CONTENTS

Washing the Body

• Before washing the body place it on a clean and rinsed off platform that is inclined in such a way that the head is higher than the other part of the body and the water flows down and away from it.
• Private areas (from navel to under knees) must be covered with a thick cloth or towel
• All other clothing should be removed from the body
• Force out any waste from the stomach by pushing it with one’s hand. An easy method of doing this is to sit the body up supporting the back and push the stomach
• Clean off any impurities (urine or stool, etc.) that may be excreted during the rubbing of stomach
• Perform complete wudhu (ablution) to the body according to the Sunnah (like washing three times, etc)
• Use care washing the nose and mouth by wiping them instead of pouring water into them or turn the head to one side
• Perform full bathing and washing of body
• It is Sunnah to wash the body an odd number of times (at least three times)
• If the body is not clean after washing it three times then wash it again and stopping on an odd number of washings
• Clean water must be used (scented water is preferable, if available)
• Water should be warm (not too hot or too cold)
• Apply shampoo or scented soap to the head and beard, and only soap to the rest of the body
• Turn body on the left side and pour water until it has reached the right side of the body
• Turn body on the right side and pour water until it has reached the left side of the body
• After rinsing the body a final time, dry it completely
• Apply scent (ittar) to head and beard; do not comb the hair and beard in such a way as to pull out the hairs
• Apply camphor to hands, feet, knees, and forehead

CONTENTS

Shrouding the Body

For men three pieces of white clothes should be used that are longer than the body that is going to be shrouded. Each piece should be approximately two yards long. Two pieces are sufficient for men when three are not available. The three pieces are the Izar (bottom half garment), the Qamees (top half garment), and the Lafaafah (full piece covering the entire body).

For women five pieces of white clothes should be used that are longer than the body that is going to be shrouded. Each piece should be approximately two yards long. Two or three pieces are sufficient for women when five are not available. The five pieces are the Izar (bottom half garment), the Qamees (top half garment), and the Lafaafah (full piece covering the entire body), Sadree (chest piece, one yard in length), and the Hijab (head or scarf piece, one and a half to two yards in length).

Note: The body’s hair is not to be combed or trimmed nor should the nails be pared.

CONTENTS

Shrouding the Body of a Man

• place the body on top of all three pieces opened up inside the casket
• the towel should remove after placing the body inside the casket
• Izar should be wrapped by starting from the left side brought around the body and tucked under right side of the body
• bring the right side of the Izar to the left side
• pull the head through the Qamees and over the rest of the body
• tuck the Qamees under the body the same way done with the Izar
• wrap the whole body in the Lafaafah
• tuck under the body as done before
• tie both the ends and middle section of the body with string or cloth
• ties are to be opened later for burial and for showing the face to relatives

CONTENTS

Shrouding the Body of a Woman

• place the body on top of all three pieces opened up inside the casket
• the towel should remove after placing the body inside the casket
• Izar should be wrapped by starting from the left side brought around the body and tucked under right side of the body
• bring the right side of the Izar to the left side
• bring each side of Sadree over the body starting from the left to right then right to left
• pull the head through the Qamees and over the rest of the body
• tuck the Qamees under the body the same way done with the Izar
• part the hair into two parts and place over the chest
• place Hijab on the head and over the chest area
• wrap the whole body in the Lafaafah
• tuck under the body as done before
• tie both the ends and middle section of the body with string or cloth
• ties are to be opened later for burial and for showing the face to relatives

Note: During the washing and shrouding of the body the performers of these tasks must protect their gaze from looking unnecessarily to the private areas of the body. Use utmost care and respect during the handling of the body also. Treat the body as though it is alive. Family and relatives of the deceased should wash the body. If a non-related Muslim washes the body it would also be permissible. In all circumstances the washer of the body should be trustworthy. He should wash the body completely according to the Sunnah and if he sees something good about the body he to mention it is Sunnah and if he sees something bad or displeasing about the body it is not lawful for him to tell another person about that because it is Ghibah (backbiting).

CONTENTS

General Rules of Ghusl, Kafan & Janaazah

1. If one forgets to place the deceased towards the qiblah when burying him and only remembers this after burying him and filling the grave with sand, then it is not permissible to dig up the grave. However, if only the wooden strips have been placed and no soil has been thrown as yet, it will be permissible to remove the timber and place him towards the qiblah.

2. It is prohibited for wailing women and those women who give lectures to accompany the janaazah.

3. It is a bid'ah to give the adhaan while lowering the deceased into the grave.

4. If a person passes away in a ship and the coast is so far away that there is a fear that the corpse will begin to decompose, then in such a case ghusl and kafan should be given to him and thereafter he should be lowered into the sea. But if the coast is not so far and there is hope of reaching land soon, the corpse should be left aside and upon reaching land, it should be buried in the ground.

5. Once sand has been thrown over the grave, it is not permissible to remove the deceased from the grave. However, if in burying him, the right of someone has been transgressed, then it will be permissible to dig up the grave. Examples: (i) the land on which he is buried belongs to someone else and the owner is not happy about the burial taking place on his land, (ii) someone's wealth has been left behind in the grave.

6. If a woman passes away and there is a living child in her womb, then her womb will have to be cut and the child removed. Similarly, if a person passes away after swallowing someone else's money, and the person asks for the money, his stomach will be cut and the money removed. However, if the deceased has left behind some wealth, this money will have to be given from his wealth and his stomach will not be cut.

7. It is permissbible to praise the deceased person irrespective of whether it is in the form of a poem or in prose. This is on condition that there is no exaggeration in praising him, and he is not praised for characteristics that were not found in him.

8. It is permissible to do the following: sympathize and comfort the relatives of the deceased, to mention the virtues of patience and thereby create an inclination towards patience, to make dua for them and the deceased. All this is known as ta'ziyat.

9. It is permissible to keep the kafan ready for oneself.

10. It is mustahab to place a green twig on the grave. If a plant or tree begins to grow near it, it will be makruh to chop it off.

11. More than one corpse should not be buried in one grave. However, this will be permissible if there is an absolute necessity for it. If all the corpses are males, the most virtuous among them should be placed in the front. Thereafter, all the rest should be placed behind him in order of their position. However, if there are a few males and a few females, the males should be placed in front and the females behind them.

12. It is mustahab for men to go and visit the graves. It is preferable to visit the graves at least once a week. It is preferable that this day be Friday. It is also permissible to undertake journeys in order to visit the graves of the pious. This is permissible as long as no belief or action contrary to the Shariah takes place. Like the evils that take place in the present day "birth-anniversary" (meelad, urs) celebrations.

13. If any of the items which will be required for the ghusl and kafan are found at home and they are clean and pure, there is no harm in utilising them.

14. The material of the kafan should be of the same quality that the deceased used to wear most of the time while he was alive. It is a waste of money to go into unnecessary expenses.

15. If a child is born with some indications of life and thereafter dies, it will be named, ghusl will be given and salaat will also be offered over it. However, if no signs of life are found, it will be given ghusl, wrapped in a cloth and buried without any salaat being offered over it.

16. The deceased should be placed in the grave in such a way that his entire body is made to lie on its side facing towards the qiblah. The knots of the kafan on either side should be loosened. Isaal-e-thawaab should be made for the deceased as shown to us by our pious predecessors. This should be done without subjecting oneself to any custom or specifying any particular day. One should secretly help the poor according to one's ability and from one's halaal earnings. One should also recite the Quran according to one's ability and send the rewards to the deceased. Prior to the burial, in which a lot of time is wasted in futile conversations, one should recite the kalimah and send the reward to the deceased.