The Creed of Compassion-Islamic Teachings & Answering Doctrinal Misconceptions

Issue No.535- If a man performs ghusl on the dead body of a man, or a woman performs ghusl on the dead body of a woman, it is permissible to keep the body bare, except for the private parts.

Issue No.536- It is haram to look at the private parts of a corpse, but it does not make the ghusl void.

Issue No.538- Ghusl for a dead body is similar to that of janābah. However, the recommended precaution is that so long as sequential ghusl is possible the dead body should not be given ghusl by immersion. However, it is permissible, in the case of sequential ghusl, to immerse each part of the three parts of the body in the water. If someone dies in the state of ḥayḍ or janābah, the ghusl given to the dead body will suffice.

Issue No.532- It is haram for a man to perform ghusl on the dead body of a woman and for a woman to perform it on that of a man. A husband and wife may however perform ghusl on the body of each other, although the recommended precaution is that they also avoid doing so, if not necessary.

Issue No.539- It is not permissible to receive any payment for performing ghusl on the dead, but there is no problem in taking wages for preliminary requirements such as doing any cleaning and similar acts.

Issue No.540- If water is not available, or the body is in a state that ghusl cannot be performed on it, or it is impossible to give ghusl because of any other problem, tayammum should be performed on it for each ghusl in the following method: The person who is performing tayammum should position himself in front of the dead body and tap his palms on earth and then wipe them on the face and then on the back of the hands of the dead body.

Issue No.509- It is obligatory upon every Muslim to lay a dying person towards the Qibla, and there is no need to seek the permission for it from their legal guardian.

Issue No.511- It is recommended that the following supplications be inculcated to a dying person in such a manner that he/she would understand: Allahummaghfir liyal kathira mim ma’asika waqbal minni al-yasira min ta’atika ya man yaqballul yasira wa ya’fu ‘anil kathir, iqbal minni al- yasira wa’fu ‘anni al-kathir. Innaka antal ‘afuwwul Ghafur. Alla hum mar hamni fa innaka Rahim. And it is better that he/she says it too.

Issue No.512- It is recommended to carry a person who is experiencing a painful and slow death to the place where he used to perform prayers.

Issue No.513- If a person is in the throes of death, it is good to recite by his side Surah al-Yasin, Surah al-Saffat, Surah al-Ahzab, Ayat al-Kursi and to recite as much out of the holy Qur"an as possible.

Issue No.514- It is Makrooh to leave a dying person alone or to place a weight on his stomach, or to talk or weep near him or to let only women stay with him. It is also Makrooh to be by his side in the states of Janabat or Hayz.

Issue No.515- It is recommended that the mouth and eyes of the deceased be shut, the chin be pushed up, hands and feet be straightened and to spread a cloth over the body, and inform the believers to join the tashyī‘ (i.e., escort of the body to the grave), and to not turn the dead body away from the direction of qiblah as long as the body is in the place of death and to hasten the burial. However, if, they are not sure of his/her death, they should wait until they are certain.