✦ Written by: ʿImrān Ayyūb Lāhorī
❖ Ghusl of the Deceased: Three, Five, or More Times Using Water and Lotus Leaves, with Camphor in the Final Wash
❖ Ḥadīth of Umm ʿAṭiyyah رضي الله عنها:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ came to us when we were washing his daughter and said:
«اغسلنها ثلاثًا أو خمسًا أو أكثر من ذلك إن رأيتن ذلك بماء وسدر، واجعلن في الأخيرة كافورًا»
“Wash her three times, or five times, or more than that if you think it necessary, with water and lotus leaves (sidr), and put camphor in the final wash.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 1253 – Kitāb al-Janāʾiz, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 939, Abū Dāwūd 3142, al-Tirmidhī 990, al-Nasāʾī 4/31, Ibn Mājah 1458, Aḥmad 5/84]
❖ Additional Wordings:
In another narration:
«ثلاثًا أو خمسًا أو سبعًا»
“Three times, or five, or seven.”
And also:
«اغسلنها وِترًا»
“Wash her an odd number of times.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 1254]
And in the narration of Abū Dāwūd:
«أو سبعًا أو أكثر من ذلك إن رأيتن»
“Or seven times or more than that, if you think necessary.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ: Ṣaḥīḥ Abū Dāwūd 2698, also Abū Dāwūd 3146]
✔ Key Rulings Derived:
① Minimum number of washes is three, based on explicit instruction.
② More washes—five, seven, or more—are permitted when needed, such as for cleanliness.
③ The number of washes should ideally be odd: 3, 5, 7, etc.
④ Use of sidr (lotus leaves) is for cleanliness and purification.
⑤ The final wash should include camphor for its fragrance and preserving effect.
⑥ If sidr is not available, any modern alternative (e.g., soap or shampoo) may be used for cleanliness.
❖ Scholarly Support:
- Shaykh al-Albānī رحمه الله:
Permitted the use of alternative cleaning agents in place of sidr, as the objective is cleanliness.
[Aḥkām al-Janāʾiz, p. 64]
✔ Summary:
✅ The Sunnah method of ghusl for the deceased is:
- At least three times
- Using water and sidr
- In odd numbers (3, 5, 7…)
- Camphor added to the final wash
If cleanliness requires, more washes are allowed, and modern cleaning agents may be used where appropriate.
