Ghusl for the dead
I)GHUSL MATERIALS
1)Camphor, Sidr ( SAHIH BUKHARI, Volume 2, Book 23, Number 345 )
2)Non-Alcoholic perfumes (Attar)
3)Warm water
4)Gloves
5)Wash-cloths
6)Cardboard box (low-cost option recommended) to place the body
in, after Ghusl
II)PEOPLE WHO SHOULD GIVE THE GHUSL
When a Muslim dies, it is the responsibility of his family or other Muslims to wash him according to the Islamic rites of washing the deceased. Two or three persons may perform the washing.
The person(s) who may wash the deceased should :
-Be a trustworthy, and honest adult Muslim(s).
-Know the Islamic way of washing the dead and be able to carry out the washing.
-Not make any comment on the body of the deceased.
NOTE:
Close relations are encouraged for washing the body
If the deceased is a male, then ONLY males should wash him.
If the deceased is a female, then ONLY females should wash her.
For a married person, the spouse may perform the washing.
For a child, either males or females may do the washing.
III)PLACE OF WASHING
The deceased�s body should be washed in a clean, secluded, and private place where clean water is available. Gloves or pieces of cloth are needed.The body of the deceased should be washed with water and, if available, lotus leaves, or camphor (To be used in the final wash).The washing should be done three or five, or any more if necessary, but odd number of times. ( SAHIH BUKHARI, Volume 2, Book 23, Number 345 )
IV)STEPS OF WASHING
1) The body of the deceased should be placed on a table or alike, the deceased�s clothes should be
removed , and the body should be covered with a sheet of cloth.
2) The head and the upper body should be raised slightly to insure the washing water with exudations
from the body flows down and does not run back to the body.
3) The Aura (Private parts) of the deceased should be covered with a piece of cloth (The Aura of a male
is from the belly button to the knee in the presence of males, for the female is the same in the
presence of females) The washer should start washing by saying:" Bismillah " [In the name of Allah]
4) The washer winds a piece of cloth around his hand, and with this he cleans away any impurities from
the body using water. Then he should dispose of this piece.
5) The washer should take another piece of cloth around his hand, press lightly the stomach of the
deceased so as so to expel, if possible, any remnants from it, and then wash the body of all impurities
using water. Then he should dispose this piece of cloth.
6) The washer should take another piece of cloth around his hand (May use gloves), and wash the
covered private parts, then dispose of this piece of cloth.
7) The washer should perform Wudu (Ablution) on the deceased without inserting the water in the nose
and in the mouth.
8) The washer should clean the body with water and soap (If available), starting from the head (hair,
face and beard {Men}), then the upper right side of the body then the left side, after that the lower
right side then the lower left.
9) In the case of a female, her hair should be loosened, washed, combed, and be braided in three braids,
and placed behind her back.
10) The washing should be done three times, or five times, or seven times, as needed, providing that after
washing the head, wash the right side before the left, and the upper parts before the lower ones.
11) In the last wash, the washer may use camphor, or some perfume with the water.
12) After that the body should be dried with clean towel.
13) Then the body should be totally covered with a white sheet.
14) Get ready to start the shrouding.
SPECIAL NOTE:
In case the deceased is a female in her menstrual period or have child birth bleeding,
padding should be used to prevent blood from leaving the body.
NOTE:
- It is recommended that those who performed the washing should take a bath .
-It is recommended that those who performed the washing should make Wudu.
-There is no Islamic teaching of reading the Quran during the Ghusul.