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Washing and Shrouding For Muslims

🌙  A Spiritual Training Guide For Janazah Volunteers

🧭 1. INTENTION (NIYYAH)

“Actions are judged by intentions…” (Bukhari & Muslim)
Before touching the body or beginning ghusl:

  • Pause. Reflect. Intend.

“O Allah, I perform this ghusl as a duty to my Muslim brother/sister, seeking Your reward and forgiveness.”

🟢 Best Practice:

  • Say “Bismillah” before beginning.
  • Make du’a internally for the deceased throughout.
💖 2. SERVING WITH GENTLENESS
“Breaking the bone of the deceased is like breaking it when he is alive.” (Ahmad, Abu Dawud)
  • Be gentle, slow, and respectful.
  • Treat the body as if it were alive.
  • Avoid yanking, pulling, or rushing.
🟢 Best Practice:
  • Support the head and limbs when turning the body.
  • Use soft, warm water unless advised otherwise.
  • Lower your voice and maintain a calm presence.
🔐 3. MAINTAINING HONOR & PRIVACY
“Whoever washes a Muslim and conceals what he sees, Allah will forgive him forty times.” (Ibn Majah)
  • Do not talk about anything seen or smelled.
  • Do not share photos or mention the deceased’s condition outside.
🟢 Best Practice:
  • Make it a point of trust: what is seen or heard during ghusl stays there.
  • Ensure the body is always covered when not being cleaned.
🤲 4. DU’A IS YOUR TOOL
You are washing someone who can no longer make du’a for themselves. During ghusl and shrouding, silently say:
  • “Allahumma-ghfir lahu warhamhu” (O Allah, forgive him/her and have mercy.)
  • “Allahumma ʿafihi waʿfu ʿanhu” (O Allah, pardon him/her and forgive.)
🟢 Best Practice:
  • Recite Quran silently if you are not handling the body.
  • Make du’a for the family too.
⏳ 5. HASTEN THE BURIAL
“Hasten the funeral… if the person was righteous, you are sending them to something better.” (Bukhari & Muslim)
  • Time is sacred. Avoid long delays.
  • Try to complete ghusl, kafan, and burial as soon as arrangements are ready.

👥6. SERVE WITH HUMILITY

“You’re not just performing a task — you’re fulfilling a communal fard (fard kifayah).
“Remember:

  • You are doing what angels would love to do.
  • The deceased cannot speak — you are their last witness.

““Whoever attends a funeral until the prayer is offered will have a reward equal to one qirat. And whoever remains until the burial is completed will have two qirats.”
– The Prophet ﷺ (Bukhari & Muslim)
(One qirat = like the size of Mount Uhud in reward)

🌟 7. AFTERCARE (FOR TEAM)
  • Wash your hands and change gloves before leaving the ghusl area.
  • Make du’a:
“O Allah, accept this service from us. Reward us and forgive our mistakes.”
  • Some like to pray two rak’ah of gratitude for being chosen to serve.
🧕 8. OPTIONAL: REWARDS FOR WOMEN & MEN
Women who serve other women, or men who serve their brothers in Islam, are fulfilling a critical, sacred task.
“The one who prepares a Muslim for burial, keeping their faults private and doing it with care, returns home free of sin like the day they were born.” (Adapted from multiple hadiths)

Ghusl & Shrouding (Kafan) of the Deceased – With Sunnah Practices

🕊️ PART A: GHUSL (RITUAL WASHING)

To prepare the deceased for burial in accordance with Islamic law and the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ — fulfilling the communal obligation (fard kifayah) with respect, dignity, and spiritual mindfulness.

Personnel

  • 2–4 Muslims of the same gender as the deceased.

🟢 Sunnah: Same-gender ghusl is emphasized for preserving modesty and respect.

  • All should be practicing Muslims who honor confidentiality.
  • Individuals performing the Ghusl should be in a state of Wudhu


Materials

    • Clean, luke warm water
    • Unscented soap or cleanser
    • Gloves, aprons
    • Cotton (for orifices)
    • Bucket and Jug
    • Camphor powder or essence
    • Non-alcoholic itar (perfume)
    • Towels, clean sheets, raised surface
    • Comb (especially for women)
    • Tie strips for shroud

🟢Sunnah: Use of camphor and non-alcoholic fragrance are both recommended.

PROCEDURE

🔹 Step 1: Preparation

  • Lay the body gently on a clean, raised surface.
  • Keep the ‘awrah covered at all times with an opaque sheet of garment:
    • Men: Navel to knees
    • Women: Chest to knees
  • Make the intention silently for washing the deceased.
    • 🟢 Sunnah: Begin with “Bismillah” and make intention: “I perform this ghusl for the sake of Allah.”
    🟢 Handle the body gently — as if they were alive and in pain.
    🔒 Confidentiality: Conceal any flaws or conditions seen.

