How Many Times Should the Deceased Be Washed, and What Should Be Added to the Water?

Hazrat Umm Atiyyah narrates that we were giving a bath to our (deceased) son when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) came to us and said: Give him a bath three or five or more times, if you find it appropriate, with water and lotus leaves, and at the end apply camphor or any other fragrance to him. When you have finished bathing him, call me. The narrator says that when we finished, we called the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). He gave us his blessed sheet and said: Shroud him in this.

It is narrated from Hazrat Umm Atiyyah that when the daughter of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), Hazrat Zainab, passed away, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Give her an odd number of washes, three or five times, and at the end use camphor or any other fragrant substance. When you have completed the washing, inform me. When we had completed the washing, we informed the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). He (peace and blessings be upon him) gave us his sheet and said, "Shroud her in this."

Hazrat Saeed bin Al-Musayyib and Hasan state that the deceased should be washed three times: once with water and lotus leaves, once with pure water, and once with water and camphor.

Ibrahim said: The deceased will be washed three times, and the middle washing (the second time) will be with lote tree (sidr).

Hazrat Ibrahim says that the deceased should be washed three times, with lote tree leaves and water.

Ibrahim says that the deceased should first be given ablution like that of prayer, except for the feet (they should not be washed). Then water should be poured from the head side, and the stomach should be rubbed with the hand so that if there is anything in the stomach, it comes out. Then the body should be left for a while so that it dries, then it should be washed a second and third time, and the clothes should be fumigated with incense (such as oud, etc.) three times.

Ibrahim says that the one who bathes the deceased will sit and rest after each washing.

Ibrahim says that water should not be poured into the mouth and nose of the deceased. However, a clean piece of cloth should be taken to clean his mouth and nose.

Hazrat Abu Tamimah Al-Hujaymi narrates that Hazrat Umar wrote to Hazrat Abu Musa Ash'ari to wash the filth from the nose of the deceased with lotus and sweet basil.

It is narrated from Hazrat Abdullah bin Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) that his father advised him: O my son! When I die, bathe me with water, then dry my body with a cloth, and then bathe me a second time with pure water, and again dry me with a cloth. Then when you dress me in clothes (shroud), also put an izar (lower garment) on me.

Hasan says that the deceased will be washed the first time with pure water, the second time with water and lote tree leaves, and the third time with water and camphor. Then camphor will be placed on the places of prostration of the deceased.

When Hazrat Abu Qalabah would bathe the deceased, he would instruct for the use of lote tree leaves, then the deceased would be dried in a cloth, and bathed with pure water, and the leftover water from inside the vessel would also be poured over him.

It is narrated from Hazrat Abi that when the last moments of Hazrat Adam approached, he instructed his sons to bring him fruits from Paradise. So they set out, and when they met the angels, the angels said, "Return, for Allah Almighty has commanded the soul of your father to be taken." The angels returned with them, took his soul, and brought with them a shroud and fragrance. They said to his sons, "Attend to him, give him a bath, shroud him, apply fragrance, and offer prayer over him." Then it was said, "O children of Adam! This is the tradition of your father."

Hazrat Hakeem bin Jabir Al-Ahmasi narrates that when Hazrat Ash'ath bin Qais passed away, his daughter was the wife of Hazrat Hasan bin Ali (may Allah be pleased with him). Hazrat Hasan bin Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "When you give her the ritual bath, do not shroud her without informing me." When we informed him, he performed ablution for her with fragrance.

Ibrahim says that when giving ghusl to the deceased, after performing wudu, the head should be started with.

Ibrahim says: First, the deceased will be given ablution as is done for prayer, then washed with water, then washed with water and lotus leaves, and then washed with water again.

Hazrat Abdullah bin Masood (may Allah be pleased with him) said that camphor will be applied to the places of prostration of the deceased.