23/9. Chapter:
It is desirable to wash (the dead body) for an odd number of times
Sahih Bukhari : 1254
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 1254
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدٌ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَهَّابِ الثَّقَفِيُّ، عَنْ أَيُّوبَ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدٍ، عَنْ أُمِّ عَطِيَّةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ قَالَتْ دَخَلَ عَلَيْنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَنَحْنُ نَغْسِلُ ابْنَتَهُ فَقَالَ " اغْسِلْنَهَا ثَلاَثًا أَوْ خَمْسًا أَوْ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ بِمَاءٍ وَسِدْرٍ، وَاجْعَلْنَ فِي الآخِرَةِ كَافُورًا، فَإِذَا فَرَغْتُنَّ فَآذِنَّنِي ". فَلَمَّا فَرَغْنَا آذَنَّاهُ، فَأَلْقَى إِلَيْنَا حِقْوَهُ فَقَالَ " أَشْعِرْنَهَا إِيَّاهُ ". فَقَالَ أَيُّوبُ وَحَدَّثَتْنِي حَفْصَةُ بِمِثْلِ حَدِيثِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَكَانَ فِي حَدِيثِ حَفْصَةَ " اغْسِلْنَهَا وِتْرًا ". وَكَانَ فِيهِ : " ثَلاَثًا أَوْ خَمْسًا أَوْ سَبْعًا ". وَكَانَ فِيهِ أَنَّهُ قَالَ " ابْدَأْنَ بِمَيَامِنِهَا وَمَوَاضِعِ الْوُضُوءِ مِنْهَا ". وَكَانَ فِيهِ أَنَّ أُمَّ عَطِيَّةَ قَالَتْ وَمَشَطْنَاهَا ثَلاَثَةَ قُرُونٍ.
Narrated Um 'Atiyya: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) came to us and we were giving a bath to his (dead) daughter and said, "Wash her three, five or more times with water and Sidr and sprinkle camphor on her at the end; and when you finish, notify me." So when we finished, we informed him and he gave us his waist-sheet and told us to shroud her in it. Aiyub said that Hafsa narrated to him a narration similar to that of Muhammad in which it was said that the bath was to be given for an odd number of times, and the numbers 3, 5 or 7 were mentioned. It was also said that they were to start with the right side and with the parts which were washed in ablution, and that Um 'Atiyya also mentioned, "We combed her hair and divided them in three braids."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 1254In-book reference : Book 23, Hadith 16USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 2, Book 23, Hadith 345