🔹 Step 2: Istinja (Cleaning Private Areas)

  • Wear gloves. Use lukewarm water to clean the private parts.
  • The private parts of the deceased should never be exposed or viewed.
  • The abdomen or stomach area of the deceased is gently pressed so that any waste material may be discharged.
  • Remove impurities thoroughly and plug orifices with cotton.
🟢 Keep interactions minimal and gentle — show utmost respect.
🟢 Do not speak unnecessarily or make comments.

🔹 Step 3: Wudu (Ablution)

  • Perform wudu as for salah:
    • Do not insert water into the mouth or nostrils — just wipe externally.
    • Wash the face, arms, and feet.
🟢 Sunnah: Follow the same sequence as wudu in life.
🟢 Make du’a silently for the deceased during this process.

🔹 Step 4: Full Body Ghusl

  • Wash:
    • The Hair and Beard is washed with soap and water.
    • Right side first, then left, neck to toe.
    • Gently turn the body as needed to wash front and back.
  • Use soap to cleanse, rinse thoroughly.
  • Wash odd number of times — usually three times, or more if necessary.
🟢 Sunnah: Odd number of washes (3, 5, or 7) — the Prophet ﷺ instructed this.
🟢 Repeat if needed, but always end with an odd number.
🟢 Use your right hand when possible — unless using a cloth or glove.

🔹 Step 5: Final Wash with Camphor

  • Add a small amount of camphor to the final rinse water.
  • Pour gently over the entire body.
🟢 Sunnah: The Prophet ﷺ asked for camphor in the final wash — it cools, cleanses, and perfumes lightly.
🟢 This step helps deter insects and eases the decay process.

🔹 Step 6: Drying the Body

  • Gently pat the body dry with towels.
  • Replace cotton plugs if needed.
  • Cover with a clean sheet immediately after.

🔹 Step 7: Hair Care

For Men:
  • Gently comb the beard and hair if needed.
    • For Women:
    • Wash the hair, divide into three parts, braid, and place behind the head.
    🟢 Sunnah: Braiding a woman’s hair in three plaits is directly reported in hadith.

    🔹 Step 8: Application of Itar (Perfume)

    • Use non-alcoholic itar on:
      • Forehead
      • Chest
      • Palms
      • Knees
      • Feet joints
    🟢 Sunnah: Lightly perfume the joints — do not perfume private parts.
    ❌     Avoid overpowering scents — subtle is best.
    ❌     Do not perfume excessively if women will be carried by non-mahram men.

    🧵PART B: SHROUDING (KAFAN)

    PURPOSE

    To enshroud the deceased in clean white cloth in accordance with Sunnah, honoring the body before burial.

    MATERIALS
    Men (3 pieces):
    1. Izar – Loincloth (4 feet x 6 feet)
    2. Qamees – Shirt (upper body) (4 feet x 6 feet)
    3. Lifafah – Large outer sheet (4 feet x 8 feet)
    • 3–5 cloth tie-strips
    • Optional: lightly perfumed cotton balls
     
    Women (5 pieces):
    1. Izar – Lower garment (4 feet x 6 feet)
    2. Qamees – Shirt (4 feet x 6 feet)
    3. Khimar – Headscarf (4 feet x 4 feet)
    4. Sina’band – Chest wrap (4 feet x 4 feet)
    5. Lifafah – Outer sheet (4 feet x 8 feet)
    PROCEDURE
    🔹 Step 1: Prepare the Kafan
    • Lay shroud pieces flat, largest (Lifafah) on bottom.
    • Place the body on top, aligned in the center.

    🟢Sunnah: Use white cotton sheets — simple and clean.



    🔹 Step 2: Wrap the Body
    Men:
    1. Wrap Qamees over the torso.
    2. Cover legs with Izar.
    3. Wrap entire body with Lifafah, left over right.
    4. Secure with 3 ties: head, waist, feet.
    Women:
    1. Wrap Izar over lower body.
    2. Cover upper body with Qamees.
    3. Wrap Khimar on the head.
    4. Place Sina’band across chest.
    5. Wrap with Lifafah fully.
    6. Secure with 4–5 ties: head, chest, waist, knees, feet.

      🟢 Sunnah: Wrap left side over right, like a burial shroud.
      🟢 Ensure no part of the body is exposed.

    🔹 Step 3: Final Perfuming (Optional)
    • Lightly dab perfume on the outside of the shroud.
    • Place perfumed cotton balls near shoulders or nose (optional).
    🔹 Step 4: Final Du’a and Covering Face
    • Before Janazah prayer: Face may remain uncovered.
    • After Janazah prayer: Cover the face fully before burial.
    🟢 Sunnah: Make du’a for forgiveness, mercy, and elevation for the deceased.
    🟢     Some scholars permit leaving face uncovered until Janazah prayer.

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