Ghusl (ritual washing) detailsGrave Purchase and Deeds
☐ 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.
☐ 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.
☐ 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 or any odd number of times as necessary to cleanse.
☐ Ensure same-gender attendants perform the ghusl.
☐Privacy for the deceased is a crucial and important requirement at all times during the ghusl.
Steps of washing:
- The body of the deceased should be placed on a table or alike, the deceased’s clothes should be removed, and the body should be covered with a sheet of cloth at all times during the ghusl. https://www.mfs.asn.au/ghusl.html
- The Auwra (private parts) of the deceased should be covered with a sheet of cloth (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 ensure 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.
- 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 sidr leaves, sandalwood, and camphor in the water.
- The body should be dried with clean towel.
- Then the body should be covered with a clean sheet. The auwra must be kept always covered.
- In case the deceased is a female in her menstrual period or have childbirth bleeding, padding should be used to prevent blood from leaving the body.The Idda (waiting period) of Muslim widows (females) and Mourning
FAQ:
1. Can a husband perform Ghusl for his deceased wife and vice versa?
In the Shafi, Maliki and Hanbali school of thought, it is permissible for a man to wash his wife, and for a woman to wash her husband.
But in the Hanafi school of thought, the husband is not permitted to perform Ghusl for his deceased wife.
2. Could a woman perform Ghusl while menstruating?
Scholars from all schools of thought suggest that it is preferable for the person washing the deceased to be in a state of purity and ablution. Therefore, it is recommended for a woman on her menses to avoid bathing the deceased unless it is necessary.
However, if a close family member of the deceased wishes to participate in the washing, she should not be prevented from doing so.
3. Could a husband wash his divorced wife and vice versa?
In the Hanafi school of thought, as soon as the wife passes away, the marriage is deemed terminated for the man, which means that the husband cannot bathe the wife, divorced or not.
However, for the wife, the marriage is not terminated until she completes the period of her iddah. Hence, if the husband dies after issuing a revocable divorce, his wife may wash him. This is because the woman who is revocably divorced still holds the same rights and duties as a wife.
However, if the divorce was irrevocable or due to compensation (khula‘) or three divorces (talaqs), it’s not permissible for her to wash the husband as the marital relationship has ended.
4. Should we perform Ghusl on someone who has died in the state of Ihram on an Umrah or Hajj?
Hanafis and Malikis believe that a deceased pilgrim should be treated the same way as a non-pilgrim. This includes using a shroud, applying perfume, and covering the head.