2- WASHING THE BODY
WASHING THE BODY
Then the body is washed (obligatorily).
WHO SHOULD WASH THE BODY
When the deceased is male, the best suited to wash the body (anyone may wash it, but it is not permissible (being offensive) for a non-Muslim to wash the body of a Muslim, and non-Muslim relatives are as though nonexistent in the following priority list) is:
1. the father of the deceased;
2. the father’s father;
3. the son;
4. the son’s son;
5. the brother;
6. the father’s brother;
7. the son of the father’s brother;
8. those named in the sequence;
9. men related to the deceased;
10. men not related to him;
11. his wife;
12. and his unmarriageable female relatives (mahram).
If the deceased is female, the best suited to wash the body is:
1. one of her female relatives (meaning the women of her immediate family, such as her daughter or mother);
2. other women;
3. her husband;
4. and then a member of her unmarriageable male relatives (mahram) (in the above order).
If the deceased is a non-Muslim, then his non-Muslim relatives are better suited to wash him.
It is recommended that the washer be trustworthy (so that he can be relied on to wash the deceased completely and so forth. If he notices something good, it is Sunna to mention it, but if he notices something bad, it is unlawful to mention it, as this is slander (ghiba).
HOW TO WASH THE BODY
It is obligatory for the washer to keep the nakedness of the deceased clothed while washing him.
It is Sunna that no one be present except the washer and his assistant. (It is preferable that the body be washed while clothed in an ankle-length shirt into which the washer inserts his hand from the sleeve if ample enough, while pouring water over the garment and washing the body under it. If the sleeve is not wide enough for this, he tears open the seam from the side under the arm. It is obligatory that the body be covered from navel to knees.) Incense should be burned from the start of washing to the finish (as is Sunna).
It is best to wash the body under a roof, and best that cold water be used, except when necessary (to heat it, such as to clean away filth that could not otherwise be removed, or when the weather is cold, since the deceased suffers from it just as a living person would).
It is unlawful to look at the nakedness of the deceased or touch it, except with a cloth (0: or similar, since direct contact without there being something in between is not permissible). It is recommended not to look at or directly touch the other parts of the body save with a cloth.
It is recommended:
1. to force out waste from the stomach;
2. to clean the private parts of filth (which is recommended when one is not certain anything has exited from those parts, though if it has, cleaning is obligatory);
3. to give the body ablution (wudu) (like the ablution of a living person, turning the head when rinsing the mouth and nostrils so that no water reaches the stomach);
4. to make the intention of performing the purificatory bath (ghusl), and then to wash the head, beard, and body each three times with water infused (with sidr (i.e. lote tree (Rhamus spina christi) leaves), taking care each time to press the hand on the stomach (in a downward stroke) (leaning on it to force its contents out, but gently so as not to hurt the deceased. If the hair of the head or beard is matted, it should be gently combed with a wide-toothed comb so as not to pull any out. If hair comes out as a result, the washer should return it and place it in the shroud to be buried with the deceased).
It is Sunna:
1. that the place of washing be on an incline so the head is highest and the water flows down away from it;
2. that there be an incense burner present with incense in it;
3. to put one’s right hand on the shoulder of the deceased with the thumb on the nape of his neck so that the head does not loll, and brace his back up against one’s right knee;
4. to have the helper pour abundant water during the process to obviate offensive odors from waste leaving the body;
5. to stroke the stomach firmly and effectively with one’s left hand;
6. and when finished, to lay the deceased down again on his back with his feet towards the direction of prayer (qibla).)
If the body is not clean after three times, one washes it again, reaching an odd number of washings. (If clean after an even number of washings,
it is Sunna to add another. If clean after an odd number, one does not add any.) It is Sunna to add a little camphor to the water, especially for the last washing.
The obligatory minimum for this purificatory bath (ghusl) is that water reach all external parts of the body (and it is obligatory to remove any filth (najasa), if present).
The body should be dried with a doth afterwards.
If anything leaves the body after washing, only the affected area need be washed. (It is not necessary to repeat the ablution (wudu) or bath (ghusl), even if the excretion is from the front or rear private parts.)
(Source: The reliance of the traveller, revised edition, Edited and Translated by Nuh Ha Mim Keller)
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