How to Wash the Deceased and Its Ruling

The following message was sent by one of our brothers. He says: Isa Khumays Muhammad Saleh from Taif. Our brother is asking about washing the deceased and about praying over him?
Answer: Washing the deceased is a collective obligation (fard kifayah), and so is praying over him. If those who are sufficient in number perform the washing, it drops off the rest, and likewise for the prayer. Washing him is obligatory, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded the washing of the deceased. Therefore, it is obligatory to wash him, and this is undertaken by a trustworthy, reliable person who knows how to do it. They wash him, meaning they wash his entire body. They begin by cleaning him with a cloth, raising him slightly in case something that was ready to come out, such as urine or otherwise, is expelled. Then they clean him with water and a cloth. After that, they perform the ritual ablution (wudu) according to the Shari'ah: they wipe his mouth with water, wipe his nose with water, and remove anything in the nose. They wash his face three times, or two, or once, with three being better. Then they wash his arms three times, or once, or twice, as in wudu. Then they wipe his head and ears. Then they wash his feet. After that, they pour water over his entire body, starting with the right side, then the left. If it is possible to wash him with suds (sadr), that is better. If suds are not available, soap or ash is used to clean him. They take care of his head... putting some suds on his head to remove any harm in it. Then they pour water over his entire body, starting with the right side, then the left. It is better to repeat this three times. If three times are not sufficient due to the presence of dirt, they repeat it five times. If five are not sufficient, they repeat it seven times, based on the hadith regarding the washing of the Prophet's (peace and blessings be upon him) daughter Zaynab (may Allah be pleased with her). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: . If suds are available, some are put in the water. If suds are not available, whatever substitutes for them is used, such as soap, ash, or anything else that achieves cleaning. The washing is repeated three, five, or seven times, and if more is needed, it is done.
This is the Shari'ah washing for both men and women. Men are washed by men, and women are washed by women. It is permissible for a husband to wash his wife, and for a wife to wash her husband. All of this is established. Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) washed his wife Fatimah (may Allah be pleased with her), and Asma bint Umayyad washed her husband Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with them both). There is no harm in that. Likewise, a slave woman whom a man keeps as a concubine: if her master dies, she washes him, and he washes her, just as a wife does. Likewise, a child under the age of seven is washed by both men and women, because he has no awrah (nakedness). If he reaches seven, men wash him. If a girl reaches seven, women wash her. This is what is prescribed.
As for the prayer, it is obligatory to pray over him. The prayer is a collective obligation (fard kifayah), so if one accountable person prays over him, it is sufficient. However, the larger the gathering and the easier it is to have a large number, the better it is. It is authentically reported from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said: , . And in the hadith of Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both), he said, may Allah's prayers and peace be upon him: . This indicates that having a large group in the prayer is better, according to what is possible and what is facilitated. Otherwise, the obligation is for one accountable person; if he prays over him, it is sufficient. But if a large number is facilitated, that is better. It is better for the family of the deceased to seek out mosques with a large number of people so that this may be more beneficial for him. And success is from Allah. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.