Washing in Islam

GHUSL PROCEDURE:

When a Muslim die, 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 five 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 i.e. if the deceased is male, then ONLY males should wash him and vice versa.

3. for a child, either males or females may do the Ghusl.

4. be familiar with the Islamic way of washing the deceased and be able to carry out the Ghusl.

5. it is recommended that those who perform the washing should make wudhu (ablution) first.

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 at ALL times. 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 and any more odd number of times if necessary to cleanse appropriately.

Always be mindful of infection control and protecting the person performing the Ghusl.

Use disposable gloves, aprons and face masks.

Bins for general rubbish as well as Hazardous waste bins for any contaminated waste removed from the body should be available. 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, but the body should be covered with a separate sheet of cloth before removing clothing and at all times during the Ghusl

• the Auwra (private parts) of the deceased should be covered with a sheet of cloth at all times (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 side.

• 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 the second white sheet (satar). 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.

NOTE:

It is recommended that those who performed the washing should take a bath after performing the Ghusl. There is no Islamic teaching of reading of the Quran or of making any special Dhikr during the Ghusl.