Preparing For Eternal Life

Chapter Six : Important Notes the Death of a Martyr

It is not recommended to bathe or dress a Believing Muslim who has died as a Martyr if he / she has died in the service and name of Allah [S.W.T.]. After the funeral prayers have been recited, the deceased should be buried in the clothes that he / she passed away in.

Bathing of the Miscarried Embryo

The bathing of a person who has not died a martyr is wajib irrespective of if they are old, young, male or female. The only exception is a miscarriage of an embryo of less than four months of age whereby he / she should be wrapped in a cloth, funeral prayers offered and buried in a grave. If the embryo that has been miscarried is over the age of four months, then it is wajib to administer a bath on the child, dress him / her in a Kafan, funeral prayers offered and buried in a grave.

Very Badly Damaged Body

If the deceased body has been so badly damaged that a bath or Tayammum can not be administered, the pieces of the body should be wrapped in a pac (free from contaminates) cloth, funeral prayers offered and the body buried in a grave.

Deceased in the State of Muhrim

It is prohibited to bath a deceased person with camphor if they are dressed in pilgrims dress (Ehram) and is in a state of Muhrim. Burning incense or bringing any fragrant object near the body is also prohibited.

Only after the circumambulation of the Ka'aba (The Tawaaf) of Hajj or Umrah is performed, is the body washed with camphor and Hunoot performed. [Sayyid, Hadi Husayn (1988).]

Chapter Seven : How to Administer Tayammum

Tayammum to a deceased person is performed in the case where no or limited water is available, where the deceased is in a state of decomposition, where a bath is not possible, has severe burns, small pox or any other condition where water can not be used.

i) Niyyat

If one Tayammum is only required in the place of the three baths then Niyyat Maa Fizzimah is wajib as follows:

"For the pleasure of Allah as the ultimate end in the view I administer one Tayammum to this corpse instead of all three baths."

It three Tayammums are required to be performed in the place of the three purifying baths then the Niyyat Maa Fizzimah is required as below:

"for the pleasure of Allah as the ultimate end in the view I administer one Tayammum to this corpse for the bath with Aabi-Sidr (plum-tree leaves)... for the second with aab-i-Kaafoor (camphorised water)... for the third with aab-i-Khalis (pure water)."

If the Tayammums were not administered with Niyyat Maa Fizzimah, a forth is required with the Niyyat Maa Fizzimah.[Sayyid, Hadi Husayn (1988)]

ii) Dust

The administrator must strike his / her palms on the dust and smear the dust in the forehead of the deceased down to the apex of the nose. Then rubs his / her left palm on the right of the deceased from the wrist to the fingertips. Then the right palm on the back of the left hand from the wrist to the fingertips.

ii) Hunoot (rubbing of crushed camphor on the deceased)

Crushed camphor must be rubbed on all seven sajda parts of the body being the forehead, the two palms, two knees and the two big toes.

If there is sufficient camphor remaining after Hunoot, then all joints can be rubbed and the remaining camphor placed on the chest of the deceased. If there is not sufficient camphor for Hunoot and only enough for the bath, then Hunoot ceases to become wajib.

The administrator needs to Wuzu (ablution) his/her face and forearms after bathing the deceased.

If the administrator of the bath also has the duty of shrouding the deceased, they must wash both their feet up to their knees.