Funeral Processions

[Muslimah]

<b>Funeral: Bath of Dead Body</b>


1. When all the preparations of grave and shroud (Kafan) are complete, the dead should be given a bath. The wooden table, platform or plank to be used for bath should first be washed and perfumed on all sides for three or five or seven times. Then the dead body should be placed upon it and covered with a clean sheet/ large towel, from navel to the knees.


2. If the place of bathing the dead is not such that the water will flow out, dig a pit nearby so that the water may be collected in it. But if the water is spread even then there is no harm.


3. Method of Bath


(a) First the private parts of the dead should be washed without removing the covering cloth or looking at them. To clean these parts the left hand of the person giving the bath should be covered with a cloth and the parts should be cleaned well under the covering cloth of the body.


( After cleaning private parts ablution of the dead should be made without passing water in the nose or mouth or washing his hands up to wrists. The ablution should be done thus: First, the face should be washed, then arms up to and including elbows, then Masah over the head and in the end wash the feet.


© It is also permissible to rub a wet cloth or cotton over teeth, gums and inside the nostrils. If the person died in need of a bath or a woman in her menses or after birth discharge, then it is essential to wash inner mouth and nostrils also.


(d) The ears, nose and mouth should be plugged with cotton so that water may not enter into them at the time of ablution or bath.


(e) After ablution the head and beard of the dead should be washed with some soap, etc. Then the body should be turned on its left side and warm water (boiled with berry leaves if available) should be flowed thrice over the body from head to feet till it reaches under the left side.


(f) Then the body should be turned over on its right side and washed in the same manner.


(g) Then raise the upper part of body to a slight sitting position and rub and press his stomach gently and if some excretion, etc. comes out, it should be cleaned and washed well. The ablution or bath should not be repeated in such case.


(h) Then turn the body to its left side again and pour water mixed with camphor all over the body thrice. After wiping the body with some clean cloth it should be shrouded.


4. If water boiled with berry leaves is not available then the dead body may be given bath with ordinary warm water. This method of bathing a dead person is according to Sunnah. If the body is not washed thrice but once only even then the obligation is discharged.


5. After putting the body in the shroud its head should be perfumed (see shrouding below). If a male, his beard should also be perfumed. Wet camphor should be rubbed on the forehead, nose, knees and feet.


6. Do not comb the hair or clip the nails or cut hair from any part of the body. Let everything be as it is.


7. If the dead is a male, and there is no other male person to give bath, then no woman other than his wife is allowed to give bath to the dead body. Touching the body by a non-permissible woman is not allowed. If there is no wife, then some other permissible woman may perform Tayammum of the body instead of bath with hand covered with a cloth or glove.


8. A wife is allowed to give bath and shroud her dead husband, but if the wife dies then the husband is not allowed even to touch her body. However, he can see her after death and touch her with a covered hand.


9 A woman in her menses or after-birth discharge should not give bath to a dead body. It is prohibited and execrable.


10. In case of a female, a woman who is very closely related to her should give bath to her dead body. If she is unable to do so, then some other pious and religious woman should do it.


11. If anything abnormal or improper is seen while giving bath to a dead it should not be disclosed to others. But if the dead was a drunkard or a professional dancer or singer or a prostitute and something abnormal i.e. defacement or twisting of face and its turning black, etc. is observed, then it may be mentioned so that others may learn a lesson from it and refrain from such acts and be penitent.


12. If one dies of drowning and his body is taken out from the water, even then it is essential to give him a bath as mere drowning in water would not be sufficient for bath. But if, while taking out the body, it was moved in the water with an intent of giving him a bath, then there would be no need for a fresh bath.


13. If only the head of a dead person is found, then it may be buried as it is without giving it a bath. If more than half of the body is found, whether with or without head, then it is essential to give it a bath. If the body is not more than half or just half, then if it is with head it should be given a bath, otherwise not. If the body is less than half, whether with or without head, it may not be given a bath.


14. If a dead body is found and it cannot be ascertained in any way whether the dead was a Muslim or not, then if it was found within the Muslim population, it should be given bath and funeral prayer should also be offered.


15. If a non-believing person dies, then his body should be handed over to his co-religionists. If there is no one to accept his body, then the Muslims should bathe the body in the same way as an unclean thing is washed because washing only does not purify a nonbeliever. It is not proper to offer funeral prayer for a nonbeliever.


16. If rebels and robbers are killed in actual fighting their bodies should not be given a bath.


17. If an apostate dies, he should neither be given a bath nor his body be given to his co-religionists even if they demand it.


18. If due to non-availability of water, a dead body was given Tayammum and afterwards water becomes available then the dead body may be given a bath.