✦ Question:
Is Ghusl (ritual bathing) obligatory for someone who washes a deceased person or carries the bier?❖ Answer in Light of Hadith and Athar:
A narration from Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه states that the Prophet ﷺ said:"Whoever gives Ghusl to a deceased should perform Ghusl himself, and whoever carries the deceased should perform Wudu."
— [Abu Dawood, Book of Funerals, Hadith 3161]
In another narration from Ibn Majah, it is reported:
"Whoever washes a deceased person should perform Ghusl."
— [Ibn Majah, Book of Funerals, Hadith 1463]
❖ Interpretation and Scholarly Analysis:
✔ Imam Abu Dawood viewed the hadith as abrogated (منسوخ), though he did not specify the abrogating text.✔ Imam Bukhari mentioned the practice of Abdullah ibn Umar رضي الله عنه, who:
- Applied fragrance to the deceased (Saeed ibn Zayd’s son),
- Carried the body,
- Performed the funeral prayer,
Yet did not perform Wudu, implying no obligation.
— [Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Funerals, Chapter: Washing the Deceased]
❖ Insight from Scholars:
➤ Ibn Hajar رحمه الله in Fath al-Bari noted Bukhari's subtle indication that the narration in Abu Dawood is weak.He also narrated an incident about Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas رضي الله عنه, who after performing the Ghusl, shrouding, and perfuming of Saeed ibn Zayd, took a bath but clarified:
"I did not bathe because of touching the dead. If he were impure (نجس), I wouldn't have touched him. I only bathed due to the heat."
— [Fath al-Bari, 3/125]
➤ Ibn Abbas and Ibn Umar رضي الله عنهم have also stated:
"There is no Ghusl obligatory upon the one who gives Ghusl to a deceased."
❖ Conclusion:
✔ There is no obligation of Ghusl upon one who bathes a deceased.✔ Wudu is not necessary for the one who carries the bier.
✔ However, if someone wishes to perform Ghusl or Wudu, it is permissible and valid.
