The topic for discussion this evening is as stated above
To the topic, bathing a corpse is a "fardu kifaayah"-once some persons have done it, other people are free of sin of not bathing it.
If we remember that day we will be stripped off our clothes, unclad, I think this should make us to be weary of Allah.
Everyone that died as a Muslim must be bathed. However, if a person dies from being burnt and it is possible to wash him, then he should be washed. But if there is the fear that the body may be damaged or caused to disintegrate by washing, then water should be poured over him; if there is the fear that this may cause the body to disintegrate, then tayammum should be done if possible.
Ibn Qudaamah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: The one who has been crushed bya falling wall, the one who has been burned and the one who has drowned should be washed if possible; if there is the fear that washing may cause the body to distingreate, then water should be poured over them without touching them. If there is the fear that water may cause the body to distintegarte, then they should not be washed, but tayammum should be done for them if possible, as in the case of a living person who may be harmed by water. If it is not possible to wash the deceased because there is no water available, then tayammum should be done, and if it is possible to wash some parts and not others, then those parts that can be washed should be washed, and tayammum should be done for the rest, as is the case of the living.
The GHUSL Procedure (Washing and Shrouding)
When a Muslim dies, it is the responsibility of his family or other Muslims within the local community to wash him according to the Islamic rites of washing the deceased. Usually at least three to four people will be involved with the actual ghusl (washing and shrouding).
The persons who may wash the deceased should :
1. be an adult Muslim, honest and trustworthy person.
2. be of the same gender as the deceased ie if the deceased is male, then ONLY males should wash him.
For a child, either males or females may do the ghusl once he/she
knows the Islamic way of washing the deceased and be able to carry out the ghusl.
A husband can wash his deceased wife and vice versa. A son can neither wash his mum, nor a daughter can can wash her dad.
PLACE OF WASHING :
The deceased’s body should be washed in a clean, secluded, and private place where clean water and soap are available. Gloves must always be worn when handling and washing the deceased.
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 steps of the washing should be done at least three times any more odd number of times as necessary to cleanse.
Always be mindful of infection control and protecting the person performing the Ghusl.
Our Ghusl facility provides disposable gloves, aprons and face masks. Bins for general rubbish as well as Hazardous waste bins for any contaminated waste removed from the body. Only use the hazardous bins for contaminated waste as there is an additional fee incurred to dispose of this separately.
STEPS OF WASHING:
Privacy for the deceased is a crucial and important requirement at all times during the ghusl
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 at all times during the ghusl, the Auwra (private parts) of the deceased should be covered with a sheet 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 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
remove any items or objects not already removed. These include watches, hospital or mortuary ID tags, wound dressings, IV lines, peg tubes, artificial limbs. If there is any active bleeding or wound discharge then that may be padded and dressed
the washer should start washing by saying: "Bismillah" (In the name of Allah)
the washer wears gloves or 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 the gloves
the washer should take another pair of gloves, 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 of the gloves
the washer should take another pair of gloves, and wash the covered private parts, then dispose of the gloves
the washer should perform wudhu (ablution) for the deceased without inserting the water in the nose and in the mouth. May use a piece of wet cotton wool in a small roll to clean nose and front teeth
the washer should clean the body with water and soap (if available), starting from the head (hair, face and beard in men), then the upper right side of the body then the left side, after that the lower right side then the lower left
In the case of a female, her hair should be loosened, washed, combed, and be braided in three braids, and placed behind her back
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
in the last wash, the washer may use camphor, or some perfume with the water
after that the body should be dried with clean towel
then the body should be covered with a clean sheet. The auwra must be kept covered at all times.
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.
May Allah forgive the Muslims that had died and the living ones. Whomever Allah makes to live among us, may it be on Islam and whomever He takes his/her life, may it be on "eeman".
