✦ Written by: ʿImrān Ayyūb Lāhorī
❖ The Closest Relatives Have the Strongest Right to Wash the Deceased
And the deceased should be washed by someone of the same gender, except in exceptional cases.
❖ Ḥadīth: Priority of Close Relatives
Narration from ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنها that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
«ليغسله أقربكم إن كان يعلم، فإن كان لا يعلم فمن ترون عنده حظًّا من ورعٍ وأمانةٍ»
“The one most closely related to the deceased should give the ghusl, if he knows how. If he does not, then whoever you deem has a share of piety and trustworthiness (should perform the ghusl).”
[Musnad Aḥmad 6/119, al-Bayhaqī 3/396, Ṭabarānī al-Awsaṭ – as in Majmaʿ al-Zawāʾid 2/407]
📌 Note: This narration contains Jābir al-Juʿfī, a narrator upon whom there is significant scholarly criticism. Hence, the narration is not a strong proof, but the principle remains sound and accepted in practice.
✔ Supporting Reasoning:
Although the narration itself is weak, it reflects a well-established principle:
Close relatives are more suitable for giving ghusl due to:
- Greater love and compassion
- Better understanding of privacy and modesty
- Stronger sense of trust and confidentiality
And Allah knows best.
❖ Gender-Based Guidelines in Ghusl
It is practically essential that the deceased be washed by someone of the same gender, except in rare exceptions.
➤ Narration of Umm ʿAṭiyyah رضي الله عنها:
Women washed the daughter of the Prophet ﷺ.
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 1235]
❖ Scholarly Views:
- Imām al-Shawkānī رحمه الله:
In the era of the Prophet ﷺ and the Companions, men were washed by men and women by women.
[al-Sayl al-Jarrār 1/344] - Shaykh al-Albānī رحمه الله:
Except in exceptional circumstances, men should wash men, and women should wash women.
[Aḥkām al-Janāʾiz, p. 65]
✔ Summary of Rulings:
① The one most entitled to perform the ghusl is the closest relative of the deceased—if knowledgeable.
② If the relative lacks knowledge, then preference is given to a trustworthy and pious individual.
③ Gender alignment between the deceased and the washer is mandatory except in exceptional and unavoidable cases.
④ This practice reflects modesty, honor, and the preservation of dignity after death.
