Washing the deceased

Washing, shrouding, praying over, carrying and burying the dead belong to the Muslim's rights over fellow Muslims, detailed by jurists in the books of funerals. Washing the deceased is a communal obligation: if some perform it, it falls from the rest. ¹

Once death is certain, the jaw is bound and the eyes closed — "when you attend your dead, close the eyes" — the joints are loosened, the whole body covered with a cloth and laid on something raised, and preparation is hastened, for "a Muslim's corpse should not be kept back among his family"; one who dies suddenly is left until death is certain. ^{2 3 4}

It is recommended to inform the deceased's neighbours and friends so they may fulfil his right of prayer and supplication; the na'y of the Jahiliyya — a crier proclaiming the death in gatherings — is prohibited by agreement. Ibn al-'Arabi framed three cases: informing family and the righteous is sunna, summoning for vainglory is disliked, and announcing with lamentation is forbidden. ^{3 4}

Jurists agreed that shrouding the deceased so as to cover him is a communal obligation; its details belong to the chapter of takfin. ¹

The Hanafis disliked reciting Quran beside the body before washing; the Shafi'is held nothing is recited before burial lest it distract from hastening the preparation, while after burial it is recommended for them; Ibn Hibban read "recite Ya-Sin over your dead" as referring to the dying person. ⁵