"The Messenger of Allah came to us when we were washing his daughter. He said: 'Wash her three times, or five, or more than that if you think that (is necessary), with water and lotus leaves, and put camphor, or some camphor in (the water) the last time. And when you have finished, inform me.' When we finished, we informed him and he threw his waist-wrap to us and said: 'Shroud her in it."' He said: "Hafsah said: 'We washed her three, or five, or seven times.' Umm 'Atiyyah said: 'We combed her hair into three braids."'
Narrated by It was narrated from Ayyub, from Muhammad, that Umm 'Atiyyah said:
Context
In this hadith, Umm 'Atiyyah recounts the instructions given by the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) regarding the washing and shrouding of his daughter. His guidance on the proper treatment of the deceased emphasizes the importance of respect and dignity in funeral rites. This practice reflects the Islamic values surrounding death and the afterlife.
Modern Application
Today, these teachings influence how Muslims conduct funeral rites, ensuring that the deceased are treated with the utmost respect and care. This adherence to tradition fosters a sense of community and shared values during times of loss.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Funeral Rites because it provides specific guidance on the proper procedures for washing and shrouding the deceased, highlighting the importance of these practices in Islam.
O you who have believed, when you rise to [perform] prayer, wash your faces and your forearms to the elbows and wipe over your heads and wash your feet to the ankles. And if you are in a state of janabah, then purify yourselves. But if you are ill or on a journey or one of you comes from the place of relieving himself or you have contacted women and do not find water, then seek clean earth and wipe over your faces and hands with it. Allah does not intend to make difficulty for you, but He intends to purify you and complete His favor upon you that you may be grateful.
O you who have believed, let those whom your right hands possess and those who have not [yet] reached puberty among you ask permission of you [before entering] at three times: before the dawn prayer and when you put aside your clothing [for rest] at noon and after the night prayer. [These are] three times of privacy for you. There is no blame upon you nor upon them beyond these [periods], for they continually circulate among you - some of you, among others. Thus does Allah make clear to you the verses; and Allah is Knowing and Wise.
O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to bring down over themselves [part] of their outer garments. That is more suitable that they will be known and not be abused. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful.
Then one of the two women came to him walking with shyness. She said, "Indeed, my father invites you that he may reward you for having watered for us." So when he came to him and related to him the story, he said, "Fear not. You have escaped from the wrongdoing people."
O Prophet, when the believing women come to you pledging to you that they will not associate anything with Allah, nor will they steal, nor will they commit unlawful sexual intercourse, nor will they kill their children, nor will they bring forth a slander they have invented between their arms and legs, nor will they disobey you in what is right - then accept their pledge and ask forgiveness for them of Allah. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.
This hadith is #1895 from Sunan an-Nasa'i, in the Book of The Book of Funerals. It is graded Sahih and narrated by It was narrated from Ayyub, from Muhammad, that Umm 'Atiyyah said:.