Shaykh what's the correct way to shroud a deceased female? I've come across 2 ways, one was in 3 clothes and the other one was in 5 clothes. Which one is correct and how should she be shrouded? Should we place a piece of cloth or cotton on her private part?
بارك اللّٰه فيك
And also state the method of covering in detail as I'm a beginner and also how to wash the decreased.
The narration of
Layla bint Qa’if (reported in Abu Dawud 3157 and Musnad Ahmad 6/380) states that the Prophet ﷺ allegedly gave:
- an izār (lower garment)
- a shirt
- a khimār
- one sheet
- a second sheet
But this narration is
not authentic because:
- It contains Nūh ibn Hakīm who is majhool (unknown)
- It contains another narrator named Dāwūd who is unknown
- Historically, Umm Kulthūm died while the Prophet ﷺ was at Badr, so he could not have been present and handing out her shroud as the narration claims
Reference:
Reference: Nusb al-Rāyah: 2/258
Shaykh al-Albani ruled there is no difference between male and female kafan
He said:
«والمرأة في ذلك كالرجل إذ لا دليل على التفريق»
“In this matter, the woman is like the man. There is no evidence establishing a difference.”
Reference: Ahkam al-Janaiz: 85
The Prophet ﷺ himself was shrouded in three white sheets
عن عائشة رضي الله عنها:
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was shrouded in three white cotton Yemeni sheets, without a shirt and without a turban.”
Reference: Musnad Ahmad: 40/6, 118
Since
this is the only fully authentic and detailed description of a shroud in the Sunnah, it becomes the standard for both men and women.
The Sunnah is: 3 white sheets for both men and women.
A sahih hadith describing the washing of a woman is:
Sahih al-Bukhari no. 1253
Umm Atiyyah رضي الله عنها said:
The Prophet ﷺ came when his daughter died and said:
«اغْسِلْنَهَا ثَلَاثًا أَوْ خَمْسًا أَوْ أَكْثَرَ… بِمَاءٍ وَسِدْرٍ وَاجْعَلْنَ فِي الْآخِرَةِ كَافُورًا…»
“Wash her three times, or five, or more if you see fit, with water and lotus leaves, and put camphor in the last wash…”
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari: 1253
After they finished:
«فَأَعْطَانَا حِقْوَهُ فَقَالَ: أَشْعِرْنَهَا إِيَّاهُ»
“He gave us his waist-wrapper and said: Make this her inner garment.”
What this hadith proves:
Women are washed 3 or 5 or 7 times, always odd.
Water + sidr (lotus leaves) is used.
Camphor (kāfūr) is used in the last wash.
The Prophet ﷺ gave one lower garment for her to be wrapped with.
P.S: If you are new to this, you must
learn practically from an experienced Muslim woman who has already performed ghusl for the deceased. This is the most correct approach.
