Ways of The Prophet (S.A.W)

Washing according to sunnah

Fumigate the plank, on which corpse is to be washed, three times, by burning incense or also stick. After fumigation of the plank, the corpse should be placed on it and clothes taken off in a manner causing least inconvenience to the corpse. A piece of cloth should cover the portion below the belt upon knees. Then the belly should be pressed with slow movementsof the hand (the parts which are not to be touched during the life should not be touched without glove). Whether any excreta comes out or not, in both cases, absterge (wearing gloves) with three or five clods and then wash with water. After that, ablutions should be done to the corpse omitting washing of hands upto wrists, gargles and pouring of water in nostrils. Ablution should start with washing the face, then both hands inclusive of elbows, rubbing the head with wet hand and then both the feet inclusive of ankles should be washed. Thereafter pass wet cotton wool over the gums and teeth and also in nostril. (If the person has died in a condition making a bath necessary, it is incumbent that water reaches the inside of the mouth and nose). Button the nostrils, mouth and ears with cotton wool so that water does not get into them. After ablution, the head should be washed with gilly flower or some other cleansing substances, for example, gram flour, oil cake or soap. When the head has been cleansed in the above manner, the corpse should be laid on left side (and the water boiled with plum tree leaves, which should be lukewarm, poured on it three times from head to feet, so that it reaches the right sideway, the corpse should then be seated with a support and its belly pressed slowly. In case some excreta comes out, it should be removed and washed.

(This does not affect the ablution and washing and therefore the procedure should not be repeated). After this it should again be laid sideways, and camphoric water passed on it three times from head to feet. The entire body should then be dried with a towel and kept for shrouding which should be done forthwith. [Fatawah Hindiyah, Bahishti Zewar]

In case water boiled with plum tree leaves is not available, then simple lukewarm water is enough for washing. Very hot water should not be used for washing. The method mentioned above is according to sunnah and if some one does not wash in this manner three times but does so only once, it would meet the requirement. [Sharah lmadadiyah, Behishti Zewar]

When the corpse is placed on the shroud, apply some ‘itr (perfume) on the head and in case of men, apply it on the beard also. Thereafter rub some comphor on the forehead, as well as on the nose, both the palms, both the knees and both the legs. Some people apply itr (perfume) on the shroud and place perfumed cotton wool in the ears, this is due to ignorance. What is laid down in Shari’ah should not be over stepped. [Sharh Hidayah]

Do not comb the hair, nor clip the nails, nor cut the hair leave them all as they are. [Sharh Hidayah]

It is preferable that washing is done by a relative the dead. Otherwise some pious person should do so. [Durrul Mukhtar]

It is masnun that the man giving the bath to corpse also takes bath himself after doing so. [Bahishti Zewar]