Written by: Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Ameenpuri
Question:
If the deceased has overgrown pubic hair, armpit hair, and nails, should these be removed?
Answer:
If a person, due to some legitimate excuse or out of laziness, did not shave their pubic hair and passed away, the living should not shave the pubic hair of the deceased. There is no religious evidence to support this act, and it could be harmful to the living while providing no benefit to the deceased. As stated:
◈ Imam Ibn Mundhir (242-391 AH)writes:
"It is preferable to refrain from removing these, as the deceased was commanded to do this while alive, and when death occurs, this command ceases."
[Al-Awsat fi al-Sunan wal-Ijma' wal-Ikhtilaf: 5/329]
◈ It is narrated about Imam Muhammad bin Sirin, a Tabi'i, that:
"He disliked shaving the pubic hair or trimming the nails of the deceased."
[Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah: 3/245, 246; with an authentic chain]
There is no evidence from the early scholars of the Ummah that contradicts this.
There is a narration that Sahabi Sa'd (may Allah be pleased with him) once bathed a deceased and asked for a razor.
[Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah: 3/246]
However, its chain of narration is "Mursal," making it "weak" and not reliable as evidence.
Similar to the pubic hair, it is also not permissible to trim the nails of the deceased.
◈ Imam Hasan al-Basri (may Allah have mercy on him) said:"The nails of the deceased should be trimmed."
◈ Imam Shu'bah bin al-Hajjaj (may Allah have mercy on him) said: I mentioned this to Hammad (may Allah have mercy on him), and he rejected it, saying:"What if the deceased was uncircumcised? Should he be circumcised?"
[Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah: 3/246; with an authentic chain]
This implies that all these actions are related to life. If the person was lazy or negligent in life, the sin is already recorded, and if they could not do so due to a legitimate excuse, they are forgiven. There is no reward or punishment associated with cleanliness after death.
When Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal (may Allah have mercy on him) was asked about this, he said:"Some people say the nails should be trimmed, while others say if the deceased was uncircumcised, should he be circumcised? This means it is not permissible."
[Masail Imam Ahmad by Abu Dawud: 3/246]
If no one agrees on circumcising the uncircumcised after death, then trimming the nails and shaving the hair is also impermissible.
Conclusion:
Shaving the pubic hair and trimming the nails of the deceased is not permissible. It is an act that is futile for the deceased and causes unnecessary distress to the living.
And Allah knows best.
Question:
If the deceased has overgrown pubic hair, armpit hair, and nails, should these be removed?
Answer:
If a person, due to some legitimate excuse or out of laziness, did not shave their pubic hair and passed away, the living should not shave the pubic hair of the deceased. There is no religious evidence to support this act, and it could be harmful to the living while providing no benefit to the deceased. As stated:
◈ Imam Ibn Mundhir (242-391 AH)writes:
"It is preferable to refrain from removing these, as the deceased was commanded to do this while alive, and when death occurs, this command ceases."
[Al-Awsat fi al-Sunan wal-Ijma' wal-Ikhtilaf: 5/329]
◈ It is narrated about Imam Muhammad bin Sirin, a Tabi'i, that:
"He disliked shaving the pubic hair or trimming the nails of the deceased."
[Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah: 3/245, 246; with an authentic chain]
There is no evidence from the early scholars of the Ummah that contradicts this.
There is a narration that Sahabi Sa'd (may Allah be pleased with him) once bathed a deceased and asked for a razor.
[Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah: 3/246]
However, its chain of narration is "Mursal," making it "weak" and not reliable as evidence.
Similar to the pubic hair, it is also not permissible to trim the nails of the deceased.
◈ Imam Hasan al-Basri (may Allah have mercy on him) said:"The nails of the deceased should be trimmed."
◈ Imam Shu'bah bin al-Hajjaj (may Allah have mercy on him) said: I mentioned this to Hammad (may Allah have mercy on him), and he rejected it, saying:"What if the deceased was uncircumcised? Should he be circumcised?"
[Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah: 3/246; with an authentic chain]
This implies that all these actions are related to life. If the person was lazy or negligent in life, the sin is already recorded, and if they could not do so due to a legitimate excuse, they are forgiven. There is no reward or punishment associated with cleanliness after death.
When Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal (may Allah have mercy on him) was asked about this, he said:"Some people say the nails should be trimmed, while others say if the deceased was uncircumcised, should he be circumcised? This means it is not permissible."
[Masail Imam Ahmad by Abu Dawud: 3/246]
If no one agrees on circumcising the uncircumcised after death, then trimming the nails and shaving the hair is also impermissible.
Conclusion:
Shaving the pubic hair and trimming the nails of the deceased is not permissible. It is an act that is futile for the deceased and causes unnecessary distress to the living.
And Allah knows best.