6/8. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 1458 — Washing the Deceased with Care
What was narrated concerning washing the deceased
Hadith About Washing the Deceased in Islam
Sunan Ibn Majah : 1458
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 1458
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَهَّابِ الثَّقَفِيُّ، عَنْ أَيُّوبَ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِيرِينَ، عَنْ أُمِّ عَطِيَّةَ، قَالَتْ دَخَلَ عَلَيْنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ وَنَحْنُ نُغَسِّلُ ابْنَتَهُ أُمَّ كُلْثُومٍ فَقَالَ " اغْسِلْنَهَا ثَلاَثًا أَوْ خَمْسًا أَوْ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ ذَلِكِ إِنْ رَأَيْتُنَّ ذَلِكِ بِمَاءٍ وَسِدْرٍ وَاجْعَلْنَ فِي الآخِرَةِ كَافُورًا أَوْ شَيْئًا مِنْ كَافُورٍ فَإِذَا فَرَغْتُنَّ فَآذِنَّنِي " . فَلَمَّا فَرَغْنَا آذَنَّاهُ فَأَلْقَى إِلَيْنَا حَقْوَهُ . وَقَالَ " أَشْعِرْنَهَا إِيَّاهُ " .
Umm 'Atiyyah Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) entered upon us when we were washing his daughter Umm Kulthum. He said: ‘Wash her three or five times, or more than that if you think you need to, with water and lote leaves, and put camphor or a little camphor in (the water) for the last washing. When you have finished, call for me.’ When we finished, we called him, and he gave his waist-wrapper to us and said: ‘Shroud her with it.’”
[1] Use it as the first layer of the shroud, directly touching her body.Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 1458In-book reference : Book 6, Hadith 26English translation : Vol. 1, Book 6, Hadith 1458
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 1458
This Hadith about washing the deceased gives clear instructions from the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم when his daughter Umm Kulthum was being washed. He told the women to wash her three or five times, or more if they thought it was needed, using water and lote leaves. He also told them to put camphor, or a little camphor, in the final washing. When they finished, they called him, and he gave them his waist-wrapper, telling them to shroud her with it. The Hadith shows care, order, and respect in preparing the deceased. It also shows that those washing the body should act with attention and inform the family when finished.
What we learn from this hadith
- The deceased should be washed with care and order, as described in the Hadith.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم mentioned three or five washings, or more if needed.
- Camphor was placed in the final washing, according to the narration.
