How is a Muslim body washed and shrouded?
Usually, the body is washed with clean water by Muslims of the same sex, then wrapped in plain white cloth. This washing (ghusl) is done gently and in private, a bit like a ritual bath, and it is a community duty rather than a family-only task. In the West, mosque volunteers or a Muslim funeral service usually do it.
The washing
When the Prophet's ﷺ daughter died, he told the women washing her: "Wash her three or five times or more, if you see it necessary, with water and sidr, and put some camphor at the end" (Sahih al-Bukhari 1253). Sidr is lote-tree leaf, used as a natural cleanser. He also said to start with the right side and the parts washed in wudu (Sahih al-Bukhari 1255). See How do I do ghusl?
The usual steps, with small differences between the four schools, are:
- The body is covered at all times, at least from navel to knees.
- The washer wears gloves, gently cleans the body, and does not look at or touch private areas directly.
- Wudu is made for the person, using a damp cloth for the mouth and nose.
- The head is washed, then the right side, then the left, at least three times (or five or seven), with camphor in the last wash.
- The body is dried carefully.
The shroud
The wrapping is called the kafan. Aisha reported that the Prophet ﷺ was shrouded in three white cotton garments, with neither a shirt nor a turban (Sahih al-Bukhari 1264). The shroud is plain and clean, and does not need to be expensive. Many scholars say three sheets for a man and extra pieces such as a head cover for a woman, though schools differ on the details. A woman's hair may be braided, as was done for the Prophet's daughter (Sahih al-Bukhari 1263).
After this, the body is taken for the funeral prayer. See What happens at a Muslim funeral?
Who does it
- Men wash men and women wash women. Scholars differ on whether spouses may wash each other, so ask an imam.
- The washer should be trustworthy and keep what they see private.
- It is a community duty (fard kifayah): if enough people do it, everyone else is relieved of the obligation.
- Family members can help if they wish, but they are not required to.
In the UK, Europe and the USA
Many mosques and Muslim burial services have a washing room and trained volunteers. If someone dies in hospital, the family can ask the mosque or funeral director to arrange it. If nobody is available, any Muslim who knows the basics can do it, and the mosque will often guide you by phone. If washing is truly impossible, scholars allow alternatives such as dry ablution (tayammum) for the deceased, so ask a scholar. Many people also wonder about touching the body. See Does touching a dead body break wudu?
- Wash an odd number of times, starting on the right, with camphor last (Sahih al-Bukhari 1253).
- The shroud is plain white cloth (Sahih al-Bukhari 1264).
- Same-sex washers treat the body gently and keep it covered.
- Call a mosque or Muslim funeral service; you do not need to do it alone.
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