Salafi Research Institute SRI
Itihaf ul-Basim Fi Tahqiq Muwatta al-Imam Malik [Talkhis al-Qabisi] Riwayah Abdur Rahman ibn al-Qasim
Tahqiq, Takhrij, Sharh
Muhadith Zubair Ali Zai
Translated Abu Ubaydah
Translated, Checked & Additional Notes
Abu Hibban & Abu Khuzaimah Ansaari
It Is Highly Recommended To Wash The Deceased Person With Camphor Water (Oil) And Lotus (Sidr) Leaves
[129] From Malik from Ayub Ibn Abi Tamimah from Muhamad Ibn Sirin from Um Atiyah al-Ansariyah (Radi Allahu Anha) that Allah’s Messenger (Sallalahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) came to us when his daughter (Um Kulthum (Radi Allahu Anha)) died and said, “Wash her thrice or five times or more, if you see it necessary, with water and Lotus (Sidr) and then apply camphor or some camphor at the end; and when you finish, notify me.” So when we finished it, we informed him and he gave us his waist-sheet and told us to shroud the dead body in it.
[GRADING] – [IT’S CHAIN IS SAHIH]
[REFERENCES] – [AGREED UPON]
Al-Muwatta (Yahya’s narration (1/222 hadith no.521, book 16, chapter 1, hadith no.2), at-Tamhid (1/371) al-Istidhkar (no.482)
And transmitted by al-Bukhari (no.1253) and Muslim (38/939) from the hadith of Malik
[UNDERSTANDING FROM THE HADITH]
1) There is a difference of opinion on what one should do if anything comes out from the two private parts of the deceased individual after washing them. Some say that the deceased individual should be washed again and some say that only doing istinja and wudhu on the deceased individual is sufficient. From the two sayings the first one is better and more correct and Allah knows best.
2) The deceased indivudal should first be given istinja, then the wudhu which is done for the normal Salah then a Ghusl. One should start with the right side when carrying out the wudhu and Ghusl.
3) One should use a cloth when carrying out the isinja on the deceased person. See at-Tamhid (1/376)
4) Using the lotus leaves whilst washing the deceased individual is the best method. Doing Qiyas on this point it is allowed to use modern day soaps etc. and Allah knows best.
5) Women will wash females and men will wash males and it is also allowed for a man to wash his wife and a woman to wash her husband just as it is established from other narrations. See at-Tamhid (1/380) and Musnad Ahmad (6/367 and it’s chain is [Hasan])
6) It is highly recommended to wash the deceased an odd number of times i.e. 3, 5, 7 etc.
