6/8. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 1460 — Modesty Toward the Living and Dead
What was narrated concerning washing the deceased
Hadith About Modesty Toward the Living and the Dead
Sunan Ibn Majah : 1460
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 1460
حَدَّثَنَا بِشْرُ بْنُ آدَمَ، حَدَّثَنَا رَوْحُ بْنُ عُبَادَةَ، عَنِ ابْنِ جُرَيْجٍ، عَنْ حَبِيبِ بْنِ أَبِي ثَابِتٍ، عَنْ عَاصِمِ بْنِ ضَمْرَةَ، عَنْ عَلِيٍّ، قَالَ قَالَ لِي النَّبِيُّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ " لاَ تُبْرِزْ فَخِذَكَ وَلاَ تَنْظُرْ إِلَى فَخِذِ حَىٍّ وَلاَ مَيِّتٍ " .
'Ali Narrated from:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said to me: ‘Do not show your thigh, and do not look at the thigh of anyone, living or dead.’”
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 1460In-book reference : Book 6, Hadith 28English translation : Vol. 1, Book 6, Hadith 1460
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 1460
This Hadith about modesty records advice given by the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم to Ali. He said: do not show your thigh, and do not look at the thigh of anyone, living or dead. The wording is direct and includes both living people and deceased people. This teaches respect for the body and careful behavior in situations where a person may be exposed, including after death. The Hadith does not need extra stories to make its point. Its message is simple: a Muslim should guard modesty for himself and respect the modesty of others. The same sense of care applies when dealing with people who have passed away.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم told Ali not to show his thigh.
- The Hadith also forbids looking at the thigh of the living or dead.
- Modesty and respect apply even when dealing with the deceased.
