Virtues for giving Ghusl to the Mayyit
Question:
Mufti sahib, Are there any virtues mentioned in Hadith for giving ghusl to the mayyit?
Answer:
In the Name of Allaah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
A person is to be honoured while he is alive and also when he passes away. One of the ways of honouring him upon his demise is giving him a final bath. The final bath is a right of the deceased upon the Muslim community.
To give ghusl to the deceased is Fardh Kifaayah, i.e. if there is nobody in the community to honour the deceased with a ghusl, the entire community will be sinful.
People that render the service of giving ghusl to the deceased are actually serving the entire community by fulfilling the obligation on their behalf.
There are many virtues enumerated in the Ahaadith for giving ghusl to the deceased.
Consider the following Ahaadith:
Sayyiduna ‘Ali (Radhiyallahu Anhu) narrates that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said, “Whoever washes a deceased person, shrouds him, preserves him (from decaying), carries him and offers the funeral prayer for him, and does not disclose what he has seen, he will emerge from his sins as on the day his mother bore him.” (Ibn Maajah 1462)
Sayyiduna Mu’aawiyah ibn Khadeej (Radhiyallahu Anhu) narrates that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said, “Whoever washes a deceased person, shrouds him, follows him (to Janaazah) and helps in burying the corpse, he returns forgiven.” (Ahmad 27258)
Sayyida ‘Aishah (Radhiyallahu Anhu) narrates that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said, “Whoever washes a deceased person, and he fulfills the trust and does not expose any defect, he will emerge from his sins as on the day his mother bore him.” (Ahmad 24881)
Sayyiduna Abu Raafi’ (Radhiyallahu anhu) narrates that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said, “Whoever washes a deceased person and conceals any defect, forty of his major sins will be forgiven.” (Mu’jamul Kabeer 929)
Sayyiduna Abu Umaamah (Radhiyallahu Anhu) narrates that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said, “Whoever washes a deceased person and conceals any defect, Allaah Ta’ala will conceal his sins. Whoever shrouds him (the deceased), Allaah Ta’ala will adorn him with fine silk.” (Mu’jamul Kabeer 8077)
Sayyiduna Abu Umaamah (Radhiyallahu Anhu) narrates that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said, “Whoever washes a deceased person and conceals any defect, Allaah Ta’ala will cleanse him of his sins. Whoever shrouds him (the deceased), Allaah Ta’ala will adorn him with fine silk.” (Mu’jamul Kabeer 8078)
Sayyiduna Abu Raafi’ (Radhiyallahu Anhu) narrates that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said, “Whoever washes a deceased person and conceals any defect, he will be forgiven forty times. Whoever shrouds a deceased, Allaah Ta’ala will adorn him with fine silk and heavenly brocade.” (Mustadrak 1307)
The Jamiatul Ulama KZN urges members of the community, males and females, to learn how to give ghusl to the deceased and assist in fulfilling a community obligation and also earn great rewards.
Mufti Ebrahim Desai
Head of Fatwa Department (Jamiatul Ulama KZN)