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﴿ فَاسْأَلُوا أَهْلَ الذِّكْرِ إِن كُنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ ﴾

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What is the method of washing the deceased?

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Question:
A questioner asks about the ruling on shaving the deceased in the following places: the pubic area, the armpits, and the face, and trimming the fingernails, and this is before the washing.
Then he asks about the method of washing the deceased, and about placing his right hand under his head after he is lowered into the grave, and about the washer performing the full ritual bath after washing the deceased?

Answer:
The Sunnah in washing the deceased is that first: if anything comes out of him, he is raised slightly so that he is in the position of a sitting person without being upright, and his belly is wiped lightly if there is something that is ready to come out, so that it comes out. If something comes out, he is cleaned with a cloth, and his private parts and back passage are washed if something comes out. Then he is given the ablution for prayer; because the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Start from the right side beginning with those parts which are washed in ablution.ابدأن بميامنها ومواضع الوضوء منها
Sahih al-Bukhari 167
, then after that water is poured on his right side, then the left side. There should be some sidr in the water, and he is washed with its foam on his head and body. Kafur or some kafur is put in it; because it makes the smell pleasant and stiffens the body.
So he is washed with water and sidr, starting with his right side and the places of the ablution from him, then water is poured on him three times, this is the best. If he needs more, then five times, and if he needs more due to the abundance of dirt, then up to seven times. All of this came in the hadith of Umm Atiyyah. It is recommended that there be kafur in it; for what it has of pleasant smell, stiffening, and strengthening of the limbs.
Then after that, he is placed in three shrouds if he is a man, one is spread over one, then the first is wrapped around him, then the second, and so on. Three knots are tied at his head, at his feet, and in the middle, a belt that ties him. And when he is placed in the grave, these belts are untied and left in their place, but they are untied. He is placed on his right side, and his hand is not put under his head, but his hands are let down on his sides. His head and face are not uncovered, neither for him nor for the woman, he is covered, on his right side toward the qiblah.
And whoever washed him, the full ritual bath is prescribed for him, and it is not obligatory upon him. Whoever washed him, the full ritual bath is prescribed for him. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to perform the full ritual bath from washing the deceased, so the full ritual bath from washing the deceased is a matter required by the Shari'ah, and it is not obligatory.
As for the pubic area, no, he leaves it, he does not shave his pubic area, and he does not pluck his armpits, he does not touch them. But if there is length in his beard or length in his fingernails, he cuts them; because taking them is facilitated. If there is length in his beard or length in his fingernails, he cuts them, and if it is light, he does not need to do that. As for the private parts, there is no evidence for shaving them, it is not a place for shaving them, and Allah is the Helper.
Q: And does the washer have the right to uncover the private parts?
The Shaykh: No, he covers the private parts, what is between the navel and the knee he covers it. And if the need calls for washing the private parts, he washes them with a cloth without his hand.
Q: And does he not look at them?
The Shaykh: And he does not look at them, and he does not uncover them.
Source binbaz.org.sa

The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.

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