The Manner of Washing the Dead

Question:
Our brother is asking about the correct method for washing the deceased. How do you guide people? May Allah reward you with good.

Answer:
The correct, prescribed method for washing the deceased is that the washer begins by cleaning the deceased with a cloth... a cloth. He cleans him if anything has come out of him. He raises him slightly until what... comes out. He raises him as if he were sitting, without sitting fully, until if there is anything of urine or feces... if anything comes out, he washes it and cleans it with water using a cloth in his hand. Then, after that, he performs the ablution for prayer on him.
If nothing has come out of him, there is no need for istinja' (cleaning oneself after relieving oneself); rather, he performs the prescribed ablution on him. He wipes his mouth and nostrils with water and washes his face and arms including the elbows, and wipes his head with water and his ears, and washes his feet. Then, after that, he washes his head hair with water and sidr, then his body, the right side then the left, three times. If he needs more, he washes him five times or seven times, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded this when they washed his daughter Zaynab. He said: This is the sunnah (recommended practice). In the last washing, there should be some camphor; because it makes the smell pleasant and stiffens the body, and sidr with water cleans. This is what is prescribed (mashru') in washing the deceased.
First: he cleans him if anything has come out of him, then he performs the ablution for prayer on him, then he washes his head with water and sidr, then he pours water over his body with water and sidr, starting with the right side then the left, then he washes him generally with water three times. If he needs more, such as if there is dirt, he increases to five or seven until he removes the dirt that is there. The water should be lukewarm, not very hot and not cold, but rather lukewarm water that helps remove dirt without being intensely hot. It should be slightly hot if the need calls for it. If he washes with water that is not hot, there is no harm if there is no need for it. However, if there is a need, such as if there is dirt that requires hot water, there should be hot water that does not harm, but with sidr this is the sunnah (recommended practice). Yes.

The presenter: May Allah reward you with good. Our brother says.

The Shaykh: If he washed him once, that suffices. If he washed him once and did not repeat it because he is clean, that suffices. For this reason, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said in the story of the one who died at 'Arafah when he fell off his mount: And he did not command repetition. He said: And he did not say three times or otherwise. This indicates that one washing suffices. But if the need calls for three, or if he repeats it for precaution, that is good; because the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said regarding Zaynab: Repeating three times is good, and if the need calls for more, so it is. Yes.

The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.