meaning her private parts are washed. In this state, her 'awrah (part of the body that must be covered) must be covered, and the one washing her must wrap a cloth around his hands so that he does not touch her 'awrah. Once the cleaning is complete, he begins with the parts of the body washed for ablution. He starts with her mouth and nose, taking a clean, wet cloth to clean her teeth, the inside of her mouth, and the inside of her nose. Then he washes her face and her hands up to the elbows, her head, and her feet. Then he washes the rest of her body, starting with her right side.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : The obligatory requirement is to wash her once, but if the deceased requires more, she is washed three, five, seven, or more times according to what the need dictates. In the final washing, camphor is added, which is a well-known fragrance that is ground and sprinkled into the water used for the final washing so that its scent remains on the body.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : As the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded. Then, if it is a woman, her hair is braided into three braids—meaning it is divided into three strands.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : And it is placed behind her, as was done with the daughter of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him).
The questioner : O Allah, send blessings.
The Shaykh : All of this is on the basis of recommendation (mustahabb). The obligatory requirement is that her body be washed once; this is the obligation, and anyone can know this. As for the case that occurred, and the questioner mentioned that it was not according to the prescribed method, it has not become clear to us how the method she used to wash her was, because it may have been according to a prescribed method or at least a method that suffices.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : If it was according to a method that suffices, then that is what is required. And if we assume that it was not according to a prescribed method, neither for sufficiency nor for recommendation, then the matter has passed. She exerted her effort, and one who exerts effort and makes a mistake is not sinful; rather, he has a reward.
The questioner : She actually described the method she used, but the message was long, so I summarized it. She said regarding the washing that she washed her according to her knowledge in an ordinary way, pouring water over her while she was on a wooden board, and turning her to the right and left. Then I performed the shrouding for her, placing her in cloth and wrapping it around her, then tying it with one knot. She said that after she learned the method, and until she completed the message.
The Shaykh : Yes, this—praise be to Allah—is a sufficient act.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : As long as the water covered the entire body, it suffices.
The questioner : This is a message from the listener Yahya Jabir Asiri from Rajal Al-Ma' and Wadi Dhahban.
The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds. Washing the deceased is not a difficult matter, for the obligatory requirement is that the entire body of the deceased be washed with water, and this is something that does not pose a difficulty for anyone to do.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : It is easy.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : However, the prescribed method for washing the deceased is to place her on the washing bed on her back, lying flat. Then she is to be cleaned—meaning her private parts are washed. In this state, her 'awrah (part of the body that must be covered) must be covered, and the one washing her must wrap a cloth around his hands so that he does not touch her 'awrah. Once the cleaning is complete, he begins with the parts of the body washed for ablution. He starts with her mouth and nose, taking a clean, wet cloth to clean her teeth, the inside of her mouth, and the inside of her nose. Then he washes her face and her hands up to the elbows, her head, and her feet. Then he washes the rest of her body, starting with her right side.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : The obligatory requirement is to wash her once, but if the deceased requires more, she is washed three, five, seven, or more times according to what the need dictates. In the final washing, camphor is added, which is a well-known fragrance that is ground and sprinkled into the water used for the final washing so that its scent remains on the body.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : As the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded. Then, if it is a woman, her hair is braided into three braids—meaning it is divided into three strands.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : And it is placed behind her, as was done with the daughter of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him).
The questioner : O Allah, send blessings.
The Shaykh : All of this is on the basis of recommendation (mustahabb). The obligatory requirement is that her body be washed once; this is the obligation, and anyone can know this. As for the case that occurred, and the questioner mentioned that it was not according to the prescribed method, it has not become clear to us how the method she used to wash her was, because it may have been according to a prescribed method or at least a method that suffices.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : If it was according to a method that suffices, then that is what is required. And if we assume that it was not according to a prescribed method, neither for sufficiency nor for recommendation, then the matter has passed. She exerted her effort, and one who exerts effort and makes a mistake is not sinful; rather, he has a reward.
The questioner : She actually described the method she used, but the message was long, so I summarized it. She said regarding the washing that she washed her according to her knowledge in an ordinary way, pouring water over her while she was on a wooden board, and turning her to the right and left. Then I performed the shrouding for her, placing her in cloth and wrapping it around her, then tying it with one knot. She said that after she learned the method, and until she completed the message.
The Shaykh : Yes, this—praise be to Allah—is a sufficient act.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : As long as the water covered the entire body, it suffices.
The questioner : This is a message from the listener Yahya Jabir Asiri from Rajal Al-Ma' and Wadi Dhahban.